1987 New England Patriots season

1987 New England Patriots season
1987 New England Patriots season
Owner	Billy Sullivan
Head coach	Raymond Berry
General manager	Patrick Sullivan
Home field	Sullivan Stadium
Results
Record	8–7
Division place	T-2nd AFC East
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	WR Stanley Morgan; LB Andre Tippett
AP All-Pros	LB Andre Tippett (1st team)
	← 1986; Patriots seasons; 1988 →;

Running back Reggie Dupard playing for the Patriots, circa 1987.

The 1987 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 18th season in the National Football League and 28th overall. They failed to improve on their 11–5 record from 1986, in the strike-shortened season, finishing at 8-7 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 1984, and finished tied for second in the AFC East Division.

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1987 New England Patriots draft
1	23	Bruce Armstrong *	T	Louisville
3	79	Bob Perryman	FB	Michigan
4	98	Rich Gannon *	QB	Delaware
4	102	Derrick Beasley	DB
4	107	Tim Jordan	LB	Wisconsin
5	113	Danny Villa	T	Arizona State
5	116	Tom Gibson	DE	Northern Arizona
6	302	Gene Taylor	WR	Fresno State
11	330	Elgin Davis	RB	UCF
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel[]

Staff[]

New England Patriots 1987 staff

Front Office

President – Billy Sullivan
Executive vice president –
Vice president – Bucko Kilroy
General manager – Patrick Sullivan
Director of player development – Dick Steinberg
Director of college scouting –
Director of pro scouting – Bill McPeak

Head coaches

Head coach – Raymond Berry

Offensive coaches

Quarterbacks/receivers – Les Steckel
Quarterbacks/special assistant to the head coach –
Offensive backfield –
Receivers – Harold Jackson
Assistant head coach/offensive line – Rod Humenuik

Defensive coaches

Defensive coordinator – Rod Rust
Defensive line – Eddie Khayat
Assistant defensive line – Ray Hamilton
Linebackers – Don Shinnick
Defensive backfield – Jim Carr

Special teams coaches

Special teams/tight ends – Dante Scarnecchia

Strength and conditioning

Strength and conditioning –

NFL replacement players[]

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

1987 New England Patriots replacement roster

Quarterbacks

10 Bob Bleier
15 Todd Whitten

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

80 Larry Linne
81
82 Dennis Gadbois
83 Wayne Coffey
86
88

Tight Ends

44 Todd Frain
87
85

Offensive Linemen

67
63
61 Greg Robinson
75
62
70
78
74
64
66

Defensive Linemen

97 John Guzik
96
71
65 Tom Porell
60 Frank Romano
99
90

Linebackers

91 Rogers Alexander
93
51
52 Jerry McCabe
55 Joe McHale
54
50
95
59

Defensive Backs

22 Ricky Atkinson
43 Duffy Cobbs
23
41
31
42
38

Special Teams

6 K/P
1 Eric Schubert

Roster[]

