The 1987 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 38th season in the National Football League and their 42nd overall. The 49ers won the division for the second consecutive season, ended the season as the top seed in the NFC and were heavily favored to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. The season ended with an upset loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The season The 49ers lost the first game of the season to Pittsburgh. In their second game, against Cincinnati, it appeared that they were going to start the season 0–2, down by 6 points with just 2 seconds to play. However, quarterback Joe Montana threw a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Jerry Rice as time expired. The 49ers used the victory as a springboard to a 13–1 run to end the season with the best record in the NFL.
The 49ers scored 459 points, the most in the NFL in 1987; they also scored 206 more points than they allowed, best in the league as well. The 49ers gained the most total yards (5,987), the most rushing yards (2,237) and second most passing yards (3,750) in the NFL in 1987.Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1987 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics
Wide receiver Jerry Rice was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the Bert Bell Award (for Player of the Year). Rice caught 22 touchdown passes in a strike-shortened 12 games (1 game was canceled because of the strike, and Rice didn't play in the next 3 games while the strike was on). This record stood for twenty years. Rice led the league in receiving yards per game (89.8), total touchdowns (23: 22 receiving, 1 rushing), and points scored (138). Quarterback Joe Montana (who crossed the picket line during the strike) led the league with 31 touchdown passes. He also led the league in passer rating (102.1) and completion percentage (66.8%).
The San Francisco defense was also very strong, surrendering the fewest total yards (4,095), fewest passing yards (2,484) and fifth-fewest rushing yards (1,611) in the NFL in 1987. The 1987 49ers have the best passer rating differential (offensive passer rating minus opponents' combined passer rating) of the Live Ball Era (1978–present), with +52.4.
Offseason When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected quarterback Vinny Testaverde first overall in the 1987 NFL draft, Tampa Bay quarterback Steve Young was traded to the 49ers on April 24, 1987. The Buccaneers received 2nd and 4th round draft picks in the trade, which they used to draft Miami linebacker Winston Moss, and Arizona State wide receiver Bruce Hill.
NFL draft
Harris Barton was the first offensive tackle selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the 49ers since Forrest Blue was selected in 1968.1990 NFL Pro Set Harris Barton trading card, Card No. 284, Pro Set Properties
Personnel Staff
NFL replacement players After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:
1987 San Francisco 49ers replacement rosterQuarterbacks Mark Stevens Ed Blount Bob Gagliano Paul Berner Joe Montana
Running backs Tony Cherry Harry Sydney FB Bernard Moore Doug DuBose Del Rodgers Joe Cribbs Don Roberts Roger Craig James Mackey Andre Hardy Mike Varajon Carl Monroe
Wide receivers Tony Gladney Terry Greer Ray Brown Kevin Collins Carl Monroe Dennis Allen Thomas Henley Thai Ivory James Hardy Dwight Clark Jeff Tiefenthaller
Tight ends Mike Wells Chris Dressel Russ Francis Ron Heller Darren Long Offensive linemen Michael Durette Chuck Thomas C Kevin Lamar Tracy Franz LT Tom Long Kevin Reach Mark Cochran Limbo Parks Gary Hoffman
Defensive linemen Joe Drake Mike Durrette Pete Kugler LDE Greg Lifer Dwaine Board RDE Terry Jackson Glenn Collins Reno Patterson Clyde Glover Bob Standifar Elston Ridgle Doug Mikolas NTLinebackers Carl Keever George Cooper LOLB Ron Hadley LILB Darren Comeaux Steve Meadow Tom Cousineau RILB Keith Browner James Johnson Kevin Thompson Mark Korff Jerry Keeble ROLB Greg Wilks
Defensive backs Kevin Pollard Eric Wright Jonathon Shelley Del Rodgers John Butler Derrick Martin Darryl Pollard LCB Dana McLemore RCB John Sullivan Matt Courtney John Faylor FS Jeff Fuller SS
Special teams Jeff Brockhaus K Louis Berry P Jim Asmus P
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue HOF August 8 vs. Kansas City Chiefs W 20–7 1–0 Fawcett Stadium 1 August 15 at Los Angeles Raiders W 42–16 2–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 2 August 22 Dallas Cowboys L 3–13 2–1 Candlestick Park 3 August 27 San Diego Chargers W 17–3 3–1 Candlestick Park 4 September 4 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–34 3–2 Kingdome
Regular season In 1987, Jerry Rice led the NFL with 22 touchdown receptions. The runner-up was Philadelphia Eagles receiver Mike Quick with 11. This marked the first time in NFL history that a category leader doubled the total of his nearest competitor.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 13 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–30 0–1 Three Rivers Stadium 55,735 2 September 20 at Cincinnati Bengals W 27–26 1–1 Riverfront Stadium 53,498 – September 27 Philadelphia Eagles Canceled 3 at New York Giants W 41–21 2–1 Giants Stadium 16,471 4 October 11 at Atlanta Falcons W 25–17 3–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 8,684 5 October 18 St. Louis Cardinals W 34–28 4–1 Candlestick Park 38,094 6 October 25 at New Orleans Saints W 24–22 5–1 Louisiana Superdome 60,497 7 November 1 at Los Angeles Rams W 31–10 6–1 Anaheim Stadium 55,328 8 November 8 Houston Oilers W 27–20 7–1 Candlestick Park 59,740 9 November 15 New Orleans Saints L 24–26 7–2 Candlestick Park 60,436 10 November 22 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–10 8–2 Tampa Stadium 63,211 11 November 29 Cleveland Browns W 38–24 9–2 Candlestick Park 60,248 12 December 6 at Green Bay Packers W 23–12 10–2 Lambeau Field 51,118 13 Chicago Bears W 41–0 11–2 Candlestick Park 63,509 14 December 20 Atlanta Falcons W 35–7 12–2 Candlestick Park 54,698 15 December 27 Los Angeles Rams W 48–0 13–2 Candlestick Park 57,950 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
Standings
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Divisional Minnesota Vikings (5) L 24–36 0–1 Candlestick Park
Game summaries
NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (5) Minnesota Vikings
The 13–2 49ers suffered one of the biggest upsets in playoff history as the 8–7 Vikings came into Candlestick and beat the 49ers 36–24. Vikings QB Wade Wilson threw for 298 yards, and Anthony Carter caught 10 passes for 227 yards. Joe Montana struggled so much that Steve Young came in to relieve him. Though he played better, it was not enough. The Vikings took a 20–3 halftime lead, and held on for the major upset. Vikings advance to the NFC Championship but they were defeated by the Washington Redskins 17-10
Awards and records Jerry Rice, Franchise Record, Most Touchdowns in One Season, 23 touchdowns (22 receiving, 1 rushing)NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 142 Jerry Rice, Franchise Record, Most Points in One Season, 138 points Jerry Rice, NFL Leader, 23 touchdownsNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 447 Jerry Rice, NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jerry Rice, Bert Bell Award
Notes
References
External links 1987 49ers on Pro Football Reference 49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com