1987 Denver Broncos season

1987 Denver Broncos season
OwnerPat Bowlen
General managerJohn Beake
Head coachDan Reeves
Offensive coordinatorMike Shanahan
Defensive coordinatorJoe Collier
Home stadiumMile High Stadium
Results
Record10–4–1
Division place1st AFC West
PlayoffsWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Oilers) 34–10
Won AFC Championship
(vs. Browns) 38–33
Lost Super Bowl XXII
(vs. Redskins) 10–42
Pro BowlersQB John Elway
G Keith Bishop
LB Karl Mecklenburg
Uniform
A ticket for the AFC Championship Game between the Browns and the Broncos.

The 1987 Denver Broncos season was the team's 28th year in professional football and its 18th with the National Football League (NFL). Games scheduled during the third week of the season were cancelled, and games played from weeks 4 to 6 were played with replacement teams. The Broncos finished first in the AFC West, and were AFC champions for the second straight year. Quarterback John Elway was voted league MVP for 1987. The Broncos reached the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season, but lost for the second straight time, 42–10 to the Washington Redskins.

Offseason

NFL draft

1987 Denver Broncos draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 27 Ricky Nattiel  Wide receiver Florida
3 84 Michael Brooks *  Linebacker Louisiana State
4 111 Marc Munford  Linebacker Nebraska
6 167 Warren Marshall  Running back James Madison
7 194 Wilbur Strozier  Tight end Georgia
8 222 Dan Morgan  Guard Penn State
9 250 Bruce Plummer  Center Mississippi State
10 278 Rafe Wilkinson  Linebacker Richmond
11 299 Steve Roberts  Defensive end Washington
11 306 Tommy Neal  Running back Maryland
12 334 Tyrone Braxton *  Safety North Dakota State
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1987 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

  • President and chief executive officer – Pat Bowlen
  • General manager – John Beake
  • Director of player personnel – Reed Johnson
  • Director of pro personnel – Lide Huggins

Head coaches

  • Vice president/head coach – Dan Reeves
  • Assistant head coach/defense – Joe Collier
  • Special assistant – Marvin Bass

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Mike Shanahan
  • Running backs – Nick Nicolau
  • Wide receivers/tight ends – Chan Gailey
  • Offensive line – Alex Gibbs
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive line – Stan Jones
  • Assistant defensive line – Rubin Carter
  • Linebackers – Myrel Moore
  • Defensive backs – Charlie West

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength/conditioning – Al Miller

[1]

Roster

1987 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

  • 35 Ken Bell
  • 24 Tony Boddie
  • 33 Gene Lang
  • 29 Warren Marshall
  • 46 Bobby Micho
  • 23 Sammy Winder

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

  • 89 Mitch Andrews
  • 88 Clarence Kay
  • 89 Orson Mobley
 Offensive linemen (OL)
  • 54 Keith Bishop G
  • 62 Mike Freeman C/G
  • 79 Stefan Humphries G
  • 72 Keith Kartz T
  • 76 Ken Lanier T
  • 68 Larry Lee C
  • 74 Dan Remsberg T
  • 70 Dave Studdard T

Defensive linemen (DL)

  • 65 Walt Bowyer DE
  • 79 Steve Bryan DE
  • 90 Freddie Gilbert DE
  • 75 Rulon Jones DE
  • 71 Greg Kragen NT
  • 61 Andre Townsend DE
 Linebackers (LB)
  • 56 Michael Brooks OLB
  • 55 Rick Dennison ILB
  • 73 Simon Fletcher OLB
  • 98 Ricky Hunley ILB
  • 97 Bruce Klosterman ILB
  • 58 Tim Lucas OLB
  • 77 Karl Mecklenburg ILB
  • 51 Marc Munford ILB
  • 50 Jim Ryan OLB

Defensive backs (DB)

