1987 Los Angeles Raiders season

1987 Los Angeles Raiders season
1987 Los Angeles Raiders season
Owner	Al Davis
General manager	Al Davis
Head coach	Tom Flores
Home field	L.A. Memorial Coliseum
Local radio	KIIS–AM 1150
Results
Record	5–10
Division place	4th AFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
	← 1986; Raiders seasons; 1988 →;

The 1987 Los Angeles Raiders season was the franchise's strike-shortened 28th season overall, and the franchise's 18th season in the National Football League. They finished with a disappointing record of 5–10 (the team's worst finish since Al Davis arrived in 1963). It was only the sixth losing season in franchise history.

Offseason

NFL draft

Since he did not sign with a team by the 1987 draft, Bo Jackson's rights were forfeited by Tampa Bay and his name was thrown back into the draft. The Raiders selected Jackson in the seventh round with the 183rd overall pick.^[1] Raiders owner Al Davis supported Jackson and his baseball career and got Jackson to sign a contract by offering him a salary that was comparable to a full-time starting running back but allowing Jackson to only play part-time until the baseball season was done.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1987 Los Angeles Raiders draft
1	15	John Clay	Offensive tackle	Missouri
2	52	Bruce Wilkerson	Offensive tackle	Tennessee
3	81	Steve Smith	Running back	Penn State
4	110	Steve Beuerlein *	Quarterback	Notre Dame
7	183	Bo Jackson *	Running back	Auburn
9	238	Scott Eccles	Tight end	Eastern New Mexico
10	254	Rob Harrison	Defensive back	Sacramento State
10	265	John Gesek	Guard	Sacramento State
10	273	Jim Ellis	Linebacker	Boise State
11	288	Chris McLemore	Running back	Arizona
11	294	Mario Perry	Tight end	Mississippi
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

^[2]

Personnel

Staff

**1987 Los Angeles Raiders staff**
	Front office President of the general partner – Al Davis Executive assistant – Al LoCasale Personnel operations – Ron Wolf Senior executive – John Herrera Head coaches Head coach – Tom Flores Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – Larry Kennan Offensive backs – Joe Scannella Receivers – Tom Walsh Tight ends – Bob Mischak Offensive line – Sam Boghosian Offensive line – Art Shell Coaches assistant – Terry Robiskie			Defensive coaches Defensive line – Earl Leggett Linebackers – Sam Gruneisen Linebackers – Charlie Sumner Defensive backs – Willie Brown Defensive backs – Jimmy Warren Special teams coaches Special teams – Ray Willsey

NFL replacement players

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

1987 Los Angeles Raiders replacement roster

Quarterbacks

6 Marc Wilson
10 Mark Van Allen
11 Vince Evans
17 Scott Woolf

Running backs

21 Rick Calhoun
23 Ethan Horton
28 Rob Harrison
31 Craig Ellis
36 Thurman Beard
39 Steve Strachan
45 Vic Stagliano
47 Jim Browne
48 Shawn Jones

Wide receivers

19 David Williams
81 Greg Lathan
82 Luis McDonald
83 Carl Aikens
86 Mervyn Fernandez
86 Mike Simmons
87 Wade Lockett
88 Stanley Blalock
89 Greg Holder

Tight ends

80 Jack Owens
82 Ron Wheeler
84 Mario Perry
85 Ricky Ellis

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

60 Rick Ackerman
70 Ed Washington
71 Bill Pickel
72 Rod Timmons
73 John Hynes
74 Mike Rodriguez
76 Mike Miller
77 Ted Chapman
79 Brian Belway
93 Greg Townsend
94 Rick Goltz
95 Bob Buczkowski
95 Tom Weaver
97 Phil Grimes

Linebackers

50 Darryl Byrd
51 Keith Williams
53 Mike Noble
57 Jerry Robinson
58 Jim Ellis
59 Ricky Logan
90 Darryl Goodlow
91 Leonard Jackson
91 Ronnie Washington
92 Dan McMillen
95 Joe Cormier
96 Ron Brown

Defensive backs

20 Chetti Carr
20 Willie Teal
23 Rod Hill
24 Lance Harkey
25 Ricky Williams
29 Tony Tillmon
33 Demise Williams
34 D'Shaun Shamburger
35 Eddie Anderson
35 Michael Grayson
38 Steve Johnson
40 Jo Jo Heath
41 Ron Foster
42 Kenny Danforth
49 Victor Jackson

