Kansas City 0 7 0 14--21 Minnesota 0 0 0 6-- 6
MINNEAPOLIS (Nov 3, 1996 - 23:12 EST) -- After Marcus Allen got a share of two career records Sunday, Greg Hill got a whole lot of redemption.
Allen tied Walter Payton's career record with his 110th rushing touchdown and Hill, benched eight days ago, added two late TD runs as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the punchless Vikings 21-6.
"I had no doubt he could do that," Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer said of Hill. "But with Marcus Allen here -- and Greg understands this -- Greg is a complementary player."
Hill got a lot of compliments Sunday even though Allen made history with his record-tying TD run and his 566th career reception, tying Roger Craig for the most by a running back.
Hill had the first 100-yard game of the season for a Kansas City back. It came one week after he watched in street clothes as Allen and the Chiefs (6-3) managed just 24 rushing yards in a humiliating 34-7 loss to the Denver Broncos.
"Seven days ago I was asked to make a sacrifice for my team, and I did," Hill said. "I've always said that I just wanted to help my team, and today I was asked to go out and carry the ball a little more than I usually do, and I did.
"The whole thing with me is just that I want to help the team. There's nothing else behind it. When my time comes, it comes."
It came Sunday against the Vikings (5-4), who struggled again offensively and wore down late defensively as they lost for the fourth time in five games, including two straight at home.
Struggling mightily after a 4-0 start, Minnesota faces a daunting lineup that includes a home game against Denver and trips to Oakland, Detroit and Green Bay.
"We're facing a lot of controversy now," said Minnesota linebacker Jeff Brady. "We've come into our house the past two weeks and we get our butts handed to us. It's not good for our fans, it's not good for us, it's not good for anybody."
Playing against an offense that was forced to use backups at quarterback and running back because of injuries, Kansas City nearly got its first road shutout since a 19-0 win at San Diego on Nov. 4, 1973. Minnesota avoided that with 1:28 to play when Brad Johnson threw a 1-yard touchdown to Cris Carter.
The Chiefs didn't fare much better on offense until wearing down Minnesota's defense in the fourth quarter. Allen's 1-yard dive with 26 seconds left in the first half seemed as though it might stand up until Hill scored twice in the final four minutes on runs of 17 and 10 yards.
That clinched a critical win for Kansas City, which had lost three of its previous four games. The Chiefs face a tough remaining schedule that includes six teams that entered the weekend's games with at least .500 records.
"This is very important," said safety Brian Washington, whose interception set up Hill's final TD. "When you start falling into a slump, you need something like this or you start questioning when you're going to come out of it or if you're going to come out of it."
The Chiefs rolled up 202 rushing yards, with Hill carrying 15 times for 100 yards and Allen carrying 18 times for 89 yards as he continued his climb up a number of career lists.
"I set some goals coming into this league, but I'd be a blatant liar if I told you that being No. 1 in touchdowns was one of them or being No. 1 in receptions by a running back," Allen said. "That's just by the grace of God."
The Chiefs played a sloppy game, committing 12 penalties, one of which negated an Allen TD catch in the second quarter, and blowing two field goal attempts. The second of those came when Dewayne Washington came in untouched to block Pete Stoyanovich's 22-yard attempt with 6:52 remaining and Kansas City up just 7-0.
But Johnson, starting his second career game in place of the injured Warren Moon, threw three straight incompletions. The Chiefs then marched 41 yards in six plays, all on the ground, to Hill's 17-yard sprint around left end for a 14-0 lead. Hill scored again 25 seconds later after Washington's interception.
Johnson failed to provide any of the spark he had in his earlier appearances this season. He completed 22 of 42 passes for 218 yards and two interceptions and prepared to head back to the bench next week when the Vikings travel to Seattle.
"Warren will be healthy and ready to go next week," Johnson said. "I'll go back and keep working and keep grinding."
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
KC--Hill 17 run (Stoyanovich kick), 11:28. Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:53. Key plays: Richardson 4 run on 3 and 1; Allen 10 run. Kansas City 14, Minnesota 0.
