The 1987 Houston Oilers season was the franchise's 18th season in the National Football League and the 28th overall. The Oilers came into the season looking to improve on their 5âÂÂ11 record from 1986, and make the playoffs for the first time since 1980. The 1987 NFL season was affected by a players strike that took place in week 3 of the season, which canceled all week 3 games. As a result, the Oilers canceled there was-to-be week 3 game against the Los Angeles Raiders. The Oilers began the season 3âÂÂ1, their best start to a season since 1980. After the Oilers lost at home to the Patriots 21âÂÂ7 in week 5, the Oilers defeated the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals to give them a 5âÂÂ2 start to the season. After the Oilers lost to the 49ers on the road, they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road, 23âÂÂ3, for their first win in Pittsburgh since 1978. The Oilers would then play 2 disastrous games against the Browns and the Colts, as they allowed 40+ points in each game, losing 40âÂÂ7 to Cleveland at home and losing 51âÂÂ27 to the Colts in Indianapolis. The Oilers would defeat the Chargers the next week, rebounding from those 2 bad losses. The Oilers would clinch a playoff spot in the season's final week with a 21âÂÂ17 win over Cincinnati, thus ending their 6-year playoff drought. This was the first of seven consecutive playoff appearances for the Oilers. In the playoffs, they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 23âÂÂ20 in overtime on a Tony Zendejas field goal. However, the next week, they lost to the Broncos 34âÂÂ10 in the Divisional Round, ending their season.
After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Oilers kicker Tony Zendejas won the game with a 42-yard field goal 8:05 into overtime. Although Houston outgained Seattle with 427 total offensive yards to 250, the game remained close until the very end.