NFL playoffs, 1986–87

The NFL playoffs following the 1986 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXI.NFL seeds 1978-1989
AFC 1 = Cleveland Browns
AFC 1 div = Central
AFC 2 = Denver Broncos
AFC 2 div = West
AFC 3 = New England Patriots
AFC 3 div = East
AFC 4 = New York Jets
AFC 5 = Kansas City Chiefs
NFC 1 = New York Giants
NFC 1 div = East
NFC 2 = Chicago Bears
NFC 2 div = Central
NFC 3 = San Francisco 49ers
NFC 3 div = West
NFC 4 = Washington Redskins
NFC 5 = 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Chiefs
R1=6
R2=0
R3=0
R4=9
RT=15
Home=Jets
H1=7
H2=14
H3=7
H4=7
HT=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 (Lowery kick) NYJ 28-13
**NYJ - Griggs 6 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) NYJ 35-13
**KC - Safety, Jennings ran out of end zone NYJ 35-15

NFC: Washington Redskins 19, Los Angeles Rams 7

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Rams
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=7
RT=7
Home=Redskins
H1=10
H2=3
H3=3
H4=3
HT=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.

In a final ode to a dominant Redskin afternoon, Darrell Green made a mind-boggling, open-field, caught-from-behind tackle of a full-throttled Eric Dickerson en route to a touchdown. Green dropped Dickerson at the 20-yard line and the "National Defense" ultimately pushed the Rams back out of even a field goal opportunity.

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

Divisional playoffs

January 3, 1987

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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Jets
R1=7
R2=3
R3=3
R4=7
R5=0
R6=0
RT=20
Home=Browns
H1=7
H2=3
H3=0
H4=10
H5=0
H6=3
HT=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

38-year old Browns kicker Mark Moseley, whom the Browns had talked out of retirement in order to replace the injured Matt Bahr less then two months earlier, made the game-winning 27-yard field goal after 2:02 of the second overtime period, making this the third longest game in NFL history.

The Jets scored first after an 82-yard drive was capped by quarterback Ken O'Brien 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 third down and 24 from Cleveland's 18-yard line. After the ensuing kickoff, the Browns stopped New York on three consecutive running plays and got the ball back with 51 seconds left and no timeouts. 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.

In the first overtime period, Cleveland had a great chance to win with a drive all the way to the Jets 5-yard line. They tried for the field goal on a first down. But Moseley missed a 23-yard field goal attempt and the game continued on. But in the second overtime period, he got another chance at the end of a drive to the Jets 9-yard line, again on a first down, and this time his kick was good to win the game.

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 - field goal Moseley 38 CLE 10-7
**NYJ - field goal Leahy 46 10-10
**NYJ - field goal Leahy 37 NYJ 13-10
**NYJ - McNeil 25 run (Leahy kick) NYJ 20-10
**CLE - Mack 1 run (Moseley kick) NYJ 20-17
**CLE - field goal Moseley 22 20-20
**CLE - field goal Moseley 27 CLE 23-20

NFC: Washington Redskins 27, Chicago Bears 13

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Redskins
R1=7
R2=0
R3=7
R4=13
RT=27
Home=Bears
H1=0
H2=13
H3=0
H4=0
HT=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 defending champion 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 a Flutie interception set up an Art Monk 23-yard touchdown reception. Chicago then advanced to the Washington 17-yard line, but running back Walter Payton lost a fumble to the Redskins, who then marched 83 yards for a touchdown on a George Rogers 1-yard rush. Washington place kicker Jess Atkinson 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 - field goal Butler 23 CHI 10-7
**CHI - field goal 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 - field goal Atkinson 35 WAS 24-13
**WAS - field goal Atkinson 25 WAS 27-13

January 4, 1987

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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=49ers
R1=3
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
RT=3
Home=Giants
H1=7
H2=21
H3=21
H4=0
HT=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 (Madden said during the telecast that the Astroturf at Giants Stadium may have been a factor) and the Giants recovered. New York then drove 80 yards to score on Simms' 24-yard touchdown to tight end Mark Bavaro. Simms would throw 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 two touchdowns: a 45-yarder and a 2-yarder. Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor also scored a touchdown on a 34-yard interception return. 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 - field goal 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Patriots
R1=0
R2=10
R3=7
R4=0
RT=17
Home=Broncos
H1=3
H2=7
H3=10
H4=2
HT=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 - field goal 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 - field goal Franklin 38 10-10
**DEN - field goal 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)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Broncos
R1=0
R2=10
R3=3
R4=7
R5=3
RT=23
Home=Browns
H1=7
H2=3
H3=0
H4=10
H5=0
HT=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 - field goal Karlis 19 CLE 7-3
**DEN - Willhite 1 run (Karlis kick) DEN 10-7
**CLE - field goal Moseley 29 10-10
**DEN - field goal Karlis 26 DEN 13-10
**CLE - field goal 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 - field goal Karlis 33 DEN 23-20

NFC: New York Giants 17, Washington Redskins 0

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Redskins
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
RT=0
Home=Giants
H1=10
H2=7
H3=0
H4=0
HT=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 - field goal 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

NFLBracket 1978-1989
RD4=Super Bowl XXI
December 28 - Giants Stadium|5|Kansas City|15|4|N.Y. Jets|35
December 28 - RFK Stadium|5|L.A. Rams|7|4|Washington|19
January 4 - Mile High Stadium|3|New England|17|2|Denver|22
January 3 - Cleveland Stadium|4|N.Y. Jets|20|1|Cleveland (2OT)|23
January 3 - Soldier Field|4|Washington|27|2*|Chicago|13
January 4 - Giants Stadium|3|San Francisco|3|1*|N.Y. Giants|49
January 11 - Cleveland Stadium|2|Denver (OT)|23|1|Cleveland|20
January 11 - Giants Stadium|4|Washington|0|1|N.Y. Giants|17
January 25 - Rose Bowl|A2|Denver|20|N1|N.Y. Giants|39

uper Bowl

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)