NFL playoffs, 1987-88

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The NFL playoffs following the 1987 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXII.

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Denver Broncos (West winner) San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
2 Cleveland Browns (Central winner) Chicago Bears (Central winner)
3 Indianapolis Colts (East winner) Washington Redskins (East winner)
4 Houston Oilers New Orleans Saints
5 Seattle Seahawks Minnesota Vikings

Contents

[edit] Wild Card playoffs

[edit] January 3, 1988

[edit] NFC: Minnesota Vikings 44, New Orleans Saints 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 10 21 3 10 44
Saints 7 3 0 0 10

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

In the Saints' first playoff game in history, the Vikings dominated the game by recording 2 sacks, forcing 4 turnovers, and allowing only 149 yards. New Orleans scored first after Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer's fumble on a bad snap led to Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert's 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eric Martin. Kramer then had to leave the game midway through the first quarter after reaggravating a pinched nerve in his neck that bothered him throughout the entire season. However, Minnesota took control of the contest from that point on. Backup quarterback Wade Wilson threw two touchdown passes, running back D. J. Dozier rushed for an 18-yard touchdown, and kicker Chuck Nelson made 3 field goals. Wide receiver Anthony Carter recorded an NFL playoff record 84-yard punt return for a touchdown. Carter also scored a touchdown on a 10-yard halfback option pass from Allen Rice. New Orleans' only other score in the game was a 40-yard field goal by Morten Andersen. Wilson finished the game with 11 of 20 completions for 189 yards and 2 touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • NO - Martin 10 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)
    • MIN - FG Nelson 42
    • MIN - Carter 84 punt return (Nelson kick)
    • MIN - Jordan 5 pass from Wilson (Nelson kick)
    • MIN - Carter 10 pass from Rice (Nelson kick)
    • NO - FG Andersen 40
    • MIN - Jones 44 pass from Wilson (Nelson kick)
    • MIN - FG Nelson 42
    • MIN - FG Nelson 19
    • MIN - Dozier 18 run (Nelson kick)

[edit] AFC: Houston Oilers 23, Seattle Seahawks 20 (OT)

1 2 3 4 OT Total
Seahawks 7 3 3 7 0 20
Oilers 3 10 7 0 3 23

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Oilers kicker Tony Zendejas won the game with a 42-yard field goal 8:05 into overtime. Although Houston outgained Seattle with 427 total offensive yards to 250, the game remained close until the very end. The Seahawks scored first on wide receiver Steve Largent's 20-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dave Krieg. The Oilers then scored 13 unanswered points with two field goals by Zendejas and running back Mike Rozier's 1-yard rushing touchdown. However, Seattle tied the game in the third quarter after kicker Norm Johnson made his second field goal of the game. Later in the third period, Houston quarterback Warren Moon threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Willie Drewrey to give his team a 20-13 lead. With only 1:47 left in regulation, Krieg threw his second touchdown pass to Largent, a 12-yarder, to tie the game. Largent finished the game with 7 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.

  • Scoring
    • SEA - Largent 20 pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)
    • HOU - FG Zendejas 47
    • HOU - Rozier 1 run (Zendejas kick)
    • HOU - FG Zendejas 49
    • SEA - FG Johnson 33
    • SEA - FG Johnson 41
    • HOU - Drewrey 29 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
    • SEA - Largent 12 pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)
    • HOU - FG Zendejas 42

[edit] Divisional playoffs

[edit] January 9, 1988

[edit] AFC: Cleveland Browns 38, Indianapolis Colts 21

1 2 3 4 Total
Colts 7 7 0 7 21
Browns 7 7 7 17 38

at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Browns defensive back Felix Wright's interception deep inside his own territory sparked his team to score 17 unanswered points. The game was tied 14-14 at halftime after both Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar and Indianapolis Jack Trudeau each threw two touchdowns. But Wright's interception in the third period led to an 86-yard drive that was capped with running back Earnest Byner's 2-yard touchdown. The Browns later added a field goal and another touchdown pass from Kosar. The Colts cut the score 31-21 after running back Albert Bentley rushed for a 1-yard touchdown. But Cleveland defensive back Frank Minnifield later returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown to clinch the victory. Byner finished the game with 122 rushing yards, 4 receptions for 36 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