KC--Hill 10 run (Stoyanovich kick), 11:53. Drive: 1 play, 10 yards, :05. Key play: Washington 34 interception return. Kansas City 21, Minnesota 0.
Min--Carter 1 pass from Johnson (pass failed), 13:32. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 1:39. Key plays: Carter 9 pass from Johnson on 3 and 6; Ismail 32 pass from Johnson. Kansas City 21, Minnesota 6.
A--59,552. No-s
hows--4,395.
Kansas City 0 7 0 14--21
Minnesota 0 0 0 6-- 6
KC Min
FIRST DOWNS 23 13
Rushing 13 2
Passing 7 10
Penalty 3 1
THIRD DOWN EFF 6-17 3-14
FOURTH DOWN EFF 1-1 1-1
TOTAL NET YARDS 359 258
Total Plays 77 57
Avg Gain 4.7 4.5
NET YARDS RUSHING 202 48
Rushes 43 14
Avg per rush 4.7 3.4
NET YARDS PASSING 157 210
Sacked-Yds lost 1-8 1-8
Gross-Yds passing 165 218
Completed-Att. 19-33 22-42
Had Intercepted 1 2
Yards-Pass Play 4.6 4.9
KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB 4-0-0 2-1-0
PUNTS-Avg. 7-42.6 8-37.3
Punts blocked 0 0
FGs-PATs blocked 1-0 0-0
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE 90 69
Punts Returns 2-27 3-17
Kickoffs Returns 2-29 4-50
Interceptions 2-34 1-2
PENALTIES-Yds 12-85 5-26
FUMBLES-Lost 0-0 0-0
TIME OF POSSESSION 36:33 23:27
RUSHING--Kansas City, Hill 15-100, Allen 18-89, Anders 3-4, Richardson 2-4, Bennett 1-4, Carter 1-3, Bono 3-(minus 2). Minnesota, Lee 5-22, Johnson 3-12, Palmer 1-8, Graham 4-5, Evans 1-1.
PASSING--Kansas City, Bono 19-32-1-165. Allen 0-1-0-0. Minnesota, Johnson 22-42-2-218.
RECEIVING--Kansas City, Anders 7-48, LaChapelle 4-41, Walker 2-13, Johnson 1-26, Hill 1-11, Penn 1-11, Vanover 1-7, Bennett 1-6, Allen 1-2.
Minnesota, Carter 9-89, Lee 3-20, Reed 2-55, Jordan 2-9, Palmer 2-7, Ismail 1-32, DeLong 1-5, Evans 1-3, Graham 1-(minus 2).
PUNT RETURNS--Kansas City, Vanover 2-27. Minnesota, Palmer 3-17.
KICKOFF RETURNS--Kansas City, Vanover 1-24, McNair 1-5. Minnesota, Palmer 4-50.
TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS--Kansas City, Stargell 7-0-0, Washington 7-0-0, Hasty 4-0-0, Collins 2-2-0, Saleaumua 2-1-0, Thomas 2-1-0, Bayless 2-0-1, Davis 2-0-0, Simeon 2-0-0, Carter 1-1-0, Phillips 1-1-0, Smith 1-1-0, Traylor 1-0-0, Manusky 2-0-0, McNair 1-0-0, Richardson 2-0-0, Tongue 2-0-0. Minnesota, Edwards 8-5-0, Griffith 7-3-0, Brady 7-1-0, Alexander 6-2-0, Washington 6-0-0, Fuller 4-1-0, Randle 4-1-0, Talley 4-1-0, Thomas 4-1-0, Smith 2-3-0, Harrison 2-0-1, Morrow 2-0-0, Barnett 1-0-0, Clemons 0-1-0, Fisk 0-1-0, Tuaolo 0-1-0, Brown 1-0-0, Christy 1-0-0, Morris 0-1-0, Walsh 1-0-0.
INTERCEPTIONS--Kansas City, Washington 1-34, Collins 1-0. Minnesota, Fuller 1-2.
MISSED FIELD GOALS--Stoyanovich 31 (WL), 22 (blocked); Minnesota, Sisson 35 (WR).