  • 34 Tyrone Braxton SS
  • 28 Jeremiah Castille CB
  • 27 Kevin Clark CB
  • 31 Mike Harden CB
  • 36 Mark Haynes CB
  • 22 Tony Lilly FS
  • 38 Bruce Plummer CB
  • 45 Steve Wilson CB

Special teams (ST)

  •  2 Mike Horan P
  •  3 Rich Karlis K

Reserve

  • 53 Dave Baran G/T (IR)
  • 64 Billy Bryan C (IR)
  • 69 Tony Colorito NT (IR)
  • 78 Winford Hood G (IR)
  • -- Paul Howard G (PUP)
  • 20 Daryll Jones S (IR)
  • 66 Jim Juriga T (IR)
  • 85 Rick Massie WR (IR)
  • 93 Richard Reed LB (IR)
  • 48 Randy Robbins S (IR)
  • 30 Steve Sewell RB (IR)
  • 49 Dennis Smith S (IR)
  • -- Rafe Wilkinson LB (IR)
  • 47 Gerald Willhite RB (IR)
Rookies in italics

NFL replacement players

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

1987 Denver Broncos replacement roster

Quarterbacks

  • 26 Marshall Barnes
  • 12 Ken Karcher
  • 14 Dean May
  • 16 Monte McGuire

Running backs

  • 28 Scott Caldwell
  • 32 Joe Dudek
  • 34 Walt Goffigan
  • 41 Zeph Lee
  • 43 Bruce McIntyre
  • 24 Percy Keith
  • 29 John Sterling
  • 42 Mark Templeton

Wide receivers

  • 82 Laron Brown
  • 84 Eric Hodges
  • 83 Rick Massie
  • 87 Michel James
  • 80 Shane Swanson
  •  4 Bob Thompson

Tight ends

  • 86 Mitch Andrews
  • 89 Kerry Locklin
  • 88 Russell Payne
  • 85 Erich Rumple

Offensive linemen

  • 73 Kevin Belcher T
  • -- Robin Ham
  • 76 Archie Harris T
  • 69 David Jones
  • 71 Jack Peavey C
  • 60 Rick Pryor
  • 66 Carlos Scott
  • -- Tyrone Sorrells
  • 61 Isaac Williams

Defensive linemen

  • -- Kyle Ambrose
  • 79 Steve Bryan
  • 65 Theron Harrison
  • 74 Bill Lobenstein DE
  • 68 Ron McLean
  • 91 Jeff Tupper DE
  • 99 Ray Woodard
  • 77 Mitchell Young

Linebackers

  • 51 Stan David
  • 59 Kirk Dodge
  • 95 Tim Joiner
  • 56 Mike Knox
  • 58 Tim Lucas
  • 52 Dan MacDonald
  • 57 Matt Smith
  • 55 Bryant Winn

Defensive backs

  • 27 Kevin Clark
  • 37 Steve Fitzhugh
  • 25 Roger Jackson
  • 20 Daryll Jones
  • 45 Leonard Jones
  • 40 Martin Rudolph
  • 39 Darryl Russell
  • 38 Larry Shepherd
  • 46 Kennedy Webster

Special teams

  • 15 Mike Clendenen K
  • 6 Ralph Giacomarro P
  • 19 John Pieper

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 13 Seattle Seahawks W 40–17 1–0 Mile High Stadium 75,999
2 September 20 at Green Bay Packers T 17–17 (OT) 1–0–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 50,624
3 September 28 at Cleveland Browns canceled 1–0–1 Cleveland Stadium
4 October 4 Houston Oilers L 10–40 1–1–1 Mile High Stadium 38,494
5 October 12 Los Angeles Raiders W 30–14 2–1–1 Mile High Stadium 61,230
6 October 18 at Kansas City Chiefs W 26–17 3–1–1 Arrowhead Stadium 20,296
7 October 26 at Minnesota Vikings L 27–34 3–2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,011
8 November 1 Detroit Lions W 34–0 4–2–1 Mile High Stadium 75,172
9 November 8 at Buffalo Bills L 14–21 4–3–1 Rich Stadium 63,698
10 November 16 Chicago Bears W 31–29 5–3–1 Mile High Stadium 75,783
11 November 22 at Los Angeles Raiders W 23–17 6–3–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 61,318
12 November 29 at San Diego Chargers W 31–17 7–3–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 61,880
13 December 6 New England Patriots W 31–20 8–3–1 Mile High Stadium 75,795
14 December 13 at Seattle Seahawks L 21–28 8–4–1 Kingdome 61,759
15 December 19 Kansas City Chiefs W 20–17 9–4–1 Mile High Stadium 75,053
16 December 27 San Diego Chargers W 24–0 10–4–1 Mile High Stadium 21,189
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

