1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach	Chuck Noll
General manager	Dick Haley
Owner	Art Rooney
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	8–7
Division place	3rd in AFC Central
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	C Mike Webster
AP All-Pros	none
Team MVP	Mike Merriweather
Team ROY	Delton Hall
Timeline
Previous season      Next season < 1986      1988 >

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Location	Time (ET)	TV	Result	Record
1	Sun. Sep. 13	San Francisco 49ers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	CBS	W 30–17	1–0
2	Sun. Sep. 20	at Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	L 34–10	1–1
3	Sun. Sep. 27	New York Jets	Three Rivers Stadium	4:00 pm	NBC	Canceled	1–1
4	Sun. Oct. 4	at Atlanta Falcons	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 28–12	2–1
5	Sun. Oct. 11	at Los Angeles Rams	Anaheim Stadium	4:00 pm	NBC	L 31–21	2–2
6	Sun. Oct. 18	Indianapolis Colts	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 21–7	3–2
7	Sun. Oct. 25	Cincinnati Bengals	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 23–20	4–2
8	Sun. Nov. 1	at Miami Dolphins	Joe Robbie Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	L 35–24	4–3
9	Sun. Nov. 8	at Kansas City Chiefs	Arrowhead Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 17–16	5–3
10	Sun. Nov. 15	Houston Oilers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	L 23–3	5–4
11	Sun. Nov. 22	at Cincinnati Bengals	Riverfront Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 30–16	6–4
12	Sun. Nov. 29	New Orleans Saints	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	CBS	L 20–16	6–5
13	Sun. Dec. 6	Seattle Seahawks	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 13–9	7–5
14	Sun. Dec. 13	at San Diego Chargers	Jack Murphy Stadium	4:00 pm	NBC	W 20–16	8–5
15	Sun. Dec. 20	at Houston Oilers	Astrodome	1:00 pm	NBC	L 24–16	8–6
16	Sat. Dec. 26	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	12:30 pm	NBC	L 19–13	8–7

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 13, 1987): vs. San Francisco 49ers

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	3	7	7	17
Steelers	7	10	3	10	30

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 55,735
• Referee: Gordon McCarter
• TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Lampley (play by play), Ken Stabler (color commentator)

• Pittsburgh – Hall 50 fumble return (Anderson kick)
• San Francisco – FG Wersching 43
• Pittsburgh – Gothard 2 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 50
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
• San Francisco – Frank 1 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 28 run (Anderson kick)
• San Francisco – Rice 3 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 20, 1987): at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	3	7	0	10
Browns	0	10	7	17	34

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 79,543
• Referee: Gene Barth
• TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)

• Cleveland – FG Jaeger 29
• Cleveland – Mack 1 run (Jaeger kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
• PIttsburgh – Shell 19 fumble return (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – McNeil 11 pass from Kosar (Jaeger kick)
• Cleveland – FG Jaeger 23
• Cleveland – Matthews 26 interception return (Jaeger kick)
• Cleveland – Weathers 37 pass from Kosar (Jaeger kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 27, 1987): vs. New York Jets

Canceled due to player's strike.

Week 4 (Sunday October 4, 1987): at Atlanta Falcons

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	14	0	14	28
Falcons	3	0	2	7	12

at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 16,667
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers: (NBC) Mel Proctor (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

This game was played with replacement players.

• Atlanta – FG Davis 27
• Pittsburgh – Earnest Jackson 1 run (Trout kick)
• Pittsburgh – Hairston 5 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
• Atlanta – Safety, Bono penalized for intentional grounding in end zone
• Pittsburgh – Bono 1 run (Trout kick)
• Pittsburgh – Clinkscales 11 pass from Collier (Trout kick)
• Atlanta – Barney 19 pass from Van Raaphorst (Davis kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 11, 1987): at Los Angeles Rams

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	7	0	7	21
Rams	7	14	7	3	31

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

• Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 20,219
• Referee: Bob Frederic
• TV announcers: (NBC) Fred Roggin (play by play), Dave Lapham (color commentator)

This game was played with replacement players.

• Los Angeles Rams – Jackson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lansford kick)
• Pittsburgh – Alston 22 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
• Pittsburgh – Carter 10 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
• Los Angeles Rams – White 2 run (Lansford kick)
• Los Angeles Rams – McDonald 1 pass from Dils (Lansford kick)
• Los Angeles Rams – Moore 11 pass from Dils (Lansford kick)
• Los Angeles Rams – FG Lansford 29
• Pittsburgh – Alston 42 pass from Collier (Trout kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 18, 1987): vs. Indianapolis Colts

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colts	0	7	0	0	7
Steelers	7	0	0	14	21

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 34,627
• Referee: Tom Dooley
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

This game was played with replacement players.

• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 3 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
• Indianapolis – Murray 20 pass from Kiel (Jordan kick)
• Pittsburgh – Hoge 20 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
• Pittsburgh – Sanders 10 run (Trout kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 25, 1987): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	7	7	6	0	20
Steelers	3	0	7	13	23

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 53,692
• Referee: Fred Wyant
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

• Cincinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
• Cincinnati – Martin 41 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – Hall 25 run with lateral after Hinkle interception (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – Jennings 9 pass from Esiason (kick failed)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 12 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20

Week 8 (Sunday November 1, 1987): at Miami Dolphins

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	14	7	3	0	24
Dolphins	0	7	14	14	35

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 52,578
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• TV announcers: (NBC) Sam Nover (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)

• Pittsburgh – Lockett 10 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Shell 50 interception return (Anderson kick)
• Miami – Hardy 2 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Miami – Clayton 41 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
• Miami – Duper 50 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
• Miami – Clayton 33 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
• Miami – Stradford 5 run (Reveiz kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 8, 1987): at Kansas City Chiefs

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	7	3	17
Chiefs	7	3	0	6	16

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 45,249
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)

• Kansas City – Maas 6 fumble return (Lowery kick)
• Pittsburgh – Carter 4 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Kansas City – FG Lowery 41
• Pittsburgh – Carter 26 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Kansas City – FG Lowery 27
• Kansas City – FG Lowery 38
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44

Week 10 (Sunday November 15, 1987): vs. Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	3	14	6	23
Steelers	3	0	0	0	3

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 56,177
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
• Houston – FG Zendejas 34
• Houston – Duncan 14 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
• Houston – D. Hill 42 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
• Houston – FG Zendejas 20
• Houston – FG Zendejas 40

Week 11 (Sunday November 22, 1987): at Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	10	7	10	30
Bengals	3	3	3	7	16

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 59,910
• Referee: Fred Silva
• TV announcers: (NBC) Mel Proctor (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 35
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 52
• Pittsburgh – Woodson 45 interception return (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 38
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 41
• Pittsburgh – Thompson 14 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
• CIncinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – Malone 42 run (Anderson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 29, 1987): vs. New Orleans Saints

	1	2	3	4	Total
Saints	3	0	7	10	20
Steelers	0	14	0	2	16

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 47,896
• Referee: Fred Wyant
• TV announcers: (CBS) Tim Brant (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)

• New Orleans – FG Andersen 25
• Pittsburgh – Woodruff 33 interception return (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 5 run (Anderson kick)
• New Orleans – Mayes 5 run (Andersen kick)
• New Orleans – Martin 19 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)
• New Orleans – FG Andersen 32
• Pittsburgh – Safety, Hansen ran out of end zone

Week 13 (Sunday December 6, 1987): vs. Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	3	6	0	0	9
Steelers	3	3	0	7	13

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 48,881
• Referee: Gordon McCarter
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
• Seattle – FG Johnson 33
• Seattle – Largent 12 pass from Krieg (pass failed)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 11 run (Anderson kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 13, 1987): at San Diego Chargers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	10	3	20
Chargers	9	0	7	0	16

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

• Game time: 4:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 51,605
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

• San Diego – Brandon recovered blocked punt in end zone (Abbott kick)
• San DIego – Safety, Ehin tackled Malone in end zone
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 8 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Malone 7 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
• San Diego – James 15 pass from Fouts (Abbott kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 20, 1987): at Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	3	7	3	16
Oilers	0	10	7	7	24

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 36,683
• Referee: Tom Dooley
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
• Houston – Hill 52 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
• Houston – FG Zendejas 34
• Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Houston – Pinkett 5 run (Zendejas kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
• Houston – Hill 30 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)

Week 16 (Saturday December 26, 1987): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	3	6	3	7	19
Steelers	0	3	0	10	13

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 12:30 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 56,394
• Referee: Dick Hantak
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

• Cleveland – FG Bahr 31
• Cleveland – Tennell 2 pass from Kosar (kick failed)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 30
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
• Cleveland – Byner 2 run (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Gowdy 45 interception return (Anderson kick)

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Cleveland Browns	10	5	0	.667	390	239
Houston Oilers	9	6	0	.600	345	349
Pittsburgh Steelers	8	7	0	.533	285	299
Cincinnati Bengals	4	11	0	.267	285	370