The 1987

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...

 Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 season was the 28th season for the club and its 18th in 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...

.

NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School/Club Team
1	8	Shane Conlan Shane Conlan Shane Patrick Conlan is a former professional American football player. He played college football at Penn State University, where he won two national championships...	Linebacker	Penn State
2	29	Nate Odomes Nate Odomes Nathaniel Bernard Odomes is a former professional American football defensive back who played for the Buffalo Bills , Seattle Seahawks , and the Atlanta Falcons...	Defensive Back	Wisconsin
2	33	Roland Mitchell	Defensive Back	Texas Tech
3	60	David Brandon David Brandon (American football) David Brandon is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for 11 seasons for 4 different teams in the NFL....	Linebacker	Memphis
3	78	Jamie Mueller Jamie Mueller Jamie F. Mueller was an American football running back in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1990. Mueller played college football at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas where he was a two-time NAIA All-American.Mueller played in 57 career games for Buffalo, with 32 starts...	Running Back	Benedictine
4	109	Leon Seals Leon Seals Leon Seals, Jr. is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League....	Defensive End	Jackson State
7	171	Kerry Porter	Running Back	Washington State

Staff

1987 Buffalo Bills staff
Front Office President – Ralph Wilson Vice President of Administration/General Manager – Bill Polian Bill Polian Bill Polian is the Vice Chairman of the Indianapolis Colts NFL team. He rose to league prominence as the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills, building a team that participated in four straight Super Bowls, losing each time... Director of College Scouting – John Butler Director of Pro Personnel – Bob Ferguson National Scout – Norm Pollom College Scout – A. J. Smith A. J. Smith A.J. Smith is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the San Diego Chargers.... Head Coaches Vice President for Football Operations/Head Coach – Marv Levy Marv Levy Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills... Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Chuck Dickerson Chuck Dickerson Chuck Dickerson is a former position coach in the National Football League and Canadian Football League and sports radio host in Buffalo, New York. Currently, he is a regular featured commentator during the Buffalo Bills season.... Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line – Jim Ringo Jim Ringo James Stephen "Jim" Ringo was a professional American football player, a Hall of Fame center and coach. He was a ten time Pro Bowler during his career.... Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator – Ted Marchibroda Ted Marchibroda Theodore "Ted" Joseph Marchibroda is a former American football quarterback and head coach in the National Football League.-Player:... Running Backs – Elijah Pitts Elijah Pitts Elijah Eugene Pitts was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Rams, and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas.Pitts scored two touchdowns in the original Super Bowl... Receivers – Ted Tollner Ted Tollner Ted Alfred Tollner is a football coach who has worked as a head coach in college football and was also formerly the passing game coordinator of the Oakland Raiders.-Playing career:... Tight Ends – Chuck Dickerson			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Walt Corey Walt Corey Walter Martin Corey is a former professional American football linebacker. He played college football for the University of Miami.... Defensive Line – Ted Cottrell Ted Cottrell Theodore John "Ted" Cottrell is the former head coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League... Defensive Backs – Dick Roach Defensive Assistant – Chuck Lester Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Bruce DeHaven Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Rusty Jones Rusty Jones (American football coach) Rusty Jones is the current strength and conditioning coordinator for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.-Coaching career:Jones' National Football League career began in 1985 with the Buffalo Bills. Jones coached for the Bills for 20 NFL seasons before joining the Chicago Bears on...

Regular season

On October 31, 1987, the Los Angeles Rams traded 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:...

 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.

Cornerback Nate Odomes

Nate Odomes

Nathaniel Bernard Odomes is a former professional American football defensive back who played for the Buffalo Bills , Seattle Seahawks , and the Atlanta Falcons...

 was the youngest starting defensive player in the NFL. It was also his rookie season.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 13, 1987	New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 31–28	76,718
2	September 20, 1987	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...	W 34–30	56,534
–	September 27, 1987	at 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...	canceled
3	October 4, 1987	Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....	L 47–6	9,860
4	October 11, 1987	at New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...	L 14–7	11,878
5	October 18, 1987	New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 6–3	15,737
6	October 25, 1987	at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 34–31	61,295
7	November 1, 1987	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,...	L 27–7	71,640
8	November 8, 1987	Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 21–14	63,698
9	November 15, 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 27–21	78,409
10	November 22, 1987	at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 17–14	58,407
11	November 29, 1987	Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 27–0	68,055
12	December 6, 1987	at Los Angeles Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 34–21	43,143
13	December 13, 1987	at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....	W 27–3	60,253
14	December 20, 1987	New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...	L 13–7	74,945
15	December 27, 1987	at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 17–7	57,547

