The 1987 New England Patriots season was the franchise’s 18th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the fourth under head coach Raymond Berry. The team played its home games at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Season overview
- Record: 8–7 (15 games)
- Division place: 2nd in the AFC East
- Playoffs: Did not qualify
The 1987 NFL season was affected by a players’ strike that resulted in the cancellation of the week‑3 games and the use of replacement players for weeks 4 through 6. The Patriots, like all league teams, fielded a squad of replacement players during this period and compiled a 2–1 record in those games.
Coaching and personnel
- Head coach: Raymond Berry (4th season)
- General manager: Patrick Sullivan
- Owner: Billy Sullivan
Key players
- Quarterback: Steve Grogan entered the season as the starter but missed time due to injury; backup quarterback Tony Eason also saw significant playing time.
- Running backs: Craig James and Timmy Brown contributed in the ground game.
- Wide receivers: Andre Garcia and Irving Fryar provided receiving options.
- Defensive standouts: Linebacker Andre Tipple and defensive end Ron Cox were among the defensive contributors.
Notable events
- The strike‑shortened schedule reduced the regular season to 15 games.
- The Patriots’ two loss‑to‑record within the AFC East were to the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins, both of whom secured playoff berths.
- The team finished the season with a winning record but failed to qualify for the postseason, marking the first time since the 1983 season that the Patriots missed the playoffs.
Aftermath
Following the 1987 campaign, the Patriots made several roster adjustments in preparation for the 1988 season, including changes at quarterback and the continued development of their defensive unit. The franchise would later return to the playoffs in the 1990 season under new head coach Bill Parcells.
All information presented reflects documented historical records of the 1987 New England Patriots season.