**1987 New England Patriots roster**

	Quarterbacks 2 Doug Flutie 14 Steve Grogan 12 Tom Ramsey Running backs 33 Tony Collins 40 Elgin Davis 21 Reggie Dupard 34 Bob Perryman 30 Mosi Tatupu Wide receivers 80 Irving Fryar 83 Cedric Jones 86 Stanley Morgan 81 Stephen Starring 82 Derwin Williams Tight ends 87 Lin Dawson 88 Willie Scott		Offensive linemen 78 Bruce Armstrong T 63 George Colton T 66 Paul Fairchild G 62 Sean Farrell G 64 Trevor Matich C 67 Steve Moore T 70 Art Plunkett T 73 Danny Villa T 61 Ron Wooten G Defensive linemen 85 Julius Adams DE 97 Milford Hodge DE 65 Mike Ruth DT 77 Kenneth Sims DE 60 Garin Veris DE 96 Brent Williams DE 90 Toby Williams DT		Linebackers 93 Tim Jordan OLB 50 Larry McGrew OLB 57 Steve Nelson ILB 52 Johnny Rembert ILB 95 Ed Reynolds ILB 56 Andre Tippett OLB 54 Ed Williams OLB Defensive backs 28 Jim Bowman SS 26 Raymond Clayborn CB 43 Ernest Gibson 41 38 Roland James SS 42 Ronnie Lippett CB 31 Fred Marion FS 23 Rod McSwain CB 22 Gene Profit Special teams 3 Rich Camarillo P 1 Tony Franklin K		Reserve lists 25 DB (IR) 55 Don Blackmon LB (IR) 11 Tony Eason QB (IR) 99 DE (IR) 35 RB (IR) 9 WR (IR) -- Jerry McCabe LB (IR) 75 Guy Morriss C (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week	Opponent	Result	Record	Attendance
1	Miami Dolphins	W 28–21	1–0	54,642
2	at New York Jets	L 43–24	1–1	70,847
–	at Washington Redskins	canceled	1–1
3	Cleveland Browns	L 20–10	1–2	14,830
4	Buffalo Bills	W 14–7	2–2	11,878
5	at Houston Oilers	W 21–7	3–2	26,294
6	at Indianapolis Colts	L 30–16	3–3	48,850
7	Los Angeles Raiders	W 26–23	4–3	60,664
8	at New York Giants	L 17–10	4–4	73,817
9	Dallas Cowboys	L 23–17	4–5	60,567
10	Indianapolis Colts	W 24–0	5–5	56,906
11	Philadelphia Eagles	L 34–31	5–6	54,198
12	at Denver Broncos	L 31–20	5–7	75,795
13	New York Jets	W 42–20	6–7	60,617
14	at Buffalo Bills	W 13–7	7–7	74,945
15	at Miami Dolphins	W 24–10	8–7	61,192

Standings[]

AFC East
view talk	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Indianapolis Colts⁽³⁾	9	6	0	.600	5–3	8–6	300	238	W2
New England Patriots	8	7	0	.533	6–2	8–4	320	293	W3
Miami Dolphins	8	7	0	.533	2–6	5–7	362	335	L1
Buffalo Bills	7	8	0	.467	4–4	6–6	270	305	L2
New York Jets	6	9	0	.400	3–5	6–5	334	360	L4

v t New England Patriots
Founded in 1960 Formerly the Boston Patriots (1960–1970) Based and headquartered in Foxborough, Massachusetts
Franchise	Franchise History Hall of Fame Patriot Place Seasons Players Coaches First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks Strategy Broadcasters
Stadiums	Nickerson Field Fenway Park Alumni Stadium Harvard Stadium Foxboro Stadium Gillette Stadium
Culture	Billy Sullivan Robert Kraft Jonathan Kraft Pat Patriot Cheerleaders "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" "Crazy Train" "Your Love" Patriot Reign Family Guy "Patriot Games" "3 Acts of God" "Gronkowsbees" "This Is Our House" "Stunning and Brave" "Turd Burglars"
Lore	Snowplow Game St. Louis Stallions Brady–Belichick era Tuck Rule Game 2006 playoff game vs. San Diego Chargers 16–0 Spygate 2007 game vs. New York Giants Helmet Catch Butt Fumble Deflategate The Butler Pick Colts Catastrophe 28–3 Philly Special Miracle in Miami Brady's first game against the Patriots
Rivalries	Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts Miami Dolphins New York Giants New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Brady–Manning rivalry
Division championships (22)	1963 1978 1986 1996 1997 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Conference championships (11)	1985 1996 2001 2003 2004 2007 2011 2014 2016 2017 2018
League championships (6)	2001 (XXXVI) 2003 (XXXVIII) 2004 (XXXIX) 2014 (XLIX) 2016 (LI) 2018 (LIII)
Retired numbers	20 40 56 57 73 78 79 89
Media	Broadcasters WBZ-FM Radio network Gil Santos Gino Cappelletti Bob Socci Scott Zolak
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1970–present) Conference: American Football Conference Division: East Division
Former league affiliation	League: American Football League (1960–1969)

v t New England Patriots seasons
Formerly the Boston Patriots (1960–1970)
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Bold indicates AFL Championship or Super Bowl victory Italics indicates AFL Championship or Super Bowl appearance