1987 New York Jets season

1987 season of NFL team New York Jets

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The 1987 New York Jets season was the 28th season for the team and the club's 18th season in the National Football League (NFL). It began with the team trying to improve upon its 10–6 record from 1986 under head coach Joe Walton. The season was marred by a players' strike that resulted in the cancellation of all week-3 games, as well as Weeks 4 through 6 being played mostly with replacement players. The Jets finished the season with a record of 6–9. For the second time in his career, Ken O'Brien had the lowest rate of interceptions among quarterbacks. He had 8 interceptions in 393 passing attempts.

Offseason

Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1987 New York Jets draft
1	21	Roger Vick	FB	Texas A&M
2	42	Alex Gordon	LB	Cincinnati
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

**1987 New York Jets staff**
	Front office Owner – Leon Hess President/general manager – Jim Kensil Head coaches Head coach – Joe Walton Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/receivers – Rich Kotite Quarterbacks Coach Zeke Bratkowski Running backs coach – Bobby Hammond			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Bud Carson Defensive line coach – Ray Callahan Linebackers coach - Dan Radakovich Special Assist to the head coach/secondary Coach- Mike Faulkiner Special teams coaches Special Teams Coach - Larry Pasquale

^[1]

NFL replacement players

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

1987 New York Jets replacement roster
Quarterbacks 17 David Norrie 11 Walter Briggs Running backs 23 Derrick Foster RB 29 Joe Burke FB 33 John Chirico FB 42 Maurice Turner FB 45 Eddie Hunter RB Wide receivers 19 Bobby Riley 80 Scott Holman 81 Derrick Gaffney 83 Greg Washington 84 Michael Harper 86 Stan Hunter 89 John Fuocco Tight ends 82 Jamie Kurisko 87 Eric Riley 88 Tony Sweet		Offensive linemen 61 Vinny Tuzeo T 62 Eric Coss T 64 Martin Cornelson C 66 Vince Jasper T 67 Anthony Corvino T 69 Tom Humphrey T 71 Pete McCartney T 72 Ken Jones G 76 John Thomas G 79 Chris Brown T Defensive linemen 70 Tony Garbarczyk DE 72 Tony Chickillo DE 94 Scott Mersereau NT 97 Adam Bethea DE 99 Mark Gastineau DE 74 Rodney Kinlaw NT 98 George Crane DT		Linebackers 51 Jim Haslett ILB 52 Wally Case OLB 55 Mike Witteck ILB 58 Lynwood Alford OLB 90 Jay Brophy ILB 91 Ladell Wills OLB 92 Ken Rose OLB 96 Henry Walls OLB Defensive backs 21 Treg Songy S 22 Sean Dykes CB 40 Marc Hogan CB 49 Larry Robinson CB 25 George Radachowsky S 44 Trent Collins S Special teams 11 Pat Ragusa K 14 Tom O'Connor P

1987 New York Jets replacement roster

Quarterbacks

17 David Norrie
11 Walter Briggs

Running backs

23 Derrick Foster RB
29 Joe Burke FB
33 John Chirico FB
42 Maurice Turner FB
45 Eddie Hunter RB

Wide receivers

19 Bobby Riley
80 Scott Holman
81 Derrick Gaffney
83 Greg Washington
84 Michael Harper
86 Stan Hunter
89 John Fuocco

Tight ends

82 Jamie Kurisko
87 Eric Riley
88 Tony Sweet

Offensive linemen

61 Vinny Tuzeo T
62 Eric Coss T
64 Martin Cornelson C
66 Vince Jasper T
67 Anthony Corvino T
69 Tom Humphrey T
71 Pete McCartney T
72 Ken Jones G
76 John Thomas G
79 Chris Brown T

Defensive linemen

70 Tony Garbarczyk DE
72 Tony Chickillo DE
94 Scott Mersereau NT
97 Adam Bethea DE
99 Mark Gastineau DE
74 Rodney Kinlaw NT
98 George Crane DT

Linebackers

51 Jim Haslett ILB
52 Wally Case OLB
55 Mike Witteck ILB
58 Lynwood Alford OLB
90 Jay Brophy ILB
91 Ladell Wills OLB
92 Ken Rose OLB
96 Henry Walls OLB

