On This Date in Sports January 23, 1994: Four Bills
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The Buffalo Bills earn a trip to an unprecedented fourth straight Super Bowl, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 30-13 in the AFC Championship Game at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park. In the third quarter, the Chiefs' hopes faded when Joe Montana was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Thurman Thomas carried the load for Buffalo, rushing for 186 yards with three touchdowns. The Bills would go on to lose a record fourth straight Super Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Buffalo Bills, coached by Marv Levy, were a dynasty in the AFC as the 1990s began. They had risen to the top of the AFC East as the road to the Super Bowl went through Western New York. The Bills won the 1990 AFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Raiders 51-3 but lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants 20-19 when Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. In 1991, the Bills edged the Denver Broncos 10-7 but suffered a 37-24 loss to the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI. The Bills hit the road to beat the Miami Dolphins 29-10 in the 1992 AFC Championship but were slammed by the Dallas Cowboys 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII. The Bills again won the AFC East in 1993, posting a record of 12-4. They beat the Raiders 29-23 to reach the AFC Championship Game, where the Kansas City Chiefs awaited.
There was a football resurgence in Kansas City as the Chiefs were in the AFC Championship Game for the first time since the merger. The Chiefs had played in two of the first four Super Bowls, representing the AFL as they beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Led by Marty Schottenheimer, the Chiefs won the AFC West for the first time in 22 years by posting a record of 11-5. The Chiefs had become contenders in the offseason, signing future Hall of Famers Marcus Allen and Joe Montana. In the playoffs, they needed overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 while rallying to beat the Houston Oilers 28-20 in the Divisional Round.
The Bills were the betting favorite, but the Chiefs with Montana and Allen were the sentimental favorite, as nobody wanted to see Buffalo lose a fourth straight Super Bowl. The Bills took control of the game early as they scored on their second possession, with Andre Reed getting a critical 29-yard reception from Jim Kelly. The drive ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Thurman Thomas. The Chiefs responded with a pair of field goals by Nick Lowry. The Chiefs had a chance to score more but only managed a field goal after Russell Copeland fumbled a kickoff return. The Bills would take control of the game with 13-unanswered points in the second quarter, as Thomas had a three-yard touchdown run, while Steve Christie nailed a pair of field goals. The Chiefs had a chance to answer, but Henry Jones in the end zone picked off Joe Montana as the half came to an end.
In the third quarter, Joe Montana suffered a concussion on the third play from scrimmage. On his first series, backup Dave Krieg led the Chiefs on a 90-yard drive that ended with a Marcus Allen touchdown to cut the deficit to 20-13. However, that was as close as the Chiefs would get. The Bills scored ten points in the fourth quarter to secure their fourth consecutive AFC Championship. Steve Christie nailed an 18-yard field goal while Thurman Thomas, who had 208 yards from scrimmage, scored his third touchdown on a three-yard run.
The Bills would hold a halftime lead in Super Bowl XXVIII but lost to the Dallas Cowboys 30-13, giving up 24 unanswered points in the second half.