1987 Minnesota Vikings season

The 1987 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 27th year in the National Football League. A players' strike caused the cancellation of the September 27 game at the Kansas City Chiefs, while the games played on October 4, 11 and 18 were played with replacement players. The Vikings finished with an 8–7 record.

1987 Minnesota Vikings season
General managerMike Lynn
Head coachJerry Burns
Home fieldMetrodome
Results
Record8–7
Division place2nd NFC Central
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(at Saints) 44–10
Won Divisional Playoffs
(at 49ers) 36–24
Lost NFC Championship
(at Redskins) 10–17
Pro BowlersS Joey Browner
WR Anthony Carter
DE Chris Doleman
TE Steve Jordan
LB Scott Studwell
T Gary Zimmerman
AP All-ProsS Joey Browner (1st team)
T Gary Zimmerman (1st team)
DE Chris Doleman (2nd team)
DT Keith Millard (2nd team)
Uniform

Despite finishing the season only one game over .500, and losing three of their final four games, Minnesota sneaked into the playoffs with the final Wild Card position. There, they won two huge upsets, beating the New Orleans Saints (12–3) and San Francisco 49ers (13–2) on the road. The Vikings were unable, however, to defeat the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Game.

The last remaining active member of the 1987 Minnesota Vikings was quarterback Rich Gannon, who played his final NFL game in the 2004 season, although he missed the 1989 and 1994 seasons.

Offseason

edit

1987 Draft

edit
Pro Bowler
1987 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft orderPlayer namePositionCollegeNotes
RoundSelection
114D. J. DozierRunning backPenn Statefrom Dolphins[a]
16Traded to the Miami Dolphins[a]
244Ray BerryLinebackerBaylor
372Henry ThomasDefensive tackleLouisiana State
4100Reggie RutlandCornerbackGeorgia Tech
5128Traded to the Miami Dolphins[a]
6156Greg RichardsonWide receiverAlabama
7184Traded to the Seattle Seahawks[b]
8211Rick FenneyRunning backWashington
9239Leonard JonesDefensive backTexas Tech
10267Bob RileyOffensive tackleIndiana State
11295Brent PeaseQuarterbackMontana
12323Keith WilliamsDefensive tackleFlorida
^[a] The Vikings traded their first- and fifth-round selections (16th and 128th overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Miami's first-round selection (14th overall).

Undrafted free agents

edit
1987 undrafted free agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Dale DawsonKickerEastern Kentucky

Staff

edit
1987 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches


[1]

Roster

edit
1987 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Rookies in italics
51 active, 2 inactive, 0 practice squad
Source

NFL replacement players

edit

After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:

1987 Minnesota Vikings replacement roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Preseason

edit
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance[2]
1August 15at New Orleans SaintsL 17–230–1Louisiana Superdome52,884
2August 22Indianapolis ColtsW 37–131–1Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome49,304
3August 29New England PatriotsL 27–381–2Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome49,339
4September 3at Denver BroncosW 27–172–2Mile High Stadium74,081

Regular season

edit

Schedule

edit
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 13Detroit LionsW 34–191–0Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome57,061
2September 20at Los Angeles RamsW 21–162–0Anaheim Stadium63,367
September 27at Kansas City Chiefscanceled2–0Arrowhead Stadium
3October 4Green Bay PackersL 16–232–1Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome13,911
4October 11at Chicago BearsL 7–272–2Soldier Field32,113
5October 18at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 10–202–3Tampa Stadium20,850
6October 26Denver BroncosW 34–273–3Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome51,011
7November 1at Seattle SeahawksL 17–283–4Kingdome61,134
8November 8Los Angeles RaidersW 31–204–4Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome57,150
9November 15Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 23–175–4Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome48,605
10November 22Atlanta FalconsW 24–136–4Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome53,866
11November 26at Dallas CowboysW 44–38 (OT)7–4Texas Stadium54,229
12December 6Chicago BearsL 24–307–5Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome62,331
13December 13at Green Bay PackersL 10–167–6Milwaukee County Stadium47,059
14December 20at Detroit LionsW 17–148–6Pontiac Silverdome27,693
15December 26Washington RedskinsL 24–27 (OT)8–7Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome59,160

Notes:

  • Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
  • The October 18 game against Tampa Bay was originally scheduled to be played in Minneapolis. The game was switched with the November 15 game due to Game 2 of the World Series. The game against the Broncos, originally scheduled for October 25, was pushed back to Monday because the Metrodome was being used for Game 7 of the World Series.