  • Scoring
    • CLE - Byner 10 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
    • IND - Beach 2 pass from Trudeau (Biasucci kick)
    • CLE - Langhorne 39 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
    • IND - Dickerson 19 pass from Trudeau (Biasucci kick)
    • CLE - Byner 2 run (Bahr kick)
    • CLE - FG Bahr 22
    • CLE - Brennan 2 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
    • IND - Bentley 1 run (Biasucci kick)
    • CLE - Minnifield 48 interception return (Bahr kick)

[edit] NFC: Minnesota Vikings 36, San Francisco 49ers 24

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 3 17 10 6 36
49ers 3 0 14 7 24

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Joe Theismann
  • Game Attendance: 63,008

Aided by wide receiver Anthony Carter's 10 receptions for an NFL playoff record 227 receiving yards, the Vikings upset the top seeded 49ers, who had earned the league's best record during the regular season at 13-2. After the teams traded field goals in the first quarter, quarterback Wade Wilson completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Carl Hilton. Minnesota then jumped to a 20-3 lead before halftime with Chuck Nelson's 23-yard field goal and defensive back Reggie Rutland's 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. In the third period, San Francisco defensive back Jeff Fuller returned an interception 48 yard for a touchdown, but it was countered with Wilson's 5-yard touchdown pass to Hassan Jones. 49ers backup quarterback Steve Young, who replaced starter Joe Montana midway through the game, scored a rushing touchdown and threw another. But it was not enough as Nelson made 3 more field goals in the second half to put the game out of reach.

  • Scoring
    • MIN - FG Nelson 21
    • SF - FG Wersching 43
    • MIN - Hilton 7 pass from Wilson (Nelson kick)
    • MIN - FG Nelson 23
    • MIN - Rutland 45 interception return (Nelson kick)
    • SF - Fuller 48 interception return (Wersching kick)
    • MIN - Jones 5 pass from Wilson (Nelson kick)
    • SF - Young 5 run (Wersching kick)
    • MIN - FG Nelson 40
    • MIN - FG Nelson 40
    • SF - Franklin 16 pass from Young (Wersching kick)
    • MIN - FG Nelson 23

[edit] January 10, 1988

[edit] NFC: Washington Redskins 21, Chicago Bears 17

1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 0 14 7 0 21
Bears 7 7 3 0 17

at Soldier Field, Chicago

The Redskins overcame a 14-0 Bears lead by scoring three unanswered touchdowns. Chicago's first score was running back Calvin Thomas' 2-yard rushing touchdown. Bears quarterback Jim McMahon then threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ron Morris. However, Washington tied the game before halftime with George Rodgers's 3-yard touchdown run and quarterback Doug Williams' 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Clint Didier. In the third quarter, Redskins cornerback Darrell Green's scored on a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown. Chicago responded with kicker Kevin Butler's 25-yard field goal, but were shut down for the rest of the game. This was the final game in the hall of fame career of Bears running back Walter Payton, who rushed for 85 yards and caught 3 passes for 20 yards.

  • Scoring
    • CHI - Thomas 2 run (Butler kick)
    • CHI - Morris 14 pass from McMahon (Butler kick)
    • WAS - Rogers 3 run (Haji-Sheikh kick)
    • WAS - Didier 18 pass from Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick)
    • WAS - Green 52 punt return (Haji-Sheikh kick)
    • CHI - FG Butler 25

[edit] AFC: Denver Broncos 34, Houston Oilers 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Oilers 0 3 0 7 10
Broncos 14 10 3 7 34

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

The Broncos jumped to a 14-0 early lead by converting two turnovers into two touchdowns. Denver defensive back Steve Wilson recovered a lateral pass by Oilers quarterback Warren Moon at the Houston 1-yard line, setting up Gene Lang's 1-yard rushing touchdown. Then on the Oilers next drive, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg intercepted a pass, and Broncos quarterback John Elway completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Clarence Kay. Both teams exchanged field goals in the second period before Elway threw a 1-yard touchdown to Kay. In the fourth quarter, Moon completed a 19-yard touchdown to wide receiver Ernest Givins, but it was countered with Elway's 3-yard touchdown run.

