1987 New Orleans Saints season | |
---|---|
Owner | Tom Benson |
General manager | Jim Finks |
Head coach | Jim Mora |
Home field | Louisiana Superdome |
Results | |
Record | 12–3 |
Division place | 2nd NFC West |
Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Vikings) 10–44 |
Pro Bowlers | G Brad Edelman T Hoby Brenner RB Reuben Mayes LB Sam Mills CB Dave Waymer K Morten Andersen |
The 1987 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 21st year in the National Football League (NFL). The strike-shortened year was the Saints' first-ever winning season. The Saints also qualified for the postseason for the first time, riding largely on a nine-game winning streak to close the season. The Saints earned the second-best record in the NFL in 1987, but were in the same division as the team with the best record, the San Francisco 49ers, and entered the playoffs as a wild card. However, they were soundly defeated at home by the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, by a score of 44–10. The Vikings entered the playoffs with an 8–7 record and needed the Dallas Cowboys to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals on the final day of the season to qualify. The Saints' first winning season would be followed by another six consecutive non-losing seasons. Before the 1987 season, the Saints' non-losing seasons had consisted of only two 8–8 seasons, in 1979 and 1983. Head coach Jim Mora was named NFL Coach of the Year.