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1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)

| teamdisplay = St. Louis Cardinals

| year = 1987

| record = 7–8

| division_place = 3rd NFC East

| coach = Gene Stallings

| owner = Bill Bidwill

| stadium = Busch Stadium

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro_bowlers = QB Neil Lomax
T Luis Sharpe
FB Ron Wolfley
PR Vai Sikahema

| next = {{nowrap|1988 (Phoenix)}}

| shortnavlink = Cardinals seasons

}}

The 1987 St. Louis Cardinals season was the franchise's 68th season in the National Football League and the 28th and final season in St. Louis as the team moved to Tempe, Arizona in March 1988. This move left St. Louis without an NFL franchise until the Los Angeles Rams moved there in 1995 to play, only to relocate back to Los Angeles in 2016, once again leaving St. Louis without an NFL team.

Offseason

= NFL draft =

{{main article|1987 NFL Draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1987

| teamname = St. Louis Cardinals

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 6

| player = Kelly Stouffer

| position = QB

| college = Colorado State

| notes = Refused to sign with team{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/04/11/117470/a-lonely-road-to-the-nfl-quarterback-kelly-stouffer-the-cardinals-first-draft-pick-in-1987-is-still-holding-out |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Zimmerman |first=Paul |title=A lonely road to the NFL |date=April 11, 1988 |page=63}}

| probowl =

| maderoster =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 34

| player = Tim McDonald

| position = S

| college = USC

| notes =

| probowl = yes

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 62

| player = Rob Awalt

| position = TE

| college = San Diego State

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 70

| player = Colin Scotts

| position = DT

| college = Hawaii

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 90

| player = Rod Saddler

| position = DT

| college = Texas A&M

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 118

| player = George Swarn

| position = RB

| college = Miami (OH)

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 126

| player = John Bruno

| position = P

| college = Penn State

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 127

| player = Ilia Jarostchuk

| position = LB

| college = New Hampshire

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 146

| player = Mark Garalczyk

| position = DT

| college = Western Michigan

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 174

| player = Tim Peoples

| position = DB

| college = Washington

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 195

| player = William Harris

| position = TE

| college = {{cfb link |year=1986 |team=Bishop Tigers |title=Bishop}}

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 201

| player = Steve Alvord

| position = DT

| college = Washington

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 229

| player = Wayne Davis

| position = LB

| college = Alabama

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 257

| player = Charles Wright

| position = DB

| college = Tulsa

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 285

| player = Todd Peat

| position = OG

| college = Northern Illinois

| notes =

| probowl =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| hof = no

}}

Personnel

= Staff =

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1987

| team = St. Louis Cardinals

| front_office =

| head_coach =

| offensive =

| defensive =

| special_teams =

  • Special teams – Marv Braden

| strength =

  • Strength and conditioning – LeBaron Caruthers

}}

= NFL replacement players =

After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="7" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}};"|1987 St. Louis Cardinals replacement roster
style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

= Roster =

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1987

| team = St. Louis Cardinals

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|10|Sammy Garza|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|15|Neil Lomax}}

{{NFLplayer|18|Cliff Stoudt}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|33|Derrick McAdoo|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Stump Mitchell}}

{{NFLplayer|39|Broderick Sargent}}

{{NFLplayer|36|Vai Sikahema}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Ron Wolfley}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|82|Ron Brown|link=no}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Roy Green}}

{{NFLplayer|83|Don Holmes|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|87|Troy Johnson|d=wide receiver}}

{{NFLplayer|84|J. T. Smith|d=American football}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|80|Robert Awalt|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|89|William Harris|d=American football|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Jay Novacek}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|62|Ray Brown|d=offensive lineman|G}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Gene Chilton|T}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Derek Kennard|C}}

{{NFLplayer|64|Todd Peat|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Tootie Robbins|T}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Mike Ruether|C}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Luis Sharpe|T}}

{{NFLplayer|61|Lance Smith|d=American football|G}}

{{NFLplayer|66|Tom Welter|rookie=y|link=no|T}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|60|Steve Alvord|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|79|Bob Clasby|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|65|David Galloway|d=American football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|76|Mark Garalczyk|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Freddie Joe Nunn|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Rod Saddler|rookie=y|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|69|Colin Scotts|rookie=y|DT}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|52|Charles Baker|d=American football|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|55|Anthony Bell|d=American football|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Wayne Davis|d=linebacker|rookie=y|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Ilia Jarostchuk|rookie=y|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|54|E. J. Junior|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Niko Noga|MLB}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|41|Carl Carter|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Travis Curtis|rookie=y|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|21|Mark Jackson|d=defensive back|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Gregg Johnson|d=American football|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|47|Cedric Mack|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|46|Tim McDonald|rookie=y|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|45|Leonard Smith|d=American football|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Lonnie Young|FS}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer|17|Al Del Greco|K}}

