1987 San Francisco 49ers season
| 1987 San Francisco 49ers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Bill Walsh |
| Home field | Candlestick Park |
| Results | |
| Record | 13–2 |
| Division place | 1st NFC West |
| Playoff finish | Lost NFC Divisional Playoff (Minnesota Vikings) |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIN | Larry Kinnebrew 2-yard run (Jim Breech kick) | Bengals 7–0 | |
| 1 | CIN | Jim Breech 23-yard field goal | Bengals 10–0 | |
| 2 | SF | Mike Wilson 38-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | Bengals 10–7 | |
| 2 | CIN | Rodney Holman 46-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) | Bengals 17–7 | |
| 2 | CIN | Jim Breech 42-yard field goal | Bengals 20–7 | |
| 3 | SF | Jerry Rice 34-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | Bengals 20–14 | |
| 3 | SF | Ray Wersching 24-yard field goal | Bengals 20–17 | |
| 3 | SF | Ray Wersching 31-yard field goal | Tie 20–20 | |
| 4 | CIN | Jim Breech 41-yard field goal | Bengals 23–20 | |
| 4 | CIN | Jim Breech 46-yard field goal | Bengals 26–20 | |
| 4 | SF | Jerry Rice 25-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 49ers 27–26 | |
The 1987 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's 38th year with the National Football League. The 49ers won the division for the second consecutive season, and ended the season as the top seed in the NFC playoffs. The season ended with an upset loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The 49ers lost the first game of the season to Pittsburgh. It appeared that they were going to start the season 0–2, down by 6 points with just seconds to play. But quarterback Joe Montana threw a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Jerry Rice as time expired. The 49ers used the victory as a springboard to a 13–1 run to end the season with the best record in the NFL.
The 49ers scored 459 points, the most in the NFL in 1987; they also scored 206 more points than they allowed, best in the league as well. The 49ers gained the most total yards (5,987), the most rushing yards (2,237) and second most passing yards (3,750) in the NFL in 1987.
Wide receiver Jerry Rice was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the Bert Bell Award (for Player of the Year). Rice caught 22 touchdown passes in a strike-shortened 12 games, a record that stood for twenty years(with the 23rd reception occurring on the 16th and final game of the season). Rice led the league in receiving yards per game (89.8), total touchdowns (23), and points scored (138). Quarterback Joe Montana led the league with 31 touchdown passes. He also led the league in passer rating (102.1) and completion percentage (66.8%).
The San Francisco defense was also very strong, surrendering the fewest total yards (4,095), fewest passing yards (2,484) and fifth-fewest rushing yards (1,611) in the NFL in 1987. The 1987 49ers have the best passer rating differential (offensive passer rating minus opponents' combined passer rating) of the Live Ball Era (1978–present), with +52.4.
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