Game summaries

edit

Week 11: at Dallas Cowboys

edit
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Vikings147710644
Cowboys0141014038

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

In the Vikings' first game on Thanksgiving for 18 years, starting quarterback Tommy Kramer helped the team to a 14–0 lead by the end of the first quarter, opening with an 11-yard strike to Anthony Carter, before taking the ball in himself from a yard out. However, a bruised throwing arm meant he had to leave the game for a time meant Wade Wilson took over. The Cowboys tied it up with two touchdowns of their own in the second quarter, but another throw from Kramer to Carter, this time from 37 yards, meant the Vikings took a seven-point lead into halftime. Darrin Nelson extended the Vikings' lead with the opening score of the second half, running 52 yards for the Vikings' fourth touchdown of the game. A field goal and another touchdown for the Cowboys reduced the Vikings' lead to four points going into the final quarter, but they restored the two-score margin with a field goal from Chuck Nelson and a 1-yard run from Rick Fenney. The Cowboys managed to come back and tie the game with just over two minutes left to play, enough time for the Vikings to drive downfield and set up a potential game-winning, 46-yard field goal attempt for Chuck Nelson with nine seconds left. He missed the kick and the game went to overtime. Both teams failed with their first two possessions, with both throwing interceptions. Vikings linebacker Scott Studwell returned his interception to the Minnesota 40-yard line to begin their third drive of the extra period. They opened with four straight run plays, including a fourth-down conversion to get them to midfield, followed by a 24-yard pass from Wilson to Carter, before Darrin Nelson ran the remaining distance for the walkoff game-winning touchdown. The result brought the Vikings to a 7–4 record with four games left to play.[3]

Standings

edit
NFC Central
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Chicago Bears(2)1140.7337–09–2356282W1
Minnesota Vikings(5)870.5333–56–6336335L1
Green Bay Packers591.3673–44–7255300L2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers4110.2673–44–9286360L8
Detroit Lions4110.2672–54–7269384W1

Postseason

edit

Schedule

edit
RoundDateOpponent (seed)ResultRecordVenue
Wild CardJanuary 3, 1988at New Orleans Saints (4)W 44–101–0Louisiana Superdome
DivisionalJanuary 9, 1988at San Francisco 49ers (1)W 36–242–0Candlestick Park
NFC ChampionshipJanuary 17, 1988at Washington Redskins (3)L 10–172–1Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

Game summaries

edit

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (#4) New Orleans Saints

edit
NFC Wild Card Playoffs: (#5) Minnesota Vikings at (#4) New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings102131044
Saints730010

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

In the Saints' first playoff game in history, the Vikings dominated the game by recording two sacks, forcing four turnovers and allowing only 149 yards. The 34-point margin of victory stands as the most lopsided win by an NFC team in a Wild Card round game in NFL history.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (#1) San Francisco 49ers

edit
NFC Divisional Playoffs: (#5) Minnesota Vikings at (#1) San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings31710636
49ers3014724

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

Game information

The heavy underdog Vikings pulled off a shocker in San Francisco, controlling most of the game with Anthony Carter leading the way with 227 receiving yards.

NFC Championship Game: at (#3) Washington Redskins

edit
NFC Championship Game: (#5) Minnesota Vikings at (#3) Washington Redskins – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings070310
Redskins703717

at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Game information

In a defensive battle, the Redskins played a little better by limiting the Vikings to only 76 rushing yards and forcing eight sacks. Washington scored first on a 98-yard drive that was capped by running back Kelvin Bryant's 42-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Doug Williams. However, Minnesota tied the game before halftime with quarterback Wade Wilson's 23-yard touchdown pass to Leo Lewis. In the third quarter, Redskins linebacker Mel Kaufman returned an interception 10 yards to the Minnesota 17-yard line to set up kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh's 28-yard field goal. In the final period, Vikings kicker Chuck Nelson made an 18-yard field goal to tie the game, 10–10. The Redskins then marched 70 yards to score on Williams' 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Gary Clark to take the lead, 17–10, with 5:06 remaining in the game. Minnesota then advanced to the Washington 6-yard line, but Wilson's fourth down pass, intended for running back Darrin Nelson in the end zone was defended by Darrell Green with 52 seconds remaining and the Redskins ran out the clock.

Statistics

edit

Team leaders

edit
CategoryPlayer(s)Value
Passing yardsWade Wilson2,106
Passing touchdownsWade Wilson14
Rushing yardsDarrin Nelson642
Rushing touchdownsD.J. Dozier
Wade Wilson
5
Receiving yardsAnthony Carter922
Receiving touchdownsAnthony Carter7
PointsChuck Nelson75
Kickoff return yardsNeal Guggemos808
Punt return yardsLeo Lewis275
TacklesJesse Solomon126
SacksChris Doleman11.0
InterceptionsJoey Browner6
Forced fumblesChris Doleman6

League rankings

edit
CategoryTotal yardsYards per gameNFL rank
(out of 28)
Passing offense2,826176.620th
Rushing offense1,983123.911th
Total offense4,809300.615th
Passing defense3,100193.816th
Rushing defense1,724107.811th
Total defense4,824301.810th

References

edit
  1. ^ 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 265. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  2. ^ "1987 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
  3. ^ Wilbon, Michael (November 27, 1987). "Vikings top Cowboys in overtime". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
edit