NFL playoffs, 1986-87

 

The NFL playoffs following the 1986 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXI.

Playoff seeds
Seed	AFC	NFC
1	Cleveland Browns (Central winner)	New York Giants (East winner)
2	Denver Broncos (West winner)	Chicago Bears (Central winner)
3	New England Patriots (East winner)	San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
4	New York Jets	Washington Redskins
5	Kansas City Chiefs	Los Angeles Rams

Note: The New York Giants (the NFC 1 seed) did not play the Washington Redskins (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.

Wild Card playoffs

December 28, 1986

AFC: New York Jets 35, Kansas City Chiefs 15

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	6	0	0	9	15
Jets	7	14	7	7	35

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Griese
• Game Attendance: 75,212

Quarterback Pat Ryan led the Jets to the victory with 3 touchdown passes. The Chiefs scored first on a 67-yard drive capped by running back Jeff Smith. On their ensuing possession, the Jets faced fourth down and 6 on the Kansas City 33-yard line. Rather than attempt a long field goal, Ryan faked a handoff and rushed for a 24 yard gain. Two plays later, running back Freeman McNeil scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown. In the second period, Ryan completed two touchdown pass: a 1-yarder to McNeil and an 11-yarder to wide receiver Al Toon. On the first play of the second half, Jets linebacker Kevin McArthur returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. Ryan later clinched the victory in the fourth period with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Billy Griggs. The Chiefs' only scores in the second half was a blocked punt recovery in the end zone, and an intentional safety by the Jets.

McNeil finished the game with 135 rushing yards, 3 receptions for 16 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

• Scoring
  • KC - Smith 1 run (kick failed) KC 6-0
  • NYJ - McNeil 4 run (Leahy kick) NYJ 7-6
  • NYJ - McNeil 1 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) NYJ 14-6
  • NYJ - Toon 11 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) NYJ 21-6
  • NYJ - McArthur 21 interception return (Leahy kick) NYJ 28-6
  • KC - Lewis recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed) NYJ 28-12
  • NYJ - Griggs 6 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) NYJ 35-12
  • KC - Safety, Jennings ran out of end zone NYJ 35-15

NFC: Washington Redskins 19, Los Angeles Rams 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	0	0	7	7
Redskins	10	3	3	3	19

at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Game Attendance: 54,567

The Rams turned over the ball 6 times enroute to a defeat against the Redskins. In the first quarter, a fumble lost by Los Angeles running back Eric Dickerson led to Washington kicker Jess Atkinson's 25-yard field goal. The Redskins then extended their lead, 10-0, after quarterback Jay Schroeder threw a 14-yard touchdown to running back Kelvin Bryant. In the second period, Rams tight end David Hill's fumble set up Atkinson's 20-yard field goal. Atkinson made two more field in the second half. The Rams' lone score of the game was quarterback Jim Everett's 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kevin House during the final period.

• Scoring
  • WAS - FG Atkinson 25 WAS 3-0
  • WAS - Bryant 14 pass from Schroeder (Atkinson kick) WAS 10-0
  • WAS - FG Atkinson 20 WAS 13-0
  • WAS - FG Atkinson 38 WAS 16-0
  • RAMS - House 12 pass from Everett (Lansford kick) WAS 16-7
  • WAS - FG Atkinson 19 WAS 19-7

Divisional playoffs

January 3, 1987

AFC: Cleveland Browns 23, New York Jets 20 (2OT)

	1	2	3	4	2OT	Total
Jets	7	3	3	7	0	20
Browns	7	3	0	10	3	23

at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
• Game Attendance: 79,720

Browns kicker Mark Moseley made the game-winning 27-yard field goal after 2:02 of the second overtime period. The Jets scored first after an 82-yard drive was capped by quarterback Pat Ryan's 42-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Wesley Walker. Cleveland responded by marching 98 yards to score on running back Herman Fontenot's 37-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bernie Kosar. The score was tied at halftime, 10-10, after the teams exchanged field goals during the second period. In the third quarter, New York kicker Pat Leahy made a 37-yard field goal. Jets running back Freeman McNeil then rushed for a 25-yard touchdown to give his team the lead, 20-10, with 4:14 left in the fourth quarter. But the Browns then drove 68-yards to score on running back Kevin Mack's 1-yard touchdown run, during a drive that was aided by a very untimely roughing the passer penalty on Mark Gastineau of the Jets on an incompletion by the Browns during a 2-and-24 yards play. Kosar then completed a 37-yard pass to wide receiver Webster Slaughter to set up Moseley's game-tying 27-yard field goal with 7 seconds remaining in regulation.

Kosar set postseason records for completions (33), attempts (64), and passing yards (483), but threw only 1 touchdown pass and was intercepted twice. Browns tight end Ozzie Newsome caught 6 passes for 114 yards.