Team 1 234Total
Seahawks 14 300 17
• Broncos 7 13146 40
  • Date: September 17
  • Location: Mile High Stadium
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. MST
  • Game attendance: 75,999
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
Scoring summary
Q1SEATurner 20 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)SEA 7–0
Q1DENSewell 72 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)Tie 7–7
Q1SEAWarner 10 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)SEA 14–7
Q2SEAJohnson 25 yard field goalSEA 17–7
Q2DENKarlis 37 yard field goalSEA 17–10
Q2DENKarlis 42 yard field goalSEA 17–13
Q2DENWatson 4 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)DEN 20–17
Q3DENMobley 5 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)DEN 27–17
Q3DENJohnson 59 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)DEN 34–17
Q4DENKarlis 25 yard field goalDEN 37–17
Q4DENKarlis 29 yard field goalDEN 40–17

[2]

Week 2

Team 1 234OTTotal
Broncos 0 3770 17
Packers 7 7030 17

Week 4

Team 1 234Total
• Oilers 7 101013 40
Broncos 0 1000 10
  • Date: October 4
  • Location: Mile High Stadium
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • Television network: NBC

Week 5

Team 1 234Total
Raiders 0 1400 14
• Broncos 14 367 30
  • Date: October 12
  • Location: Mile High Stadium
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. MST
  • Game attendance: 61,230
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C); wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf
Scoring summary
Q1DENDudek 7 yard run (Clendenen kick)DEN 7–0
Q1DENDudek 3 yard run (Clendenen kick)DEN 14–0
Q2LAPerry 3 yard pass from Evans (Hardy kick)DEN 14–7
Q2LACalhoun 55 yard interception return (Hardy kick)Tie 14–14
Q2DENClendenen 31 yard field goalDEN 17–14
Q3DENMassie 10 yard pass from Karcher (kick failed)DEN 23–14
Q4DENPoole 1 yard run (Clendenen kick)DEN 30–14

[3]

Week 6

Team 1 234Total
• Broncos 9 1007 26
Chiefs 7 730 17
  • Date: October 18
  • Location: Arrowhead Stadium
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy

Week 7

Team 1 234Total
Broncos 7 10010 27
• Vikings 7 7137 34

Week 8

Team 1 234Total
Lions 0 000 0
• Broncos 17 7010 34
  • Date: November 1
  • Location: Mile High Stadium
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • Television network: CBS

Week 9

Team 1 234Total
Broncos 0 077 14
• Bills 0 1830 21
  • Date: November 8
  • Location: Rich Stadium
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • Television network: NBC

Week 10

Team 1 234Total
Bears 14 0150 29
• Broncos 0 21010 31
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: Mile High Stadium
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf

Week 11

Team 1 234Total
• Broncos 10 1003 23
Raiders 0 1430 17
Scoring summary
Q1DENKarlis 49 yard field goalDEN 3–0
Q1DENJohnson 24 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)DEN 10–0
Q2DENKarlis 31 yard field goalDEN 13–0
Q2LAJackson 35 yard run (Bahr kick)DEN 13–7
Q2DENElway 1 yard run (Karlis kick)DEN 20–7
Q2LAJackson 1 yard run (Bahr kick)DEN 20–14
Q3LABahr 34 yard field goal passDEN 20–17
Q4DENKarlis 20 yard field goalDEN 23–17

