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(Top) 1 Offseason 1.1 NFL Draft 2 Personnel 2.1 Staff 2.2 Roster 2.3 NFL replacement players 3 Regular season 3.1 Schedule 3.2 Game summaries 3.2.1 Week 1 3.2.2 Week 2 3.2.3 Week 4 3.2.4 Week 5 3.2.5 Week 6 3.2.6 Week 7 3.2.7 Week 8 3.2.8 Week 9 3.2.9 Week 10 3.2.10 Week 11 3.2.11 Week 12 3.2.12 Week 13 3.2.13 Week 14 3.2.14 Week 15 3.2.15 Week 16 3.3 Standings 4 Playoffs 4.1 Divisional 4.2 Conference Championship 4.3 Super Bowl 5 Awards and records 6 References 7 External links

1987 Denver Broncos season

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1987 Denver Broncos season

Owner	Pat Bowlen
General manager	John Beake
Head coach	Dan Reeves
Home field	Mile High Stadium
Results
Record	10–4–1
Division place	1st AFC West
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Oilers) 34–10 Won AFC Championship (vs. Browns) 38–33 Lost Super Bowl XXII (vs. Redskins) 10–42
Pro Bowlers	QBJohn Elway GKeith Bishop LBKarl Mecklenburg
Uniform

← 1986 Broncos seasons 1988 →

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[edit]

NFL Draft[edit]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1987 Denver Broncos draft
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[edit]

Staff[edit]

**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 Special teams – Mike Nolan Strength and conditioning Strength/conditioning – Al Miller

^[1]

Roster[edit]

**1987 Denver Broncos final roster**

	Quarterbacks 7 John Elway 12 Ken Karcher 8 Gary Kubiak Running backs 35 Ken BellKR 24 Tony Boddie 33 Gene LangFB 30 Steve Sewell 23 Sammy Winder Wide receivers 83 Sam Graddy 80 Mark Jackson 82 Vance Johnson 84 Ricky Nattiel 81 Steve Watson Tight ends 89 Mitch Andrews 88 Clarence Kay 46 Bobby Micho 89 Orson Mobley		Offensive linemen 54 Keith BishopG 62 Mike FreemanC 79 Stefan HumphriesG 72 Keith KartzT 76 Ken LanierT 68 Larry LeeC 74 Dan RemsbergT 70 Dave StuddardT Defensive linemen 65 Walt BowyerDE 90 Freddie GilbertDE 75 Rulon JonesDE 71 Greg KragenNT 61 Andre TownsendDE		Linebackers 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 ILB/OLB Defensive backs 34 Tyrone BraxtonFS 28 Jeremiah CastilleCB 27 Kevin Clark CB/PR 31 Mike Harden CB/FS 36 Mark HaynesCB 22 Tony LillyFS 38 Bruce PlummerCB 48 Randy RobbinsSS 49 Dennis SmithSS 45 Steve WilsonCB Special teams 2 Mike HoranP 3 Rich KarlisK		Reserve lists 69 Tony ColoritoNT(IRTooltip Injured reserve) 78 Winford HoodT(IRTooltip Injured reserve) 66 Jim JurigaT(IRTooltip Injured reserve) 29 Warren MarshallRB(IRTooltip Injured reserve) 85 Rick MassieWR(IRTooltip Injured reserve) 93 Richard ReedLB(IRTooltip Injured reserve) 58 Rafe WilkinsonLB(IRTooltip Injured reserve) 47 Gerald WillhiteRB(IRTooltip Injured reserve) Rookies in italics

NFL replacement players[edit]

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

1987 Denver Broncos replacement roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Regular season[edit]

Schedule[edit]

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	atGreen Bay Packers	T 17–17 (OT)	1–0–1	Milwaukee County Stadium	50,624
3	September 28	atCleveland 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	atKansas City Chiefs	W 26–17	3–1–1	Arrowhead Stadium	20,296
7	October 26	atMinnesota 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	atBuffalo 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	atLos Angeles Raiders	W 23–17	6–3–1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	61,318
12	November 29	atSan 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	atSeattle 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[edit]

Week 1[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	14	3	0	0	17
• Broncos	7	13	14	6	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