{{NFLplayer|13|Jim Gallery|K}}

{{NFLplayer|11|Greg Horne|rookie=y|P}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Mike Morris|d=long snapper|rookie=y|LS}}

| reserve_lists =

{{NFLplayer|71|Joe Bostic|G|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|14|Greg Cater|P|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Mark Duda|DT|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|31|Earl Ferrell|FB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Curtis Greer|DE|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Tim Peoples|rookie=y|link=no|S|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|--|Charlie Vatterott|link=no|rookie=y|G|IR}}

| practice_squad =

}}

Regular season

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| September 13

| Dallas Cowboys

| W 24–13

| 1–0

| Busch Stadium

| 47,241

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| September 20

| at San Diego Chargers

| L 24–28

| 1–1

| Jack Murphy Stadium

| 47,988

style="background:#bababa"

! –

| September 27

| Indianapolis Colts

| canceled

| 1–1

| Busch Stadium

|

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| October 4

| at Washington Redskins

| L 21–28

| 1–2

| RFK Stadium

| 27,728

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| October 11

| New Orleans Saints

| W 24–19

| 2–2

| Busch Stadium

| 11,795

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| October 18

| at San Francisco 49ers

| L 28–34

| 2–3

| Candlestick Park

| 38,094

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 25

| at New York Giants

| L 7–30

| 2–4

| Giants Stadium

| 74,391

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| November 1

| Philadelphia Eagles

| L 23–28

| 2–5

| Busch Stadium

| 24,586

style="background:#cfc"

! 8

| November 8

| Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| W 31–28

| 3–5

| Busch Stadium

| 22,449

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| November 15

| Los Angeles Rams

| L 24–27

| 3–6

| Busch Stadium

| 27,730

style="background:#cfc"

! 10

| November 22

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| W 31–19

| 4–6

| Veterans Stadium

| 55,592

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 29

| at Atlanta Falcons

| W 34–21

| 5–6

| Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium

| 15,909

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| December 6

| Washington Redskins

| L 17–34

| 5–7

| Busch Stadium

| 31,324

style="background:#cfc"

! 13

| December 13

| New York Giants

| W 27–24

| 6–7

| Busch Stadium

| 29,623

style="background:#cfc"

! 14

| December 20

| at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| W 31–14

| 7–7

| Tampa Stadium

| 32,046

style="background:#fcc"

! 15

| December 27

| at Dallas Cowboys

| L 16–21

| 7–8

| Texas Stadium

| 36,788

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

=Game summaries=

==Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 1: Dallas Cowboys at St. Louis Cardinals

|date=September 13

|time=12:00 p.m. CDT

|road=Cowboys

|R1=0|R2=6|R3=0|R4=7

|home=Cardinals

|H1=3|H2=0|H3=0|H4=21

|stadium=Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

|attendance=47,241

|weather={{convert|72|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

|scoring=

|stats=

}}

==Week 3: at Washington Redskins==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week 3: St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Redskins

|date=October 4

|time=12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Cardinals

|R1=0|R2=7|R3=7|R4=7

|home=Redskins

|H1=7|H2=7|H3=14|H4=0

|stadium=RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

|attendance=27,728

|weather={{convert|50|F|C}}

|referee=Jerry Seeman

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan and Joe Theismann

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198710040was.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • STL – Earl Ferrell 1-yard run (Jason Staurovsky kick), 9:28. Tied 7–7.
  • WAS – Anthony Allen 88-yard pass from Ed Rubbert (Brendan Toibin kick), 9:05. Redskins 14–7.

Third quarter

  • STL – Earl Ferrell 1-yard run (Jason Staurovsky kick), 8:01. Tied 14–14.
  • WAS – Lionel Vital 8-yard run (Brendan Toibin kick), 5:24. Redskins 21–14.
  • WAS – Anthony Allen 48-yard pass from Ed Rubbert (Brendan Toibin kick), 2:02. Redskins 28–14.

Fourth quarter

  • STL – Pete Noga 60-yard interception return (Jason Staurovsky kick), 12:17. Redskins 28–21.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 8: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Cardinals

|date=November 8

|time=12:00 p.m. EST

|road=Buccaneers

|R1=7|R2=7|R3=14|R4=0

|home=Cardinals

|H1=0|H2=3|H3=0|H4=28

|stadium=Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

|attendance=22,449

|weather={{convert|58|F|C}}

|referee=Pat Haggerty

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Jack Buck and Will McDonough

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198711080crd.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • TB – Gerald Carter 3-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick). Buccaneers 14–0.
  • STL – Jim Gallery 31-yard field goal. Buccaneers 14–3.

Third quarter

  • TB – Jeff Smith 34-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Donald Igwebuike kick). Buccaneers 21–3.
  • TB – Jeff Smith 3-yard run (Donald Igwebuike kick). Buccaneers 28–3.

