1987 New England Patriots Team Season Highlights "Heart Of A Champion"

in 87 the elements were no match for the famous Foxboro plow or its hometown team 55,000 people sitting here in driving rain getting just about as wet as a human being could get wet Curt but they're having a wonderful time and this will be a game where snaps from Center on putts to be fumbled anything could happen today but it usually does John and the dolphin Patriot game what happened was the Patriots made the archrival dolphins look like fish out of water in its initial outing of the season the New England offense bombarded Miami running up 28 points in the first three quarters [Music] too many points to overcome even for the mighty Dan Marino [Music] passes to what for the dolphins to handle stuck in the dry hands of the Patriots secondary [Music] ronita pets 20 yard interception return for a touchdown put the rain-soaked game on ice and gave New England a 28 to 21 win to start the year [Music] fifteen weeks later the same two teams met to end the season and the Patriots effort was no less gallant at stake was pride at number 56 Andre Tippin exemplified the fighting spirit of the Patriots despite seven starters being placed on injured reserve throughout the year New England fell only one game shy of repeating as AFC East champs the team played were the same intensity in week 16 as it did in week one and with the same winning results overcoming all obstacles the 1987 New England Patriots displayed the heart of a champion [Music] for 14 seasons linebacker Steve Nelson exhibited both the heart and soul of a champion and although he retired last season the image of Nelly standing tall as the anchor of the Patriots defense will last forever as if frozen in time [Music] Steve Nelson played in 174 games finishing with a most patriotic 1776 tackles he was known as a fierce hitter three times rewarded with pro ball recognition [Music] when Ellie wasn't impeding a ball carriers progress he was intercepting a quarterback's passes always daring a team to come his way [Music] most of all Steve Nelson was the ultimate competitor and has fond of his fans as they were of him as Steve Nelson's career becomes Patriot lore another New England linebacker is fast gaining status as a living legend [Applause] after six seasons Andre Tippett has become one of the NFL's most dominant players and the leader of the New England offense [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] even when Tippit's body takes a break his mind remains on the game [Applause] [Applause] [Music] you can bet that if the ball makes it to Andre tip it's part of the field he'll make it to the ball [Applause] Tippett's enthusiastic rejoicing runs contrary to the modest smile of coach Raymond berries Rock of Gibralter Andre has played great football consistently he does it every week he is I don't see any thing he can't do as a linebacker what he did do last season was earned his fourth consecutive trip to the for bowl [Music] Tippett led the AFC and sax with 12 and a half a black belt in karate probably came in handy but his unique blend of size and speed is what did in most opposing quarterbacks size to get close to them and speed to occasionally run away from them [Music] Tippett was part of a dominant group of Patriot linebackers number 55 Don Blackman and Lawrenceburg rule number 50 where right-side linebackers with a knack for running down ball carriers when a neck injury sidelined Blackmon who has since retired to become assistant linebackers coach veteran ed Williams number 54 capably stepped in and started the last seven games of the season that's the kind of depth New England had on defense depth that is most evident in a secondary that puts a premium on pickles [Music] Raymond Claiborne number 26 had another fine season but when a knee injury ended his consecutive games played streak at 161 fifth-year cornerback Ronnie lipet picked up the slack returning to interceptions for touchdowns [Music] Ernest Gibson also netted a couple of interceptions in only five starts at free safety Fred Mary and once again led New England in tackles as well as intercepting a team-high four passes strong safeties Jim Bowman number 28 and Rowland James rounded out a secondary that helped New England tie for the best turnover ratio in the lead coach Raymond berry was confident penciling in an assortment of players on defense in a week 8 contest against Los Angeles the run conscious Raiders quickly found out why Los Angeles had nowhere to run unfortunately for New England neither did Tony Eason now comes out of the pocket that's gonna run it the chasing get the 30 running guy Glee and he whirled out of bound by basic tour in the strong safety he's hurt - he's lying down for the Patriots sideline not getting up when he did get up it was to leave with a season-ending separated shoulder a little rusty and relief was veteran Steve Grogan the kinks would be worked out soon enough the Patriots built up twenty three to six leaders Grogan's passing touch seem to be contagious to go and the pitches did the two pool again maybe a little too contagious quarterback rusty Hilger past the Raiders to a fourth quarter tie with seconds remaining the pressure of a game-winning field goal attempt by Tony Franklin was felt by both teams actually be about a 35 yarder the snap is done the kick is up there's a flag drop and the kick there's no good [Music] the Patriots were about to get a break when they needed one most [Applause] Franklin made the most of his second chance and this will now be a 30 yard field goal attempt by Franklin it's down it's [Music] [Applause] Raiders 2020 overcoming season-ending injuries to three starters in the game New England pulled out the costly win and earned a wealth of respect along the way [Music] despite the impending sale of the Patriots owner Billy Sullivan remained determined to improve his team and bringing home Doug Flutie was one such gesture the former Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College was acquired on a Tuesday and five days later started the team's third replacement game needless to say his quick feet came in handy [Music] Flutie weave his way to 43 rushing yards but certainly was not bashful when it came time to pass the ball Ruthie's 27 yard touchdown pass highlighted New England's 21 to 7 win at Houston and marked his arrival as a patriot blazing a trail behind New England quarterbacks early last season were a pair of dependable running backs versatile Tony Collins was New England's leading rusher and its top receiver as well with 44 catches complementing Collins was hard-charging 10th year fullback mozi to to poo number 30 [Music] assigned to protect New England's backfield James was an offensive wine blending experience with youth rookie tackles Bruce Armstrong and Danny via joined veteran Steve Moore Sean Farrell rambutan guy Morris beat broth Trevor manage and Paul Fairchild to give the Patriots what evolved into a dominant fund an even bigger evolution took place on the defensive side of the trenches number 19 nose tackle Toby Williams anchored a persistent Patriot pass rush ends Brent Williams number 96 Kenneth Sims and Garen varus number 60 provided constant containment from the outside [Music] this front attacked from all sides and along with the rest of the defense hit its stride on a chilly November Sunday against Indianapolis New England totally shut down the cold offense [Music] the Patriots were a stingy defense and then sound here's the putt now by Ron's target black Scott's special teams score gave New England a 24 to nothing shutout and was one of three blocked kicks by the Patriots this season special performers on the Patriots special teams included Johnny Rembert Jim Bollman Rod McSwain moe Sita to pool rich Camarillo and Raymond Claiborne who returned this block field goal as far as the Astrodome turf would allow special teams players are often anonymous and so are third string quarterback s-- but striding into the limelight this season was number 12 Tom Ramsey it was not by design [Music] the Cowboys knocked out starter Steve Grogan in a week ten contests enter Tom Ramsey backup quarterback extraordinaire [Music] Ramzi past the Patriots to a four quarter lead but once forced into overtime the quarterback couldn't get the ball to bounce New England's way the disappointment of losing was offset by Tom Ramsey's startling emergence two weeks later against Philadelphia the quarterback delivered a record-setting performance in his 402 yards in the air was the team's second highest single-game total ever again though New England suffered a bitter overtime loss and with a five and six record it was time to turn things around Steve Grogan is New England's on-call quarterback one moment on the sidelines then in a blink he's in the pocket spotting an open receiver [Music] at 34 years old Grogan still dives for precious goal-line yards and he retains an enviable long ball passing touch [Music] but the veteran Grogan except sharing top billing in Foxborough with Tony Eason who went healthy is one of the league's most feared passes it helps of course to have receivers like number 86 Pro Bowl picks Stanley Morgan who catches passes and traffic as well as anyone [Music] not unlike Morgana's partner irving fryer another receiver tough to tackle and tougher to cover [Music] stephane starring ceedric Jones and Titan and Len Dawson wound out a receiving core that against the Jets in week 13 provided Steve Grogan with his day in the Sun Grogan was spectacular and his receivers were even better [Music] [Music] roving passionately into wide open in the end zone it's the prior shotgun formation there it is wide open sorry this was the new england pass offense at peak efficiency thrashing the jet secondary [Music] the Patriots crushed New York 42 to 20 and maintained slim playoff hopes thanks to broken and a pair of young running backs Reggie to par number 21 a first round draft choice in 1986 blossomed into a dangerous open field runner near season's end [Music] the shifty back was the team's top rusher and three of the last four games [Music] his second and third efforts helped him to lead the Patriots in rushing touchdowns [Music] emerging the long with you part was rookie bob Perriman giving to England to promising young backs for the future it was Steve Grogan's future that drew the concern of bills fans in week 15 as things turned out the sign was better suited for Buffalo's Jim Kelly Kelly was sacked five times by the Patriots and Buffalo's offense was held scoreless a memorable defensive performance against one of the NFL's most explosive teams as for the New England offense Brogan's hot hand and a born-again ground attack brought the Patriots of victory and Buffalo and another the following week in Miami finishing the year with three straight wins landed New England only one game from the playoffs in 1987 and left little doubt the Patriots were the divisions best team at season's end fighters right to the finish the 1987 New England Patriots displayed the heart of a champion [Music]

Channel: Sports Odyssey

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Id: 6VOT4tluLBg

Length: 22min 21sec (1341 seconds)

Published: Tue May 14 2019