  • Scoring
    • DEN - Lang 1 run (Karlis kick)
    • DEN - Kay 27 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
    • DEN - FG Karlis 43
    • HOU - FG Zendejas 46
    • DEN - Kay 1 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
    • DEN - FG Karlis 23
    • HOU - Givins 19 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
    • DEN - Elway 3 run (Karlis kick)

[edit] Conference Championships

[edit] January 17, 1988

[edit] NFC: Washington Redskins 17, Minnesota Vikings 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 0 7 0 3 10
Redskins 7 0 3 7 17

at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

In a defensive battle, the Redskins played a little better by limiting the Vikings to only 76 rushing yards and forcing 8 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 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 was dropped by running back Darrin Nelson in the end zone with 52 seconds remaining and the Redskins ran out the clock.

  • Scoring
    • WAS - Bryant 42 pass from Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick)
    • MIN - Lewis 23 pass from Wilson (Nelson kick)
    • WAS - FG Haji-Sheikh 28
    • MIN - FG Nelson 18
    • WAS - Clark 7 pass from Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick)

[edit] AFC: Denver Broncos 38, Cleveland Browns 33

1 2 3 4 Total
Browns 0 3 21 9 33
Broncos 14 7 10 7 38

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

This game is best remembered for The Fumble when Browns running back Earnest Byner fumbled at the Broncos' 3-yard line with 65 seconds remaining.

The Broncos jumped to a 21-3 halftime lead, but Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar led them back with 4 touchdowns in the second half to tie the game. The Broncos then took the lead with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Elway to running back Sammy Winder with 4 minutes left in the game. Cleveland then advanced to the Denver 8-yard line with 1:12 left. Byner then took a handoff and appeared to be on his way to score the game-tying touchdown. But he was stripped of the ball by Broncos defensive back Jeremiah Castille, and fumbled at the 3-yard line. The Broncos recovered the ball, gave the Browns an intentional safety, and went on to win 38-33. Byner's fumble ruined an otherwise superb performanace, as he finished the game with 67 rushing yards, 7 receptions for 120 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Elway finished the game with 14 of 26 completions for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception, and also rushed for 36 yards.

  • Scoring
    • DEN - Nattiel 8 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
    • DEN - Sewell 1 run (Karlis kick)
    • CLE - FG Bahr 24
    • DEN - Lang 1 run (Karlis kick)
    • CLE - Langhorne 18 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
    • DEN - Jackson 80 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
    • CLE - Byner 32 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
    • CLE - Byner 4 run (Bahr kick)
    • CLE - Slaughter 4 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
    • DEN - Winder 20 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
    • CLE - Safety, Horan ran out of end zone

[edit] Bracket

  Wild Card Playoffs Divisional Playoffs Conference Championships Super Bowl XXII
                                     
5  Vikings 44  
4  Saints 10  
  5  Vikings 36  
    1  49ers 24  
      
        
  5  Vikings 10  
NFC
  3  Redskins 17  
        
        
  3  Redskins 21
    2  Bears 17  
      
        
  N3  Redskins 42
  A1  Broncos 10
        
        
  3  Colts 21
    2  Browns 38  
      
        
  2  Browns 33
AFC
  1  Broncos 38  
5  Seahawks 20  
4  Oilers 23  
  4  Oilers 10
    1  Broncos 34  
      

[edit] Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXII

Washington Redskins (NFC) 42, Denver Broncos (AFC) 10, at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

[edit] References

Preceded by:
NFL playoffs, 1986-87		 NFL playoffs
1987-88		 Succeeded by:
NFL playoffs, 1988-89
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