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.

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

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 (Drizzle)
 * Game attendance: 55,735
 * Referee: Gordon McCarter
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Lampley (play by play), Ken Stabler (color commentator)
 * Pittsburgh – Hall 50 fumble return (Anderson kick)
 * San Francisco – FG Wersching 43
 * Pittsburgh – Gothard 2 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 50
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
 * San Francisco – Frank 1 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
 * Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 28 run (Anderson kick)
 * San Francisco – Rice 3 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 20, 1987): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 79,543
 * Referee: Gene Barth
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)
 * Cleveland – FG Jaeger 29
 * Cleveland – Mack 1 run (Jaeger kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
 * PIttsburgh – Shell 19 fumble return (Anderson kick)
 * Cleveland – McNeil 11 pass from Kosar (Jaeger kick)
 * Cleveland – FG Jaeger 23
 * Cleveland – Matthews 26 interception return (Jaeger kick)
 * Cleveland – Weathers 37 pass from Kosar (Jaeger kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 27, 1987): vs. New York Jets
Cancelled due to player's strike.

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: (NBC) Mel Proctor (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

This game was played with replacement players.


 * Atlanta – FG Davis 27
 * Pittsburgh – Jackson 1 run (Trout kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Hairston 5 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
 * Atlanta – Safety, Bono penalized for intentional grounding in end zone
 * Pittsburgh – Bono 1 run (Trout kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Clinkscales 11 pass from Collier (Trout kick)
 * Atlanta – Barney 19 pass from Van Raaphorst (Davis kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 11, 1987): at Los Angeles Rams
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California


 * Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 20,219
 * Referee: Bob Frederic
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Fred Roggin (play by play), Dave Lapham (color commentator)

This game was played with replacement players.


 * Los Angeles Rams – Jackson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lansford kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Alston 22 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Carter 10 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
 * Los Angeles Rams – White 2 run (Lansford kick)
 * Los Angeles Rams – McDonald 1 pass from Dils (Lansford kick)
 * Los Angeles Rams – Moore 11 pass from Dils (Lansford kick)
 * Los Angeles Rams – FG Lansford 29
 * Pittsburgh – Alston 42 pass from Collier (Trout kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 18, 1987): vs. Indianapolis Colts
This game was played with replacement players.

Week 7 (Sunday October 25, 1987): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: 49 F (Mostly Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 53,692
 * Referee: Fred Wyant
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
 * Cincinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run (Breech kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
 * Cincinnati – Martin 41 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Hall 25 run with lateral after Hinkle interception (Anderson kick)
 * Cincinnati – Jennings 9 pass from Esiason (kick failed)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21
 * Pittsburgh – Stallworth 12 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20

Week 8 (Sunday November 1, 1987): at Miami Dolphins
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 52,578
 * Referee: Bob McElwee
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Sam Nover (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)
 * Pittsburgh – Lockett 10 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Shell 50 interception return (Anderson kick)
 * Miami – Hardy 2 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)
 * Miami – Clayton 41 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
 * Miami – Duper 50 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
 * Miami – Clayton 33 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
 * Miami – Stradford 5 run (Reveiz kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 8, 1987): at Kansas City Chiefs
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 45,249
 * Referee: Jim Tunney
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)
 * Kansas City – Maas 6 fumble return (Lowery kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Carter 4 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
 * Kansas City – FG Lowery 41
 * Pittsburgh – Carter 26 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
 * Kansas City – FG Lowery 27
 * Kansas City – FG Lowery 38
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44

Week 10 (Sunday November 15, 1987): vs. Houston Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: 63 F (Partly Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 56,177
 * Referee: Jerry Seeman
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
 * Houston – FG Zendejas 34
 * Houston – Duncan 14 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
 * Houston – D. Hill 42 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
 * Houston – FG Zendejas 20
 * Houston – FG Zendejas 40

Week 11 (Sunday November 22, 1987): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 59,910
 * Referee: Fred Silva
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Mel Proctor (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
 * Cincinnati – FG Breech 35
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 52
 * Pittsburgh – Woodson 45 interception return (Anderson kick)
 * Cincinnati – FG Breech 38
 * Cincinnati – FG Breech 41
 * Pittsburgh – Thompson 14 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
 * CIncinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run (Breech kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Malone 42 run (Anderson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 29, 1987): vs. New Orleans Saints
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: 48 F (Overcast)
 * Game attendance: 47,896
 * Referee: Fred Wyant
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Tim Brant (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)
 * New Orleans – FG Andersen 25
 * Pittsburgh – Woodruff 33 interception return (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 5 run (Anderson kick)
 * New Orleans – Mayes 5 run (Andersen kick)
 * New Orleans – Martin 19 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)
 * New Orleans – FG Andersen 32
 * Pittsburgh – Safety, Hansen ran out of end zone

Week 13 (Sunday December 6, 1987): vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: 32 F (Overcast)
 * Game attendance: 48,881
 * Referee: Gordon McCarter
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
 * Seattle – FG Johnson 33
 * Seattle – Largent 12 pass from Krieg (pass failed)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
 * Pittsburgh – Pollard 11 run (Anderson kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 13, 1987): at San Diego Chargers
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California


 * Game time: 4:00 PM EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 51,605
 * Referee: Jim Tunney
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
 * San Diego – Brandon recovered blocked punt in end zone (Abbott kick)
 * San Diego – Safety, Ehin tackled Malone in end zone
 * Pittsburgh – Pollard 8 run (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Malone 7 run (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
 * San Diego – James 15 pass from Fouts (Abbott kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 20, 1987): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: Dome
 * Game attendance: 36,683
 * Referee: Tom Dooley
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
 * Houston – Hill 52 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
 * Houston – FG Zendejas 34
 * Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
 * Houston – Pinkett 5 run (Zendejas kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
 * Houston – Hill 30 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)

Week 16 (Saturday December 26, 1987): vs. Cleveland Browns
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 12:30 PM EST
 * Game weather: 35 F (Overcast)
 * Game attendance: 56,394
 * Referee: Dick Hantak
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
 * Cleveland – FG Bahr 31
 * Cleveland – Tennell 2 pass from Kosar (kick failed)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
 * Cleveland – FG Bahr 30
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
 * Cleveland – Byner 2 run (Bahr kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Gowdy 45 interception return (Anderson kick)