Fourth quarter

  • STL – Robert Awalt 4-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick). Buccaneers 28–10.
  • STL – Niko Noga 24-yard fumble return (Jim Gallery kick). Buccaneers 28–17.
  • STL – J. T. Smith 11-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick). Buccaneers 28–24.
  • STL – J. T. Smith 17-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick). Cardinals 31–28.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • TB – James Wilder – 6 receptions, 87 yards
  • STL – Robert Awalt – 9 receptions, 124 yards, TD

}}

Days before the game Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill announced that the team would be moving to another city.{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/26/sports/nfl-bears-defeat-bucs.html?sec=&spon=&scp=2&sq=buccaneers%20falcons%201987&st=cse |title= NFL: Cowboys Cut Off At Pass by Lions |date=November 9, 1987 |agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The New York Times|pages=3 sec C|access-date=August 21, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/06/sports/nfl-matchups-surprise-colts-and-chargers-spotlighted.html?scp=119&sq=buccaneers%20packers%201987&st=cse&pagewanted=2|title=NFL Matchups: Surprise: Colts and Chargers Spotlighted|last=Eskenazi|first=Gerald|date=November 6, 1987|work=The New York Times|pages=36 sec A|access-date=August 21, 2023}} The announcement increased fan apathy, resulting in an official game attendance of only 22,449, the Cardinals' lowest in four years.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Cardinals were down 28–3 to the Buccaneers. St. Louis would score 28 unanswered points in the final quarter to win 31–28. Tampa kicker Donald Igwebuike attempted a 53-yard field goal to tie the game as time expired but the ball bounced off the crossbar. The Cardinals' 25-point fourth quarter comeback is the largest in NFL history.{{cite news|title=For 15 minutes, Bucs' play hit an all-time low|last=Mizell|first=Hubert|date=November 9, 1987|work=St. Petersburg Times}}

==Week 13: vs. Washington Redskins==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week 13: Washington Redskins at St. Louis Cardinals

|date=December 6

|time=12:00 p.m. CST

|road=Redskins

|R1=10|R2=0|R3=21|R4=3

|home=Cardinals

|H1=0|H2=14|H3=3|H4=0

|stadium=Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

|attendance=31,324

|weather={{convert|39|F|C}}

|referee=Tom Dooley

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan and Joe Theismann

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198712060crd.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • STL – Jim Gallery 48-yard field goal. Cardinals 17–10.
  • WAS – Jay Schroeder 7-yard run (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick). Tied 17–17.
  • WAS – George Rogers 6-yard run (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick). Redskins 24–17.
  • WAS – Clint Didier 19-yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick). Redskins 31–17.

Fourth quarter

  • WAS – Ali Haji-Sheikh 40-yard field goal. Redskins 34–17.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • WAS – Gary Clark – 5 receptions, 130 yards, TD
  • STL – Roy Green – 6 receptions, 90 yards

}}

==Week 14: vs. New York Giants==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 14: New York Giants at St. Louis Cardinals

|date=December 13

|time=3:00 p.m. EST

|road=Giants

|R1=7|R2=3|R3=7|R4=7

|home=Cardinals

|H1=14|H2=13|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

|attendance=29,623

|weather={{convert|34|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Dick Stockton and Terry Bradshaw

|reference=

|scoring=

|stats=

}}

This would be the Cardinals' final home game in St. Louis as the franchise would relocate to the Phoenix metro area for the 1988 season. This would be the last NFL game played in St. Louis until September 10, 1995 when the Rams, who had relocated to St. Louis from Los Angeles following the 1994 season, hosted the New Orleans Saints. However, the Rams would move back to Los Angeles prior to the 2016 season.

==Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Cardinals|year=1987|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 15: St. Louis Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys

|date=December 27

|time=12:00 p.m. CST

|road=Cardinals

|R1=3|R2=7|R3=0|R4=6

|home=Cowboys

|H1=0|H2=14|H3=0|H4=7

|stadium=Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

|attendance=36,788

|weather={{convert|35|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

|scoring=

|stats=

}}

Entering the final week of the season, the Cardinals needed a win over the Cowboys to secure the NFC's final wild card spot. The Cardinals wound up losing the regular season finale, knocking them out of playoff contention. This would be the final game for the St. Louis Cardinals NFL team. On March 15, 1988, NFL owners approved the Cardinals' move from St. Louis to Tempe, Arizona.{{cite news|last=Eskenazi|first=Gerald|title=N.F.L. Approves Team Shift|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/16/sports/nfl-approves-team-shift.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 16, 1988|access-date=August 21, 2023}} Starting with the following season, the Cardinals played as the Phoenix Cardinals before changing the franchise's geographic name to the Arizona Cardinals prior to the 1994 season.{{cite web|title=Arizona Cardinals Team History|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/arizona-cardinals/team-history/|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=ProFootballHOF.com|access-date=August 21, 2023|archive-date=May 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518071913/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/arizona-cardinals/team-history/|url-status=live}}

= Standings =

{{1987 NFC East standings}}

Awards and records

  • Luis Sharpe, NFC Pro Bowl selection
  • J.T. Smith, NFL Receiving Leader, 91 Receptions NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 451
  • J.T. Smith, Led NFL, Receiving Yards, 1,117 yards NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 452
  • Ron Wolfley, Pro Bowl selection

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Arizona Cardinals}}

{{Arizona Cardinals seasons}}

{{1987 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season}}

Saint Louis

Category:Arizona Cardinals seasons