Q1	SEA	Turner 20 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)	SEA 7–0

Q1	DEN	Sewell 72 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	Tie 7–7

Q1	SEA	Warner 10 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)	SEA 14–7

Q2	SEA	Johnson 25 yard field goal	SEA 17–7

Q2	DEN	Karlis 37 yard field goal	SEA 17–10

Q2	DEN	Karlis 42 yard field goal	SEA 17–13

Q2	DEN	Watson 4 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	DEN 20–17

Q3	DEN	Mobley 5 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	DEN 27–17

Q3	DEN	Johnson 59 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	DEN 34–17

Q4	DEN	Karlis 25 yard field goal	DEN 37–17

Q4	DEN	Karlis 29 yard field goal	DEN 40–17

John Elway 22/32, 338 Yds, 4 TD, INT

^[2]

Week 2[edit]

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Broncos	0	3	7	7	0	17
Packers	7	7	0	3	0	17

Date: September 20
Location: Milwaukee County Stadium
Referee: Dick Hantak
Television network: NBC

Week 4[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Oilers	7	10	10	13	40
Broncos	0	10	0	0	10

Date: October 4
Location: Mile High Stadium
Referee: Jim Tunney
Television network: NBC

Week 5[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Raiders	0	14	0	0	14
• Broncos	14	3	6	7	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

Q1	DEN	Dudek 7 yard run (Clendenen kick)	DEN 7–0

Q1	DEN	Dudek 3 yard run (Clendenen kick)	DEN 14–0

Q2	LA	Perry 3 yard pass from Evans (Hardy kick)	DEN 14–7

Q2	LA	Calhoun 55 yard interception return (Hardy kick)	Tie 14–14

Q2	DEN	Clendenen 31 yard field goal	DEN 17–14

Q3	DEN	Massie 10 yard pass from Karcher (kick failed)	DEN 23–14

Q4	DEN	Poole 1 yard run (Clendenen kick)	DEN 30–14

^[3]

Week 6[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Broncos	9	10	0	7	26
Chiefs	7	7	3	0	17

Date: October 18
Location: Arrowhead Stadium
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy

Week 7[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	7	10	0	10	27
• Vikings	7	7	13	7	34

Date: October 26
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Referee: Tom Dooley
TV announcers (ABC): Gary Bender and Lynn Swann

Week 8[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	0	0	0	0
• Broncos	17	7	0	10	34

Date: November 1
Location: Mile High Stadium
Referee: Jerry Seeman
Television network: CBS

Week 9[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	7	7	14
• Bills	0	18	3	0	21

Date: November 8
Location: Rich Stadium
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
Television network: NBC

Week 10[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	14	0	15	0	29
• Broncos	0	21	0	10	31

Date: November 16
Location: Mile High Stadium
Referee: Red Cashion
TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf

Week 11[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Broncos	10	10	0	3	23
Raiders	0	14	3	0	17

Date: November 22
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Referee: Jim Tunney
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary

Q1	DEN	Karlis 49 yard field goal	DEN 3–0

Q1	DEN	Johnson 24 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	DEN 10–0

Q2	DEN	Karlis 31 yard field goal	DEN 13–0

Q2	LA	Jackson 35 yard run (Bahr kick)	DEN 13–7

Q2	DEN	Elway 1 yard run (Karlis kick)	DEN 20–7

Q2	LA	Jackson 1 yard run (Bahr kick)	DEN 20–14

Q3	LA	Bahr 34 yard field goal pass	DEN 20–17

Q4	DEN	Karlis 20 yard field goal	DEN 23–17

Week 12[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Broncos	7	10	14	0	31
Chargers	7	3	0	7	17

Date: November 29
Location: Jack Murphy Stadium
Referee: Gene Barth
TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo

Week 13[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	7	10	3	0	20
• Broncos	0	3	14	14	31

Date: December 6
Location: Mile High Stadium
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary

Q1	NE	Dupard 10 yard run (Franklin kick)	NE 7–0

Q2	DEN	Karlis 24 yard field goal	NE 7–3

Q2	NE	Collins 4 yard pass from Ramsey (Franklin kick)	NE 14–3

Q2	NE	Franklin 36 yard field goal	NE 17–3

Q3	DEN	Boddie 1 yard run (Karlis kick)	NE 17–10

Q3	DEN	Massie 7 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	Tied 17–17

Q3	NE	Franklin 27 yard field goal	NE 20–17

Q4	DEN	Jackson 2 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	DEN 24–20

Q4	DEN	Haynes 14 yard interception return (Karlis kick)	DEN 31–20

Week 14[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	0	14	7	21
• Seahawks	0	14	7	7	28

