1987 Los Angeles Rams season
Encyclopedia
The 1987
Los Angeles Rams
season was the team's 50th year with the National Football League
and the 42nd season in Los Angeles
.
to the Indianapolis Colts in a three team trade involving the Buffalo 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.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Charles White would become the starting running back. The 1987 season would be his finest year as a pro, rushing for a league-leading 1,387 yards and 11 touchdown
s, which earned him a Pro Bowl
selection and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award
.
On November 23, 1987, linebacker Mike Wilcher
recovered Doug Williams fumble and ran it back it 35 yards for a touchdown. It was Wilcher’s only touchdown in the NFL.
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
season was the team's 50th year with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and the 42nd season in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Regular season
On October 31, 1987, the Los Angeles Rams traded Eric DickersonEric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
to the Indianapolis Colts in a three team trade involving the Buffalo Bills. The Rams sent Dickerson to the Colts for six draft choices and two players. Buffalo obtained the rights to Cornelius Bennett
Cornelius Bennett
Cornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...
from Indianapolis. Buffalo sent running back Greg Bell and three draft choices to the Rams, while Indianapolis added Owen Gill
Owen Gill
Owen Gill is a former American football running back who played professionally in the National Football League. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2nd round of the 1985 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. He played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Rams .-External...
and three of their own draft picks to complete the deal with the Rams.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Charles White would become the starting running back. The 1987 season would be his finest year as a pro, rushing for a league-leading 1,387 yards and 11 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, which earned him a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award
The NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award has been given out after every season since 1972 by Pro Football Weekly. The player named Comeback Player of the Year shows perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor...
.
On November 23, 1987, linebacker Mike Wilcher
Mike Wilcher
Michael Wilcher was a former NFL linebacker. He is a graduate from the University of North Carolina who played pro football from 1983–1990 for the Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers....
recovered Doug Williams fumble and ran it back it 35 yards for a touchdown. It was Wilcher’s only touchdown in the NFL.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 13, 1987 | at Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 20-16 | |
Rams took a 13-0 lead behind 149 yards rushing by Eric Dickerson Eric Dickerson Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:... and an interception return TD by Kevin Greene Kevin Greene Kevin Darwin Greene is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League for 15 years and who retired after the 1999 NFL season... , but Oilers bounced back on two 4th-quarter TD passes by Warren Moon Warren Moon Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs... to Jamie Williams and Ernest Givins Ernest Givins Ernest Pastell Givins, Jr. , was a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 2nd round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 5'9", 175 lbs. wide receiver from the University of Louisville, Givins played in 10 NFL seasons from 1986-1995... . |
| 2 | September 20, 1987 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
L 21-16 | |
Rams blew another 4th quarter lead; Wade Wilson Wade Wilson Wade Wilson may refer to:* Wade Wilson , retired American football player and current quarterbacks coach of the Dallas Cowboys... hit Hassan Jones Hassan Jones Hassan Ameer Jones , he played for the Clearwater High School Tornadoes, and is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 5th round of the 1986 NFL Draft . A 6'0", 195-lb. wide receiver from Florida State, Jones played in 8 NFL seasons from 1986... on a 41-yard TD pass, his third of the game, to win it. |
| - | September 27, 1987 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
canceled | ||
| 3 | October 4, 1987 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
L 37-10 | |
In the first "scab game", Rams were blown out courtesy of three TD passes by former Ole Miss QB John Fourcade John Fourcade John Charles Fourcade, Jr. is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the current head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League... . Rams did get their first passing TD of the season courtesy of former UCLA and CFL QB Bernard Quarles Bernard Quarles Bernard Quarles was a quarterback for the National Football League and Canadian Football League.-Career:... . |
| 4 | October 11, 1987 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 31-21 | |
Charles White ushered in the post-Dickerson era by rushing for 166 yards and a TD. Replacement QB Steve Dils Steve Dils Stephen Whitfield "Steve" Dils is a retired American football quarterback who played 10 seasons in the National Football League.-College career:... also passed for two touchdowns. |
| 5 | October 18, 1987 | at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24-20 | |
|
| 6 | October 26, 1987 | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 30-17 | |
|
| 7 | November 1, 1987 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 31-10 | |
|
| 8 | November 8, 1987 | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
L 31-14 | |
|
| 9 | November 15, 1987 | at St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27-24 | |
|
| 10 | November 23, 1987 | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
W 30-26 | |
|
| 11 | November 29, 1987 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 35-3 | |
|
| 12 | December 6, 1987 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 37-16 | |
|
| 13 | December 13, 1987 | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 33-0 | |
|
| 14 | December 21, 1987 | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
L 29-21 | |
|
| 15 | December 27, 1987 | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 48-0 | |
Awards and honors
- Jerry GrayJerry GrayJerry Don Gray is a former American Football cornerback who played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1985 to 1991, the Houston Oilers in 1992, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1993. He is currently the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.-Playing career:Jerry Gray was a two-time All American...
, NFC Pro Bowl selection - Charles White, NFL Comeback Player of the Year
- Charles White, Pro Bowl selection
See also
Other Anaheim–based teams in 1987- California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(Anaheim StadiumAngel Stadium of AnaheimAngel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...
)- 1987 California Angels season1987 California Angels seasonThe California Angels 1987 season involved the Angels finishing 6th in the American League west with a record of 75 wins and 87 losses.-Notable transactions:...
- 1987 California Angels season