Defensive backs

21 Treg Songy S
22 Sean Dykes CB
40 Marc Hogan CB
49 Larry Robinson CB
25 George Radachowsky S
44 Trent Collins S

Special teams

11 Pat Ragusa K
14 Tom O'Connor P

Roster

**1987 New York Jets final roster**

	Quarterbacks 8 Tom Flick 7 Ken O'Brien 10 Pat Ryan Running backs 31 Marion Barber Jr. 23 Dennis Bligen 30 Nuu Faaola 24 Freeman McNeil 43 Roger Vick FB Wide receivers 86 Tracy Martin 87 Kurt Sohn 88 Al Toon 83 Jo-Jo Townsell Tight ends 81 Billy Griggs 89 Rocky Klever 82 Mickey Shuler		Offensive linemen 60 Dan Alexander G 63 Ted Banker G 64 Guy Bingham C 65 Joe Fields G 79 Mike Haight T 72 Gordon King T 68 Reggie McElroy T 53 Jim Sweeney C Defensive linemen 78 Barry Bennett DE 97 Don Baldwin DT 98 Jerome Foster DE/DT 99 Mark Gastineau DE 73 Joe Klecko DT 91 Marty Lyons DE 77 Gerald Nichols DT		Linebackers 54 Troy Benson 59 Kyle Clifton 50 Bob Crable 52 Onzy Elam 55 Alex Gordon 57 Kevin McArthur 58 Matt Monger Defensive backs 22 Sean Dykes 39 Harry Hamilton FS 47 Jerry Holmes CB 28 Carl Howard CB 48 Bobby Humphery CB 21 Sid Lewis 36 Rich Miano SS 25 George Radachowsky SS 38 Mike Zordich FS Special teams 4 Dave Jennings P 5 Pat Leahy K		Reserve lists 27 Russell Carter CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 35 Kerry Glenn CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 84 Michael Harper WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 51 Jim Haslett ILB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 26 Lester Lyles FS (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 56 Lance Mehl LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 85 Wesley Walker WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 13	at Buffalo Bills	W 31–28	1–0	Rich Stadium	76,718
2	September 21	New England Patriots	W 43–24	2–0	Giants Stadium	70,847
3	September 27	at Pittsburgh Steelers	Cancelled due to players' strike
4	October 4	Dallas Cowboys	L 24–38	2–1	Giants Stadium	12,370
5	October 11	at Indianapolis Colts	L 0–6	2–2	Hoosier Dome	34,927
6	October 18	Miami Dolphins	W 37–31 (OT)	3–2	Giants Stadium	18,249
7	October 25	at Washington Redskins	L 16–17	3–3	Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium	53,497
8	November 1	Indianapolis Colts	L 14–19	3–4	Giants Stadium	60,863
9	November 9	Seattle Seahawks	W 30–14	4–4	Giants Stadium	60,452
10	November 15	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 16–9	5–4	Arrowhead Stadium	40,718
11	November 22	Buffalo Bills	L 14–17	5–5	Giants Stadium	58,407
12	November 29	Cincinnati Bengals	W 27–20	6–5	Giants Stadium	41,135
13	December 7	at Miami Dolphins	L 28–37	6–6	Joe Robbie Stadium	62,592
14	December 13	at New England Patriots	L 20–42	6–7	Sullivan Stadium	60,617
15	December 20	Philadelphia Eagles	L 27–38	6–8	Giants Stadium	30,572
16	December 27	at New York Giants	L 7–20	6–9	Giants Stadium	68,318
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Jets	0	14	10	7	31
Bills	0	7	7	14	28

Date: September 13
Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 70 °F (21.1 °C); wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
Referee: Fred Wyant
TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Joe Namath

Scoring summary

Q2	BUF	Johnson 26-yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)	BUF 7–0

Q2	NYJ	Walker 55-yard pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)	Tie 7–7

Q2	NYJ	Shuler 4-yard pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)	NYJ 14–7

Q3	NYJ	Leahy 29-yard field goal	NYJ 17–7

Q3	BUF	Burkett 6-yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)	NYJ 17–14

Q3	NYJ	Hector 2-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 24–14

Q4	BUF	Riddick 2-yard run (Norwood kick)	NYJ 24–21

Q4	NYJ	Hector 1-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 31–21

Q4	BUF	Riddick 1-yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)	NYJ 31–28

^[2]

Week 2

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	0	3	7	14	24
• Jets	6	0	21	16	43

Date: September 21
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C); wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
Referee: Jerry Seeman
TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf

Scoring summary

Q1	NYJ	Leahy 37-yard field goal	NYJ 3–0

Q1	NYJ	Leahy 34-yard field goal	NYJ 6–0

Q2	NE	Franklin 32-yard field goal	NYJ 6–3

Q3	NYJ	Toon 58-yard pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)	NYJ 13–3

Q3	NYJ	Hector 5-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 20–3

Q3	NE	Tippett 29-yard fumble return (Franklin kick)	NYJ 20–10

Q3	NYJ	Hector 9-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 27–10

Q4	NYJ	Safety, Lyons tackled Tatupu in end zone	NYJ 29–10

Q4	NE	Baty 1-yard pass from Eason (Franklin kick)	NYJ 29–17

Q4	NYJ	Fa'aola 1-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 36–17

Q4	NE	Starring 12-yard pass from Eason (Franklin kick)	NYJ 36–24

Q4	NYJ	Fa'aola 1-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 43–24

^[3]

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Dolphins	10	0	7	14	0	31
• Jets	0	17	0	14	6	37

Date: October 18
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C); wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Joe Namath