Special teams

3 Vincent Gamache P
4 David Hardy K
8 Jim Corrazzini K
9 James Fohey P
10 Chris Bahr K

Roster

**1987 Los Angeles Raiders roster**

	Quarterbacks 11 Vince Evans 12 Rusty Hilger 6 Marc Wilson Running backs 32 Marcus Allen 34 Bo Jackson FB 40 Zeph Lee 42 Vance Mueller 39 Steve Strachan Wide receivers 84 Jessie Hester 80 James Lofton 89 David Williams 85 Dokie Williams 88 Chris Woods Tight ends 46 Todd Christensen 87 Trey Junkin 81 Andy Parker		Offensive linemen 78 John Clay T 63 John Gesek C 76 Brian Holloway T 51 Bill Lewis G 65 Mickey Marvin G 64 Dean Miraldi G 72 Don Mosebar C 61 John Tautolo G 63 Dwight Wheeler T 68 Bruce Wilkerson T Defensive linemen 95 Bob Buczkowski DE 99 Sean Jones DE 75 Howie Long DE 71 Bill Pickel NT 96 Malcolm Taylor NT/DE 93 Greg Townsend DE 98 Mitch Willis NT		Linebackers 51 Keith Browner OLB 59 Jamie Kimmel ILB 52 Linden King OLB 53 Rod Martin OLB 54 Reggie McKenzie ILB 55 Matt Millen ILB 57 Jerry Robinson ILB Defensive backs 44 Stefon Adams S 33 Eddie Anderson FS 45 James Davis SS 21 Ron Fellows CB 22 Mike Haynes CB 36 Greg Hill CB 38 Rod Hill CB 26 Vann McElroy FS 43 Sam Seale CB 30 Stacey Toran SS 48 Lionel Washington CB Special teams 10 Chris Bahr K 5 Stan Talley P		Reserve lists 56 Jeff Barnes OLB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 7 Steve Beuerlein QB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 82 Gene Branton TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 77 Ted Chapman DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 86 Mervyn Fernandez WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 73 Charley Hannah G (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 28 Rob Harrison RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 27 Frank Hawkins RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 49 Brian Hutson FS (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 20 Chris McLemore RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 16 Jim Plunkett QB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 77 Chris Riehm G (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 35 Steve Smith FB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 45 Vic Stagliano FB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 66 Steve Wright T (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad Rookies in italics

^[3]

Regular season

Joining the Raiders midway through the 1987 season, Bo Jackson rushed for 554 yards on 81 carries in just seven games. Over the next three seasons, Bo Jackson would rush for 2,228 more yards and 12 touchdowns: a remarkable achievement, in light of the fact that he was a "second string" player behind Raiders legend Marcus Allen.

Jackson turned in a 221-yard rushing performance on Monday Night Football in 1987 against the Seattle Seahawks. During this game, he ran over Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth, who had insulted Jackson and promised in a media event before the game to contain Jackson. He also made a 91-yard run to the outside, untouched down the sideline. He continued sprinting until finally slowing down as he passed through the entrance to the field tunnel to the dressing rooms with teammates soon following. Jackson scored two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the game.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 13	at Green Bay Packers	W 20–0	1–0	Lambeau Field	54,983	Recap
2	September 20	Detroit Lions	W 27–7	2–0	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	50,300	Recap
–	September 27	at Houston Oilers	Canceled	2–0	Houston Astrodome
3	October 4	Kansas City Chiefs	W 35–17	3–0	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	10,708	Recap
4	October 12	at Denver Broncos	L 14–30	3–1	Mile High Stadium	61,230	Recap
5	October 18	San Diego Chargers	L 17–23	3–2	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	23,541	Recap
6	October 25	Seattle Seahawks	L 13–35	3–3	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	52,735	Recap
7	November 1	at New England Patriots	L 23–26	3–4	Sullivan Stadium	60,664	Recap
8	November 8	at Minnesota Vikings	L 20–31	3–5	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	57,150	Recap
9	November 15	at San Diego Chargers	L 14–16	3–6	Jack Murphy Stadium	60,639	Recap
10	November 22	Denver Broncos	L 17–23	3–7	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	61,318	Recap
11	November 30	at Seattle Seahawks	W 37–14	4–7	Kingdome	62,802	Recap
12	December 6	Buffalo Bills	W 34–21	5–7	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	43,143	Recap
13	December 13	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 10–16	5–8	Arrowhead Stadium	63,834	Recap
14	December 20	Cleveland Browns	L 17–24	5–9	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	40,275	Recap
15	December 27	Chicago Bears	L 3–6	5–10	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	78,019	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Raiders	0	7	7	6	20
Packers	0	0	0	0	0

Date: September 13
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Game start: 4:00 p.m.
Game weather: 56 °F (13.3 °C); wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)

Marcus Allen 33 Rush, 136 Yds

^[4]

Week 11

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Raiders	7	20	10	0	37
Seahawks	7	0	7	0	14

Date: November 30
Location: Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 62,802
Game weather: indoors (dome)
TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf

^[5]

Standings

AFC West
view talk edit	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