The 1987 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 18th season in the National Football League , and 28th overall.
On October 31, 1987, the Los Angeles Rams traded Eric Dickerson to the Indianapolis Colts in a three team trade involving the Bills. The Rams sent Dickerson to the Colts for six draft choices and two players. Buffalo obtained the rights to Cornelius Bennett from Indianapolis. Buffalo sent running back Greg Bell and three draft choices to the Rams, while Indianapolis added Owen Gill and three of their own draft picks to complete the deal with the Rams.[1] Adding Bennett to the team helped to form the nucleus for a strong young defensive unit that would become the core of Buffalo's later Super Bowl teams.
Offseason
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Personnel
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1987 Buffalo Bills staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Walt Corey
Defensive line – Ted Cottrell
Defensive backs – Dick Roach
Defensive assistant – Chuck Lester
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
[3]
NFL replacement players
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After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:
1987 Buffalo Bills replacement roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
1987 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
Regular season
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Cornerback Nate Odomes was the youngest starting defensive player in the NFL. It was also his rookie season.
Schedule
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Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Attendance
1
September 13
New York Jets
L 31–28
0–1
76,718
2
September 20
Houston Oilers
W 34–30
1–1
56,534
–
September 27
at Dallas Cowboys
canceled
3
October 4
Indianapolis Colts
L 47–6
1–2
9,860
4
October 11
at New England Patriots
L 14–7
1–3
11,878
5
October 18
New York Giants
W 6–3
2–3
15,737
6
October 25
at Miami Dolphins
W 34–31 OT
3–3
61,295
7
November 1
Washington Redskins
L 27–7
3–4
71,640
8
November 8
Denver Broncos
W 21–14
4–4
63,698
9
November 15
at Cleveland Browns
L 27–21
4–5
78,409
10
November 22
at New York Jets
W 17–14
5–5
58,407
11
November 29
Miami Dolphins
W 27–0
6–5
68,055
12
December 6
at Los Angeles Raiders
L 34–21
6–6
43,143
13
December 13
at Indianapolis Colts
W 27–3
7–6
60,253
14
December 20
New England Patriots
L 13–7
7–7
74,945
15
December 27
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 17–7
7–8
57,547
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
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1
2 3 4 Total
Oilers
3
14 3 10
30
• Bills
3
10 0 21
34
Scoring summary 1 BUF Scott Norwood 45 yard field goalBills 3–0
1 HOU Tony Zendejas 52 yard field goalTie 3–3
2 HOU Drew Hill 2 yard pass from Warren Moon (Tony Zendejas kick)Oilers 10–3
2 BUF Scott Norwood 38 yard field goal Oilers 10–6
2 HOU Mike Rozier 8 yard run (Tony Zendejas kick)Oilers 17–6
2 BUF Robb Riddick 11 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick)Oilers 17–13
3 HOU Tony Zendejas 27 yard field goal Oilers 20–13
4 BUF Andre Reed 8 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick)Tie 20–20
4 HOU Ernest Givens 12 yard pass from Warren Moon (Tony Zendejas kick)Oilers 27–20
4 HOU Tony Zendejas 30 yard field goal Oilers 30–20
4 BUF Robb Riddick 2 yard run (Scott Norwood kick) Oilers 30–27
4 BUF Ronnie Harmon 2 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick)Bills 34–30
[4]
Buffalo Bills (2–3) at Miami Dolphins (2–3)
1
2 3 4 OT Total
• Bills
0
3 14 14 3
34
Dolphins
14
7 0 10 0
31
[5]
Washington Redskins (5–1) at Buffalo Bills (3–3)
1
2 3 4 Total
• Redskins
3
14 10 0
27
Bills
0
0 0 7
7
[6]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
DEN – John Elway – 13/30, 163 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD
BUF – Jim Kelly – 14/23, 135 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD
Top rushers
Top receivers
Cornelius Bennett ’s first game as a Buffalo Bill, wearing #55.
Steve Tasker blocked punt just before halftime resulting in a safety and 18–0 halftime score.
1
2 3 4 Total
Bills
7
0 0 14
21
• Browns
3
14 7 3
27
[8]
Week 11 vs Dolphins
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
BUF – Scott Norwood 39-yard field goal, 10:01. Bills 24–0.
Fourth quarter
BUF – Scott Norwood 28-yard field goal, 7:52. Bils 27–0.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
1
2 3 4 Total
Bills
0
14 7 0
21
• Raiders
10
3 14 7
34
[9]
Buffalo Bills (7–7) at Philadelphia Eagles (6–8)
1
2 3 4 Total
Bills
0
0 0 7
7
• Eagles
0
10 7 0
17
Date: December 27, 1987Location: Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PAGame start: 1:00 EST Game weather: 35 °F (1.7 °C); wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)TV announcers (NBC ): Tom Hammond
[10]
Standings
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Player stats
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Note: Comp = Completions; ATT = Attempts; TD = Touchdowns; INT = Interceptions
Receiving
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Note: FR = Fumble Recoveries; TCKL = Tackles; INT = Interceptions; TD = Touchdowns
Player
Games
Sacks
Forced Fumbles
FR
Tckl
INT
Yards
TD
Shane Conlan
12
0.5
1
0
114
0
0
0
Bruce Smith
12
12.0
3
0
2
0
0
0
Special teams
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Note: FGA = Field Goals Attempted; FGM = Field Goals Made; FG% = Field goal percentage; XPA = Extra Points Attempted; XPM = Extra Points Made; XP% = Extra points percentage
Awards and honors
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References
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External links
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