1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 55th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. The team improved from a 6-10 record from 1986 and finishing 8-7 record and fail to reach the playoffs for a third straight season. Noll was renowned as a stoic character, but in complete contrast was his reaction to Jerry Glanville, the head coach of the Oilers. After the Steelers second meeting, Noll in the postgame handshake grabbed Glanville and told him he'd better watch out or he'd get jumped on. This was in reaction to Glanville's earlier comments on how the Oilers field was the 'house of pain' and his prediction that his players would intentionally hurt the Steelers.
Offseason
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
NFL replacement players
After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 13, 1987): vs. [San Francisco 49ers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 76 °F
- Game attendance: 55,735
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers: Jim Lampley, Ken Stabler
- Pittsburgh – Hall 50 fumble return
- San Francisco – FG Wersching 43
- Pittsburgh – Gothard 2 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 50
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
- San Francisco – Frank 1 pass from Montana
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
- Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 28 run
- San Francisco – Rice 3 pass from Montana
Week 2 (Sunday September 20, 1987): at [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 79,543
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Joe Namath
- Cleveland – FG Jaeger 29
- Cleveland – Mack 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
- PIttsburgh – Shell 19 fumble return
- Cleveland – McNeil 11 pass from Kosar
- Cleveland – FG Jaeger 23
- Cleveland – Matthews 26 interception return
- Cleveland – Weathers 37 pass from Kosar
Week 3 (Sunday September 27, 1987): vs. [New York Jets]
Week 4 (Sunday October 4, 1987): at [Atlanta Falcons]
at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 16,667
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Mel Proctor, Reggie Rucker
- Atlanta – FG Davis 27
- Pittsburgh – Jackson 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Hairston 5 pass from Bono
- Atlanta – Safety, Bono penalized for intentional grounding in end zone
- Pittsburgh – Bono 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Clinkscales 11 pass from Collier
- Atlanta – Barney 19 pass from Van Raaphorst
Week 5 (Sunday October 11, 1987): at [Los Angeles Rams]
- Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 20,219
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers: Fred Roggin, Dave Lapham
- Los Angeles Rams – Jackson recovered blocked punt in end zone
- Pittsburgh – Alston 22 pass from Bono
- Pittsburgh – Carter 10 pass from Bono
- Los Angeles Rams – White 2 run
- Los Angeles Rams – McDonald 1 pass from Dils
- Los Angeles Rams – Moore 11 pass from Dils
- Los Angeles Rams – FG Lansford 29
- Pittsburgh – Alston 42 pass from Collier
Week 6 (Sunday October 18, 1987): vs. [Indianapolis Colts]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 53 °F
- Game attendance: 34,627
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Sam Rutigliano
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 3 pass from Bono
- Indianapolis – Murray 20 pass from Kiel
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 20 pass from Bono
- Pittsburgh – Sanders 10 run
Week 7 (Sunday October 25, 1987): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: 49 °F
- Game attendance: 53,692
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy
- Cincinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
- Cincinnati – Martin 41 pass from Esiason
- Pittsburgh – Hall 25 run with lateral after Hinkle interception
- Cincinnati – Jennings 9 pass from Esiason
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 12 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
Week 8 (Sunday November 1, 1987): at [Miami Dolphins]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 52,578
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Sam Nover, Michael Jackson
- Pittsburgh – Lockett 10 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – Shell 50 interception return
- Miami – Hardy 2 pass from Marino
- Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run
- Miami – Clayton 41 pass from Marino
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
- Miami – Duper 50 pass from Marino
- Miami – Clayton 33 pass from Marino
- Miami – Stradford 5 run
Week 9 (Sunday November 8, 1987): at [Kansas City Chiefs]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 45,249
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Michael Jackson
- Kansas City – Maas 6 fumble return
- Pittsburgh – Carter 4 pass from Malone
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 41
- Pittsburgh – Carter 26 pass from Malone
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 27
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 38
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
Week 10 (Sunday November 15, 1987): vs. [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: 63 °F
- Game attendance: 56,177
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Joe Namath
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
- Houston – FG Zendejas 34
- Houston – Duncan 14 pass from Moon
- Houston – D. Hill 42 pass from Moon
- Houston – FG Zendejas 20
- Houston – FG Zendejas 40
Week 11 (Sunday November 22, 1987): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 59,910
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers: Mel Proctor, Sam Rutigliano
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 35
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 52
- Pittsburgh – Woodson 45 interception return
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 38
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 41
- Pittsburgh – Thompson 14 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
- CIncinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Malone 42 run
Week 12 (Sunday November 29, 1987): vs. [New Orleans Saints]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: 48 °F
- Game attendance: 47,896
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers: Tim Brant, Hank Stram
- New Orleans – FG Andersen 25
- Pittsburgh – Woodruff 33 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 5 run
- New Orleans – Mayes 5 run
- New Orleans – Martin 19 pass from Hebert
- New Orleans – FG Andersen 32
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Hansen ran out of end zone
Week 13 (Sunday December 6, 1987): vs. [Seattle Seahawks]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: 32 °F
- Game attendance: 48,881
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Michael Jackson
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
- Seattle – FG Johnson 33
- Seattle – Largent 12 pass from Krieg
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
- Pittsburgh – Pollard 11 run
Week 14 (Sunday December 13, 1987): at [San Diego Chargers]
- Game time: 4:00 PM EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 51,605
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy
- San Diego – Brandon recovered blocked punt in end zone
- San DIego – Safety, Ehin tackled Malone in end zone
- Pittsburgh – Pollard 8 run
- Pittsburgh – Malone 7 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
- San Diego – James 15 pass from Fouts
Week 15 (Sunday December 20, 1987): at [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 36,683
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Sam Rutigliano
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
- Houston – Hill 52 pass from Moon
- Houston – FG Zendejas 34
- Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run
- Houston – Pinkett 5 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
- Houston – Hill 30 pass from Moon
Week 16 (Saturday December 26, 1987): vs. [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 12:30 PM EST
- Game weather: 35 °F
- Game attendance: 56,394
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy
- Cleveland – FG Bahr 31
- Cleveland – Tennell 2 pass from Kosar
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
- Cleveland – FG Bahr 30
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
- Cleveland – Byner 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Gowdy 45 interception return
Standings