Scoring summary

Q1	MIA	Beecher 19-yard field goal	MIA 3–0

Q1	MIA	Smith 5-yard pass from Mackey (Beecher kick)	MIA 10–0

Q2	NYJ	Harper 35-yard pass from Ryan (Ragusa kick)	MIA 10–7

Q2	NYJ	E. Hunter 7-yard pass from Ryan (Ragusa kick)	NYJ 14–10

Q2	NYJ	Ragusa 34-yard field goal	NYJ 17–10

Q3	MIA	Mackey 1-yard run (Beecher kick)	Tie 17–17

Q4	NYJ	Bligen 7-yard run (Ragusa kick)	NYJ 24–17

Q4	NYJ	S. Hunter 5-yard pass from Ryan (Ragusa kick)	NYJ 31–17

Q4	MIA	Mackey 5-yard run (Beecher kick)	NYJ 31–24

Q4	MIA	Lewis 1-yard pass from Mackey (Beecher kick)	Tie 31–31

OT	NYJ	E. Hunter 8-yard pass from Ryan	NYJ 37–31

^[4]

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	0	0	14	0	14
• Jets	0	10	10	10	30

Date: November 9
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C); wind 17 miles per hour (27 km/h; 15 kn)
Referee: Gene Barth
TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf

Scoring summary

Q2	NYJ	Townsell 91-yard punt return (Leahy kick)	NYJ 7–0

Q2	NYJ	Leahy 35-yard field goal	NYJ 10–0

Q3	NYJ	Leahy 36-yard field goal	NYJ 13–0

Q3	SEA	Warner 3-yard run (Johnson kick)	NYJ 13–7

Q3	SEA	Largent 29-yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)	SEA 14–13

Q3	NYJ	Griggs 4-yard pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)	NYJ 20–14

Q4	NYJ	Hector 1-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 27–14

Q4	NYJ	Leahy 26-yard field goal	NYJ 30–14

^[5]

Week 9

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Jets	3	0	3	10	16
Chiefs	0	3	6	0	9

Date: November 15
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 57 °F (13.9 °C); wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Paul Maguire

Scoring summary

Q1	NYJ	Leahy 39-yard field goal	NYJ 3–0

Q2	KC	Lowery 42-yard field goal	Tie 3–3

Q3	KC	Lowery 43-yard field goal	KC 6–3

Q3	NYJ	Leahy 24-yard field goal	Tie 6–6

Q3	KC	Lowery 18-yard field goal	KC 9–6

Q4	NYJ	Toon 18-yard pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)	NYJ 13–9

Q4	NYJ	Leahy 21-yard field goal	NYJ 16–9

^[6]

Week 10

Week 11

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	10	7	3	20
• Jets	7	10	0	10	27

Date: November 29
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 45 °F (7.2 °C); wind 18 miles per hour (29 km/h; 16 kn)
Referee: Bob McElwee
TV announcers: Marv Albert and Joe Namath

Scoring summary

Q1	NYJ	McNeil 18-yard pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)	NYJ 7–0

Q2	NYJ	Leahy 24-yard field goal	NYJ 10–0

Q2	CIN	Brown 17-yard pass from Esiason (Breech kick)	NYJ 10–7

Q2	NYJ	Hector 1-yard run (Leahy kick)	NYJ 17–7

Q2	CIN	Breech 31-yard field goal	NYJ 17–10

Q3	CIN	Kattus 3-yard pass from Esiason (Breech kick)	Tie 17–17

Q4	CIN	Breech 35-yard field goal	CIN 20–17

Q4	NYJ	Leahy 23-yard field goal	Tie 20–20

Q4	NYJ	Miano 67-yard blocked field goal return (Leahy kick)	NYJ 27–20

^[7]

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Standings

AFC East
view talk edit	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

Awards and records

Johnny Hector, Led AFC, Touchdowns, 11 TD's ^[8]

References

^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Mar-02.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Mar-01.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Mar-01.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Mar-02.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Mar-03.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Mar-06.
^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 447

External links

1987 statistics

v t e New York Jets
Founded in 1960 Formerly the New York Titans (1960–1962) Based in East Rutherford, New Jersey Headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey
Franchise	Franchise History Seasons Players Coaches Logos and uniforms First-round draft picks Quarterbacks Flight Crew
Stadiums	Polo Grounds Shea Stadium Giants Stadium MetLife Stadium
Culture	Fireman Ed Alex Anthony Flash Gordon The Wonder Years West Side Stadium Generation Jets The King of Queens Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story The Sopranos
Lore	Heidi Game The Guarantee Announcerless game New York Sack Exchange Clock Play The Monday Night Miracle Spygate Butt Fumble
Rivalries	Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Giants
Key personnel	Owner: Woody Johnson Chairman/CEO: Christopher Johnson General manager: Joe Douglas Head coach: Robert Saleh
Division championships (4)	1968 1969 1998 2002
League championships (1)	1968 (III)
Media	Broadcasters WEPN WEPN-FM WCBS-TV SportsNet New York
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 e New York Jets seasons
Formerly the New York Titans (1960–1962)
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 2022 2023 2024
Bold indicates Super Bowl victory

1987 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Buffalo	Cincinnati	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta
Indianapolis	Cleveland	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	LA Rams
Miami	Houston	LA Raiders	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Pittsburgh	San Diego	St. Louis	Minnesota	San Francisco
NY Jets		Seattle	Washington	Tampa Bay