1987 Dallas Cowboys season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Dallas Cowboys 1987 7–8 2nd NFC East Tom Landry Tex Schramm Bum Bright Texas Stadium Did not qualify Cowboys seasons The 1987 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League, they improved the record to 7–8 from 1986 but missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Offseason NFL draft 1987 NFL draft 1987 Dallas Cowboys 1 12 Danny Noonan DT Nebraska yes 2 39 Ron Francis CB Baylor yes 3 68 Jeff Zimmerman OG Florida yes 4 95 Kelvin Martin WR Boston College yes 5 124 Everett Gay WR Texas yes 6 151 Joe Onosai C Hawaii no 7 180 Kevin Sweeney QB Fresno State yes 8 206 Kevin Gogan OG Washington yes yes 9 234 Alvin Blount RB Maryland yes 10 262 Dale Jones LB Tennessee yes 11 291 Jeff Ward PK Texas no 12 318 Scott Armstrong LB Florida no Undrafted free agents + 1987 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeRich BorresenTight endNorthwesternAnthony ColemanSafetyBaylorKelvin FarmerRunning backToledoJames FlowersDefensive backTexas A&MJeff HurdLinebackerKansas StateHerbert JohnsonWide receiverMissouriMichael KeeLinebackerOhio StateRon KellerKickerNew MexicoSteve KiddPunterRiceDarryl LeeDefensive endOhio StateScott LinehanQuarterbackIdahoLorenzo LynchCornerbackSacramento StateRay PerkinsDefensive endVirginiaBrent PetersonTight endMissouriMarty PetersonOffensive linePennAntonio RiceRunning backVirginiaJohn ShafferQuarterbackPenn StateVictor SimmonsLinebackerCentral StateLoren SnyderQuarterbackNorthern ColoradoScott UrchOffensive TackleVirginiaCrang WallisQuarterbackChico StateMike ZenticCenterOklahoma State Summary The NFL players were unable to reach a contract agreement with the owners, as a result, a strike for the second time in six seasons after the second week of games. Unlike the last strike, the owners replaced the striking players with free agents and veteran players who were willing to cross the picket line. The NFL cancelled all games for the week of September 27 and began playing with the replacement players on October 4. The strike ended on October 15, but the replacement players played the next weekend as well. The replacement players participated in three weeks worth of games overall. After the Cowboys began the season with a 24–13 loss to St. Louis with an upset over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the majority of the Cowboys players went on strike. Players that crossed the picket line to play with the replacement players included quarterback Danny White, defensive tackle Randy White, running back Tony Dorsett, and defensive end Ed Jones. Thanks to the veteran players and a few replacement players who would stay on with the team after the strike, the Cowboys fielded one of the better replacement teams. The replacement Cowboys easily defeated the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, with the Eagles game being of particular note. The Eagles fielded a team completely made up of replacements, and were no match for the Cowboys, who played several of their veterans throughout the game. Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan was displeased with head coach Tom Landry for doing this and afterwards made it clear that he was looking forward to playing the Cowboys in two weeks when the non-replacement Eagles returned. The following week the Cowboys missed an opportunity to take command in the NFC East when they suffered a devastating loss to the Washington Redskins. Despite playing Danny White and Tony Dorsett the entire game against a Redskins team fielded entirely of replacement players, the Cowboys came up short 13–7. The striking players returned the following week and on October 25, even though the Philadelphia Eagles were already assured of winning against the Cowboys 30–20, they attempted to go for a touchdown with 35 seconds left in the game. Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan wasn't happy about the strike game they lost to Dallas, when Randy White and Ed “Too Tall” Jones were still playing at the end of the game. In the rematch, the Eagles took a kneel down to run down the clock, putting the ball at the Dallas 34 yard line with 10 seconds left. On the next play, quarterback Randall Cunningham faked taking another kneel down and threw a pass to the end zone that drew a pass-interference penalty, placing the ball on the one-yard line, from where running back Keith Byars scored with 2 seconds left for a final result of 37-20.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-26-sp-10877-story.html Ryan Gets Revenge in the End April 21, 2018 Dallas came out of the strike with a 3-2 record, but lost 4 straight games in November and December to fall out of playoff contention. The Cowboys were up and down the rest of the season, following another victory over the Giants with a loss to the woeful Detroit Lions. The Cowboys squandered a 5–4 record down the stretch with a 4-game losing streak, sandwiching heartbreaking losses to the Vikings and Redskins with an embarrassing home loss to the Falcons. After the Falcons game, Cowboys owner Bum Bright questioned coach Landry's play-calling, and Cowboys team president Tex Schramm said of the loss, "this is probably the lowest I've been in my career." The Cowboys rebounded in the last two games, however, defeating the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals, and eliminating both from the playoffs in the process. Running back Herschel Walker had another terrific season, leading the Cowboys in rushing and receiving, and leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 1606, while former star running back Tony Dorsett posted career lows in rushing yards with 456. Quarterback Danny White struggled with turnovers throughout the season, and was replaced by Steve Pelleur late in the season. The Cowboys offensive line had trouble with pass protection again, allowing 52 sacks, while the receiving corps was mediocre, with Mike Renfro leading the way with 662 yards on 46 catches. Defensively, the Cowboys really struggled against the pass, finishing 27th in passing yards allowed, despite posting 51 sacks and 23 interceptions. The Cowboys were solid against the run, finishing 6th overall and only allowing 3.5 yards a carry. NFL replacement players After the league decided to use replacement players during the strike, besides hiring a new team (referred by the media as "Rhinestone Cowboys"), Dallas forced veterans like Randy White, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Danny White and Tony Dorsett, to cross the picket line to avoid losing their contract annuities (delayed payments).https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/striking-back-in-time-313541 Striking Back In Time April 21, 2018https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/01/NFL-Strike-Rosters/1563560059200/ NFL Strike Rosters April 21, 2018 This strategy backfired, as there have been several interviews with former players mentioning that this caused a rift inside the team that lasted for years, and that it was one of the main reasons for the franchise's decline during the Eighties decade.https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2011/03/05/open-wound-player-strike-put-strain-on-cowboys_unity-in-87 Open wound: Player strike put strain on Cowboys' unity in '87 April 21, 2018https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a-divisive-time-the-1987-strike-caused-frustration-for-cowboys-veterans-444191 A Divisive Time, The 1987 Strike Caused Frustration For Cowboys Veterans April 21, 2018 1987 Dallas Cowboys replacement rosterQuarterbacks 19 Kevin Sweeney (3 games) 11 Danny White (3 games) 18 Loren Snyder (3 games)  7 Stan Yagiello (1 game) 17 Ben Bennett (1 game) Running backs 28 Alvin Blount RB (3 games) 33 Tony Dorsett RB (3 games) 21 David Adams RB/KR (3 games) 37 Gerald White FB (3 games) 39 E. J. Jones FB (3 games) 29 Robert Lavette RB (2 games) 25 Antonio Rice FB (1 game) Wide receivers 87 Kelvin Edwards WR (3 games) 89 Cornell Burbage WR/PR (3 games) 82 Mike Renfro WR (3 games) 80 Sebron Spivey WR/KR (3 games) 47 Chuck Scott WR (3 games) 44 Vince Courville WR (3 games) 86 Lam Jones WR (3 games) 83 Terence Steward WR (2 games) 81 