1987 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 1987 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 55th in the National Football League. Despite the interruption of the schedule by the second strike in six seasons, the team improved upon their previous output of 5–10–1, going 7–8. However, three of those losses came during the three-game stretch during the strike when teams were staffed primarily with replacement players, or "scabs," who crossed the picket lines to suit up. Despite the improvement, the team once again failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Defensive lineman Reggie White nonetheless had a breakout season, establishing a new NFL record by exploding for 21 sacks in only 12 games.
On October 25 at Veterans Stadium, in the first game back after the strike was settled, Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan called for the infamous "fake kneel" in the final seconds with the hosts leading the Dallas Cowboys by 10 points. The fake eventually led to another late touchdown, payback for Cowboys head coach Tom Landry running up the score with starters who crossed the picket line to play two weeks earlier at Texas Stadium. One week later, Philadelphia won its final road game against the Cardinals at the old Busch Stadium, before the franchise moved to Phoenix for the 1988 season.
Offseason
NFL draft
The 1987 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft was held April 28–29, 1987 in New York City. This again would be a 12 round draft of 28 teams. The Philadelphia Eagles would get the 9th in the 12 rounds. They would make 10 selection in the draft.The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with.
Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.
NFL supplemental draft
The Eagles would also use a pick in the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft to take Cris Carter a wide receiver out of Ohio State. Prior to Carter's senior season in 1987, he secretly signed with notorious sports agent Norby Walters. When the contract was discovered, Carter was ruled ineligible to play for Ohio State.Personnel
Staff
NFL replacement players
After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:Regular season
In 1987, Mike Quick was part of NFL history. He finished second in the NFL in Touchdown receptions with 11. The leader was Jerry Rice with 23. This marked the first time in NFL history that a category leader doubled the total of his nearest competitor.Schedule
Games summaries
Week 1
Sunday, September 13, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on grass playing surface in 74F degrees with wind at 11 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Washington Redskins | 10 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
Week 2
Sunday, September 20, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 62F degrees with wind at 12 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| New Orleans Saints | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Philadelphia Eagles 1–1 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
Week Canceled
Because of the NFLPA union's players strike against the NFL, all the games this week were cancelled. Replacement players were used when the season resumed the following week.Week 3
Sunday, October 4, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 48F degrees with wind at 19 MPH. This was the first game of the season with replacement players.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Chicago Bears | 7 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Week 4
Sunday, October 11, 1987 Kickoff 12:00 PM CentralPlayed at Texas Stadium on a grass playing surface in 58F degrees with wind at 16 MPH. Played with replacement players.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 22 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 21 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 41 |
Week 5
Sunday, October 18, 1987 Kickoff 12:00 PM CentralPlayed at Lambeau Field on a grass playing surface in 46F degrees with wind at 11 MPH. Played with replacement players.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
Week 6
Sunday October 25, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 56F degrees with wind at 15 MPH. This was the first week the Eagles played after the NFLPA strike ended.
This was the revenge game for Week 4, where the Cowboys ran up the score against an Eagles replacement squad. Despite the game being effectively over, with the Eagles leading and having possession of the ball, the Eagles performed a fake spike into a pass. Pass interference was called, and the Eagles successfully scored from the 1-yard line on the next play as time expired.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 37 |
Week 7
Sunday, November 1, 1987 Kickoff 12:00 PM CentralPlayed at Busch Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface in 68F degrees with wind at 10 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 6 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 23 |
Week 8
Sunday, November 8, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 52F degrees with wind at 10 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Washington Redskins | 7 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
Week 9
Sunday, November 15, 1987 Kickoff 4:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 50F degrees with wind at 8 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| New York Giants | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| SCORING PLAYS | NY G | PHIL | TIME | ||
| 1st | Eagles | Randall Cunningham 4-yard rush | 0 | 7 | - |
| Eagles | Paul McFadden 25-yard field goal | 0 | 10 | - | |
| giants | Lionel Manuel 36-yard pass from Jeff Rutledge | 7 | 10 | - | |
| 2nd | Giants | Raul Allegre 53-yard field goal | 10 | 10 | - |
| 3rd | Eagles | Keith Byars 8-yard pass from Randall Cunningham | 10 | 17 | - |
| Giants | George Adams 1-yard rush | 17 | 17 | - | |
| 4th | Giants | Raul Allegre 52-yard field goal | 20 | 17 | - |
Week 10
Sunday, November 22, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 26F degrees with wind at 19 MPH with a wind chill of 12F.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 7 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 19 |
Week 11
November 29, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Sullivan Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface in 38F degrees with wind at 11 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
| New England Patriots | 0 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 31 |
Week 12
December 6, 1987 Stadium Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at The Meadowlands on an AstroTurf playing surface in 38F degrees with wind at 22 MPH and a wind chill of 27F.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| New York Giants | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
Week 13
Sunday, December 13, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 43F degrees with wind at 15 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Week 14
Sunday, December 20, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at The Meadowlands on an Astroturf playing surface in 42F degrees with wind at 11 MPH.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
| New York Jets | 3 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
Week 15
Sunday, December 27, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM EasternPlayed at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 35F degrees with wind at 10 MPH with a wind chill of 28.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Buffalo Bills | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Standings
Roster
- + After name = 1st-team All-Pro
- ''Replacement Players confirmed by box scores, there may be others
Awards and honors
- Mike Quick, 1987 Pro Bowl selection