Week 12

Team 1 234Total
• Broncos 7 10140 31
Chargers 7 307 17
  • Date: November 29
  • Location: Jack Murphy Stadium
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo

Week 13

Team 1 234Total
Patriots 7 1030 20
• Broncos 0 31414 31
  • Date: December 6
  • Location: Mile High Stadium
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
Scoring summary
Q1NEDupard 10 yard run (Franklin kick)NE 7–0
Q2DENKarlis 24 yard field goalNE 7–3
Q2NECollins 4 yard pass from Ramsey (Franklin kick)NE 14–3
Q2NEFranklin 36 yard field goalNE 17–3
Q3DENBoddie 1 yard run (Karlis kick)NE 17–10
Q3DENMassie 7 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)Tied 17–17
Q3NEFranklin 27 yard field goalNE 20–17
Q4DENJackson 2 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)DEN 24–20
Q4DENHaynes 14 yard interception return (Karlis kick)DEN 31–20

Week 14

Team 1 234Total
Broncos 0 0147 21
• Seahawks 0 1477 28
  • Date: December 13
  • Location: Kingdome
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • Television network: ESPN
Scoring summary
Q25:50SEAWarner 3 yard run (Johnson kick)SEA 7–0
Q20:22SEAButler 35 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)SEA 14–0
Q312:28DENWinder 11 yard run (Karlis kick)SEA 14–7
Q310:36DENMassie 39 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)Tied 14–14
Q39:30SEAButler 40 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)SEA 21–14
Q412:39SEAWilliams 7 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)SEA 28–14
Q40:25DENWinder 1 yard run (Karlis kick)SEA 28–21

Week 15

Team 1 234Total
Chiefs 0 377 17
• Broncos 7 1030 20
  • Date: December 19
  • Location: Mile High Stadium

Week 16

Team 1 234Total
Chargers 0 000 0
• Broncos 14 0010 24
  • Date: December 27
  • Location: Mile High Stadium
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
Scoring summary
Q1DENClark 71 yard punt returnDEN 7–0
Q1DENWinder 1 yard rush (Karlis kick)DEN 14–0
Q4DENKarlis 26 yard field goalDEN 17–0
Q4DENHunley 52 yard interception return (Karlis kick)DEN 24–0

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Denver Broncos(1) 10 4 1 .700 7–1 8–3 379 288 W2
Seattle Seahawks(5) 9 6 0 .600 4–3 5–6 371 314 L1
San Diego Chargers 8 7 0 .533 3–4 6–7 253 317 L6
Los Angeles Raiders 5 10 0 .333 2–6 3–8 301 289 L3
Kansas City Chiefs 4 11 0 .267 3–5 3–9 273 388 W1

Playoffs

Main article: 1987–88 NFL playoffs
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance
Divisional January 10, 1988 Houston Oilers (4) W 34–10 1–0 Mile High Stadium 75,968
AFC Championship January 17, 1988 Cleveland Browns (2) W 38–33 2–0 Mile High Stadium 75,993
Super Bowl XXII January 31, 1988 Washington Redskins (N3) L 10–42 2–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 73,302

Divisional

Team 1 234Total
Oilers 0 307 10
• Broncos 14 1037 34

Broncos go to the AFC Championship Game and win to the Browns 38-33 but lost in Super Bowl XXII to the Redskins 42-10.

Conference Championship

Team 1 234Total
Browns 0 3219 33
• Broncos 14 7107 38
  • Date: January 17
  • Location: Mile High Stadium

Broncos go to Super Bowl XXII but lost to the Redskins 42-10.

Super Bowl

Team 1 234Total
• Redskins 0 3507 42
Broncos 10 000 10

Broncos lost and in 1988 missed the playoffs 8-8.

Awards and records

  • Ricky Nattiel, All-Rookie selection

References

  1. ^ Broncos Directory (PDF). NFL Enterprises, LLC. September 26, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2021. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Feb-02.
  3. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Aug-25.
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