• Scoring
  • NYJ - Walker 42 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) NYJ 7-0
  • CLE - Fontenot 37 pass from Kosar (Moseley kick) 7-7
  • CLE - FG Moseley 38 CLE 10-7
  • NYJ - FG Leahy 46 10-10
  • NYJ - FG Leahy 37 NYJ 13-10
  • NYJ - McNeil 25 run (Leahy kick) NYJ 20-10
  • CLE - Mack 1 run (Moseley kick) NYJ 20-17
  • CLE - FG Moseley 22 20-20
  • CLE - FG Moseley 27 CLE 23-20

NFC: Washington Redskins 27, Chicago Bears 13

	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	7	0	7	13	27
Bears	0	13	0	0	13

at Soldier Field, Chicago

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST
• TV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Dan Dierdorf
• Game Attendance: 65,524

The Redskins converted two turnovers into two touchdowns in the second half to overcome the Bears' 13-7 halftime lead. Washington scored first after quarterback Jay Schroeder threw a 28-yard touchdown to wide receiver Art Monk. Chicago countered in the second quarter with wide receiver Willie Gault's 50-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Doug Flutie. Bears kicker Kevin Butler then made two field goals before halftime. However, the Redskins took the lead in the third period after an interception by Flutie set up Monk's 23-yard touchdown reception. Chicago then advanced to the Washington 17-yard line, but running back Walter Payton lost a fumble and the Redskins then marched 83 yards to score on running back George Rogers' 1-yard rushing touchdown. Washington kicker Jess Atkinson later made two field goals in the final period to close out the scoring.

• Scoring
  • WAS - Monk 28 pass from Schroeder (Atkinson kick) WAS 7-0
  • CHI - Gault 50 pass from Flutie (Butler kick) 7-7
  • CHI - FG Butler 23 CHI 10-7
  • CHI - FG Butler 41 CHI 13-7
  • WAS - Monk 23 pass from Schroeder (Atkinson kick) WAS 14-13
  • WAS - Rogers 1 run (Atkinson kick) WAS 21-13
  • WAS - FG Atkinson 35 WAS 24-13
  • WAS - FG Atkinson 25 WAS 27-13

January 4, 1987

NFC: New York Giants 49, San Francisco 49ers 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	3	0	0	0	3
Giants	7	21	21	0	49

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• Game Attendance: 75,691

Giants quarterback Phil Simms completed only 9 of 19 passes for 134 yards, but threw 4 touchdown passes and no interceptions while the New York defense allowed only 29 rushing yards and a field goal. On the 49ers' first drive of the game, wide receiver Jerry Rice caught a pass from quarterback Joe Montana and appeared to be on his way for a 50-yard touchdown, but he inexplicably fumbled the ball without being touched and the Giants recovered(Madden said during the telecast that the Astroturf at Giants Stadium may have been a factor). New York then drove 80 yards to score on Simms' 24-yard touchdown to tight end Mark Bavaro. Simms later threw three more touchdowns: a 15-yarder to wide receiver Bobby Johnson, a 28-yarder to wide receiver Phil McConkey, and a 29-yarder to tight end Zeke Mowatt. Running back Joe Morris rushed for 159 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns: a 45-yarder and a 2-yard one. Linebacker Lawrence Taylor also scored on a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown. During that same play, Montana was knocked out of the game with a concussion after being hit by defensive lineman Jim Burt.

• Scoring
  • NYG - Bavaro 24 pass from Simms (Allegre kick) NYG 7-0
  • SF - FG Wersching 26 NYG 7-3
  • NYG - Morris 45 run (Allegre kick) NYG 14-3
  • NYG - Johnson 15 pass from Simms (Allegre kick) NYG 21-3
  • NYG - Taylor 34 interception return (Allegre kick) NYG 28-3
  • NYG - McConkey 28 pass from Simms (Allegre kick) NYG 35-3
  • NYG - Mowatt 29 pass from Simms (Allegre kick) NYG 42-3
  • NYG - Morris 2 run (Allegre kick) NYG 49-3

AFC: Denver Broncos 22, New England Patriots 17

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	0	10	7	0	17
Broncos	3	7	10	2	22

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. MST
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
• Game Attendance: 75,262

Broncos quarterback John Elway ran for a touchdown and passed for another one as he led Denver to a victory, while running back Sammy Winder rushed for 102 yards and caught a pass for 16. Denver jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter after kicker Rich Karlis made a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Patriots took the lead when quarterback Tony Eason completed a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Stanley Morgan to cap an 87-yard drive. However, the Broncos countered with an 82-yard drive to score on Elway's 22-yard touchdown run. After both teams exchanged field goals, Eason completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Morgan to retake the lead, 17-13. But Elway then threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vance Johnson for the go-ahead score. Denver defensive lineman Rulon Jones then sacked Eason for a safety in the final period to close out the scoring.