Karl Powe WR (2 games) 82 Clay Pickering WR (1 game) Tight ends 84 Rich Borresen TE (3 games) 85 Tim Hendrix TE (3 games) Offensive linemen 75 Daryle Smith T (3 games) 70 Bob White G (3 games) 62 Mike Zentic C (3 games) 79 Sal Cesario G (3 games) 77 Steve Cisowski T (3 games) 73 Dave Burnette T (3 games) 67 Gary Walker G (2 games) 63 Jon Shields G (3 games) 65 Gary Westberry T (3 games) 64 George Lilja C (1 game) 61 Nate Newton G (1 game) Defensive linemen 54 Randy White DT (3 games) 72 Ed Jones DE (3 games) 60 Don Smerek DE (3 games) 71 Mike Dwyer DT (3 games) 94 Randy Watts DE (3 games) 92 Ray Perkins DE (3 games) 91 Walt Johnson DT (3 games) 93 Javan Ross DE (3 games) 99 Kevin Brooks DT (2 games) 90 Darryl Lee DT (1 game)Linebackers 51 Dale Jones OLB (3 games) 57 Russ Swan MLB (3 games) 58 Jeff Hurd OLB (3 games) 52 Chris Duliban OLB (3 games) 53 Victor Simmons MLB (3 games) 55 Harry Flaherty OLB (3 games) 59 Kirk Timmer OLB (1 game) Defensive backs 23 Robert Williams CB (3 games) 27 Tommy Haynes S (3 games) 48 Alex Green S (3 games) 35 Jimmy Armstrong CB (2 games) 20 Bruce Livingston CB/PR (3 games) 31 Bill Hill CB (3 games) 41 Anthony Coleman S (3 games) Special teams  8 Buzz Sawyer P (3 games)  9 Luis Zendejas K (2 games)  4 Kerry Brady K (1 game)  3 Tom Dixon P/K (1 game) Roster 1987 Dallas Cowboys final roster Quarterbacks 14 Paul McDonald 16 Steve Pelluer 19 Kevin Sweeney 11 Danny White Running backs 42 Darryl Clack 33 Tony Dorsett 46 Todd Fowler 30 Timmy Newsome 34 Herschel Walker Wide receivers 80 Rod Barksdale 81 Kelvin Edwards 83 Kelvin Martin 82 Mike Renfro Tight ends 89 Thornton Chandler 88 Doug Cosbie 85 Steve Folsom Offensive linemen 62 Brian Baldinger G/T 66 Kevin Gogan T 68 Crawford Ker G 67 George Lilja C 61 Nate Newton G 64 Tom Rafferty C 75 Daryle Smith T 70 Bob White C/G 76 Jeff Zimmerman G Defensive linemen 99 Kevin Brooks DT 77 Jim Jeffcoat DE 72 Ed Jones DE 73 Danny Noonan DT/DE 60 Don Smerek DE 95 Mark Walen DE/DT 54 Randy White DTLinebackers 57 Ron Burton MLB 55 Steve DeOssie MLB 52 Jeff Hurd OLB 59 Jesse Penn OLB 50 Jeff Rohrer OLB 51 Russ Swan MLB Defensive backs 36 Vince Albritton SS 40 Bill Bates SS 26 Michael Downs FS 38 Ron Francis CB 45 Manny Hendrix CB 22 Victor Scott FS 24 Everson Walls CB 23 Robert Williams CB Special teams  9 Roger Ruzek K  4 Mike Saxon PReserve lists  2 Ray Alexander WR (IR) 10px 87 Gordon Banks WR (IR) 10px -- Everett Gay WR (IR) 10px 58 Mike Hegman LB (IR) 10px 53 Garth Jax LB (IR) 10px 56 Eugene Lockhart LB (IR) 10px 65 Kurt Petersen G (IR) 10px 75 Phil Pozderac T/retired 89 Brian Salonen LB (IR) 10px 86 Mike Sherrard WR (IR) 10px 97 Robert Smith DE (IR) 10px 63 Glen Titensor G (IR) 10px 71 Mark Tuinei T (IR) 10px Rookies in italics Schedule Weeks 4-6 were played with Replacement players Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 13 at St. Louis Cardinals L 13–24 0–1 Busch Stadium 47,241 Recap 2 September 20 at New York Giants W 16–14 1–1 Giants Stadium 73,426 Recap 3 September 27 Buffalo BillsCanceled - Players' Strike 4 October 4 at New York Jets W 38–24 2–1 Giants Stadium 12,370 Recap 5 October 11 Philadelphia Eagles W 41–22 3–1 Texas Stadium 40,622 Recap 6 October 19, 1987 Washington Redskins L 7–13 3–2 Texas Stadium 60,415 Recap 7 October 25 at Philadelphia Eagles L 20–37 3–3 Veterans Stadium 61,630 Recap 8 November 2, 1987 New York Giants W 33–24 4–3 Texas Stadium 55,730 Recap 9 November 8 at Detroit Lions L 17–27 4–4 Pontiac Silverdome 45,325 Recap 10 November 15 at New England Patriots W 23–17 (OT) 5–4 Sullivan Stadium 60,567 Recap 11 November 22 Miami Dolphins L 14–20 5–5 Texas Stadium 56,519 Recap 12 November 26 Minnesota Vikings L 38–44 (OT) 5–6 Texas Stadium 54,229 Recap 13 December 6 Atlanta Falcons L 10–21 5–7 Texas Stadium 40,103 Recap 14 December 13 at Washington Redskins L 20–24 5–8 RFK Stadium 54,882 Recap 15 December 21, 1987 at Los Angeles Rams W 29–21 6–8 Anaheim Stadium 60,700 Recap 16 December 27 St. Louis Cardinals W 21–16 7–8 Texas Stadium 36,788 Recap Division opponents are in bold text Standings References 30em Category:Dallas Cowboys seasons Dallas Dallas