Passing

Note: Comp = Completions; ATT = Attempts; TD = Touchdowns; INT = Interceptions

Player	Games	Comp	Att	Yards	TD	INT	Rating
Jim Kelly Jim Kelly James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....	12	250	419	2798	19	11	83.8
John Kidd John Kidd (American football) Max John Kidd is a former professional American football punter in the National Football League. He played fifteen seasons for the Buffalo Bills, the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins, the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets. John Kidd was the highest selected punter in Bills history...	12	0	1	0	0	0	39.6
Dan Manucci Dan Manucci Daniel Joseph Manucci is a former American football quarterback and sports radio personality.Manucci played his short National Football League career as a backup for the Buffalo Bills in the early 1980s, and returned to the team in 1987 during the player's strike, playing as a replacement player...	3	7	21	68	0	2	3.8
Brian McClure Brian McClure Brian McClure is a former American football quarterback for the Bowling Green Falcons- Playing career :...	1	20	38	181	0	3	32.9
Mark Miller Mark Miller Mark Miller may refer to:* Mark Miller , television actor and producer, father of Penelope Ann Miller* Mark Miller , American football quarterback...	1	1	3	9	0	1	2.8
Robb Riddick Robb Riddick Robbert Lee Riddick was an American football running back in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Millersville University....	6	1	1	35	0	0	118.7
Willie Totten Willie Totten Willie "Satellite" Totten is the former head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils football team, a job he held from 2002 to 2009...	2	13	33	155	2	2	49.4

Rushing

Player	Games	Attempts	Yards	Avg	TD
Ronnie Harmon Ronnie Harmon Ronnie Keith Harmon is a former professional American football player. After a standout career at the University of Iowa in the Big Ten Conference, he played for 12 seasons in the NFL. A 6", 220-lb...	12	116	485		2
Jamie Mueller Jamie Mueller Jamie F. Mueller was an American football running back in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1990. Mueller played college football at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas where he was a two-time NAIA All-American.Mueller played in 57 career games for Buffalo, with 32 starts...	12	82	354		2
Carl Byrum	13	66	280		0
Robb Riddick Robb Riddick Robbert Lee Riddick was an American football running back in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Millersville University....	6	59	221		5
Ricky Porter Ricky Porter Richard Anthony "Ricky" Porter is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He recently left his position as a coach of Northlake Christan School in Covington, Louisiana where he is also the head coach of their back to back state champion baseball team...	9	47	177		0
Jim Kelly Jim Kelly James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....	12	29	133		0

Receiving

Player	Games	Number	Yards	Avg	TD
Chris Burkett Chris Burkett Chris Burkett is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 2nd round of the 1985 NFL Draft. A 6'4", 198-lb...	12	56	765	13.7	4
Andre Reed Andre Reed Andre Darnell Reed is a former professional American football player. He played wide receiver in the National Football League for 16 seasons, 15 with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Washington Redskins .Reed ranks tenth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951.-Football career:Reed...	12	57	752	13.2	5
Ronnie Harmon	12	56	477	8.5	2
Pete Metzelaars Pete Metzelaars Peter Henry Metzelaars is a former American football tight end who played for the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions in a sixteen-year career in the National Football League...	12	28	290	10.4	0
Trumaine Johnson Trumaine Johnson Trumaine Johnson is a retired American football player who played in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-Career:...	12	15	186	12.4	2

Defense

Note: FR = Fumble Recoveries; TCKL = Tackles; INT = Interceptions; TD = Touchdowns

Player	Games	Sacks	Forced Fumbles	FR	Tckl	INT	Yards	TD
Shane Conlan Shane Conlan Shane Patrick Conlan is a former professional American football player. He played college football at Penn State University, where he won two national championships...	12	0.5	1	0	114	0	0	0
Bruce Smith Bruce Smith Bruce Bernard Smith is a former American football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was a member of the Buffalo Bills teams that played in four consecutive Super Bowls as AFC champions...	12	12.0	3	0	2	0	0	0

Special Teams

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

Player	Games	FGA	FGM	FG %	XPA	XPM	XP %
Scott Norwood Scott Norwood Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...	12	15	10	66.7	31	31	100
Todd Schlopy Todd Schlopy Ross Todd Schlopy is a motion picture cameraman former American football placekicker. A native of Bradford, Pennsylvania, Schlopy attended Orchard Park High School in Orchard Park, New York. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1981 to 1984...	3	5	2	40	2	1	50

• Punting

  Player	Games	Punts	Yards	Long	Blocked	Avg. yards
  John Kidd John Kidd John Kidd was an English physician, chemist and geologist. John Kidd was born in Westminster, the son of a naval officer and was educated at Christ Church, Oxford.-Biography:...	12	64	2495	67	0	39.0
  Rick Partridge	3	18	678	52	1	37.7

Awards and honors

• Shane Conlan, Defensive Rookie of the Year
• Jim Kelly
  Jim Kelly
  James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
  
  , AFC Pro Bowl selection
• Bruce Smith, AFC Pro Bowl selection
• Bruce Smith, Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player