Date: December 13
Location: Kingdome
Game weather: Indoors (dome)
Referee: Bob McElwee
Television network: ESPN

Scoring summary

Q2	5:50	SEA	Warner 3 yard run (Johnson kick)	SEA 7–0

Q2	0:22	SEA	Butler 35 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)	SEA 14–0

Q3	12:28	DEN	Winder 11 yard run (Karlis kick)	SEA 14–7

Q3	10:36	DEN	Massie 39 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick)	Tied 14–14

Q3	9:30	SEA	Butler 40 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)	SEA 21–14

Q4	12:39	SEA	Williams 7 yard pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)	SEA 28–14

Q4	0:25	DEN	Winder 1 yard run (Karlis kick)	SEA 28–21

Week 15[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	3	7	7	17
• Broncos	7	10	3	0	20

Date: December 19
Location: Mile High Stadium

Week 16[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chargers	0	0	0	0	0
• Broncos	14	0	0	10	24

Date: December 27
Location: Mile High Stadium
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo

Scoring summary

Q1	DEN	Clark 71 yard punt return	DEN 7–0

Q1	DEN	Winder 1 yard rush (Karlis kick)	DEN 14–0

Q4	DEN	Karlis 26 yard field goal	DEN 17–0

Q4	DEN	Hunley 52 yard interception return (Karlis kick)	DEN 24–0

Standings[edit]

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

Playoffs[edit]

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[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	3	0	7	10
• Broncos	14	10	3	7	34

Date: January 10
Location: Mile High Stadium

Conference Championship[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	0	3	21	9	33
• Broncos	14	7	10	7	38

Date: January 17
Location: Mile High Stadium

Super Bowl[edit]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Redskins	0	35	0	7	42
Broncos	10	0	0	0	10

Date: January 31
Location: Jack Murphy Stadium

Awards and records[edit]

Ricky Nattiel, All-Rookie selection

References[edit]

^ Broncos Directory (PDF). NFL Enterprises, LLC. September 26, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2021. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Feb-02.

^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Aug-25.

External links[edit]

Denver Broncos – 1987 media guide
1987 Denver BroncosatPro-Football-Reference.com

v t e Denver Broncos
Founded in 1960 Based in Denver, Colorado Headquartered in Dove Valley, Colorado
Franchise	History Players Starting quarterbacks Coaches Seasons First-round draft picks Broadcasters
Stadiums	Mile High Stadium Empower Field at Mile High
Key personnel	Owners Rob Walton Greg Penner (CEO) Carrie Walton Penner Mellody Hobson Condoleezza Rice Lewis Hamilton General manager George Paton Head coach Sean Payton Consultant John Elway
Culture	A Few Seconds of Panic Alan Roach Barrel Man Bucky the Bronco Cheerleaders Elway to Marino Everybody's All-American Hold That Mork ("Mork & Mindy" episode) "Joy to the World" Miles No Fly Zone Orange Crush Defense "Rocky Mountain Way" South Park "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" "Sarcastaball" Thunder "You Only Move Twice" (The Simpsons episode)
Lore	Snowball Game The Drive The Fumble Tebowmania 3:16 game Mile High Miracle
Rivalries	Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers New England Patriots Brady–Manning rivalry Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks
Retired numbers	7 18 44
Division championships (15)	1977 1978 1984 1986 1987 1989 1991 1996 1998 2005 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Conference championships (8)	1977 1986 1987 1989 1997 1998 2013 2015
League championships (3)	1997 (XXXII) 1998 (XXXIII) 2015 (50)
Media	Radio network Dave Logan Brian Griese Scott Hastings Ed McCaffrey Alan Roach TV: KUSA 9News Radio: 850 KOA (AM)
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1970–present) Conference: American Football Conference Division: West Division
Former league affiliation	League: American Football League (1960–1969)

1987 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Buffalo	Cincinnati	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta
Indianapolis	Cleveland	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	LA Rams
Miami	Houston	LA Raiders	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Pittsburgh	San Diego	St. Louis	Minnesota	San Francisco
NY Jets		Seattle	Washington	Tampa Bay

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