• Scoring
  • DEN - FG Karlis 27 DEN 3-0
  • NE - Morgan 19 pass from Eason (Franklin kick) NE 7-3
  • DEN - Elway 22 run (Karlis kick) DEN 10-7
  • NE - FG Franklin 38 10-10
  • DEN - FG Karlis 22 DEN 13-10
  • NE - Morgan 45 pass from Eason (Franklin kick) NE 17-13
  • DEN - Johnson 48 pass from Elway (Karlis kick) DEN 20-17
  • DEN - Safety, Eason sacked by R. Jones in end zone DEN 22-17

Conference Championships

January 11, 1987

AFC: Denver Broncos 23, Cleveland Browns 20 (OT)

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Broncos	0	10	3	7	3	23
Browns	7	3	0	10	0	20

at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
• Referee: Chuck Heberling
• Game Attendance: 79,973

This game is best remembered for The Drive when the Broncos drove 98 yards to tie the game with 37 seconds left in regulation, and Denver kicker Rich Karlis made the game-winning 33-yard field goal 5:38 into overtime.

The Browns scored first when quarterback Bernie Kosar threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to running back Herman Fontenot at the end of an 86 yard drive. But the Broncos then scored 10 unanswered points: Karlis' 19-yard field goal and running back Gerald Willhite's 1-yard rushing touchdown. Cleveland kicker Mark Moseley's 29-yard field goal before halftime tied the score, 10-10. The teams exchanged punts before Kosar completed a 48-yard touchdown pass to Brian Brennan with 5:43 remaining in regulation. Elway then led his team from their own 2-yard line to tie the game on wide receiver Mark Jackson's 5-yard touchdown reception with 37 seconds left in regulation. Karlis' game-winning field goal in overtime capped a 60-yard drive after the Browns were forced to punt.

• Scoring
  • CLE - Fontenot 6 pass from Kosar (Moseley kick) CLE 7-0
  • DEN - FG Karlis 19 CLE 7-3
  • DEN - Willhite 1 run (Karlis kick) DEN 10-7
  • CLE - FG Moseley 29 10-10
  • DEN - FG Karlis 26 DEN 13-10
  • CLE - FG Moseley 24 13-13
  • CLE - Brennan 48 pass from Kosar (Moseley kick) CLE 20-13
  • DEN - Jackson 5 pass from Elway (Karlis kick) 20-20
  • DEN - FG Karlis 33 DEN 23-20

NFC: New York Giants 17, Washington Redskins 0

	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	0	0	0	0	0
Giants	10	7	0	0	17

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• Game Attendance: 76,891

The Giants shut out the Redskins, allowing only 150 passing yards and 40 rushing yards. New York won the coin toss but elected to kick off with the 32 mile-per-hour winds blowing through Giants Stadium (the Redskins would never kick off, as they chose to receive the second-half kickoff). After the Redskins were forced to punt on their opening possession, punter Steve Cox could only manage to kick the ball in the strong wind 23 yards to the Washington 47-yard line. Six plays later, the Giants scored on Raul Allegre's 47-yard field goal. After the ensuing kickoff, the Redskins were forced to punt again and Cox managed to only punt the ball 27 yards to the Washington 38-yard line. From there, New York advanced to score on quarterback Phil Simms' 11-yard touchdown to Lionel Manuel. Giants running back Joe Morris closed out the scoring in the second quarter after finishing off a 51-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

• Scoring
  • NYG - FG Allegre 47 NYG 3-0
  • NYG - Manuel 11 pass from Simms (Allegre kick) NYG 10-0
  • NYG - Morris 1 run (Allegre kick) NYG 17-0

Bracket

*Note: Two teams from the same division were not allowed to play against each other in the Divisional playoff round.
						Divisional Playoffs
						January 4 - Mile High Stadium
	AFC Wild Card Game										AFC Championship
						3	New England	17
	December 28 - Giants Stadium										January 11 - Cleveland Stadium
						2	Denver	22
	5	Kansas City	15								2	Denver (OT)	23
						January 3 - Cleveland Stadium
	4	N.Y. Jets	35								1	Cleveland	20			Super Bowl XXI
						4	N.Y. Jets	20
																January 25 - Rose Bowl
						1	Cleveland (2OT)	23
																A2	Denver	20
						January 3 - Soldier Field
	NFC Wild Card Game										NFC Championship					N1	N.Y. Giants	39
						4	Washington	27
	December 28 - RFK Stadium										January 11 - Giants Stadium
						2*	Chicago	13
	5	L.A. Rams	7								4	Washington	0
						January 4 - Giants Stadium
	4	Washington	19								1	N.Y. Giants	17
						3	San Francisco	3
						1*	N.Y. Giants	49

Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXI

New York Giants (NFC) 39, Denver Broncos (AFC) 20, at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

References

• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
• The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995 (ISBN 0-89204-523-X)

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