1987 San Diego Chargers season

[6] McGee had scored seven touchdowns in the first nine weeks in 1986, but missed the final seven games after a double knee surgery;[4] Redden was a former 1st-round draft pick, but went on to have only 30 carries during his two years with the Chargers.

[8][9] An established defensive player also left the active squad when linebacker Woodrow Lowe was placed on injured reserve during preseason;[8] he did not play again, and was eventually released on 11 March 1988.

He left as the team's leading scorer (766 points), and the third-best kicker in league history by career field goal percentage (70.2%),[22] though his accuracy had diminished through the past four seasons.

He did so at San Francisco, completing only 3 of 11 passes for 14 yards while getting sacked three times in a quarter of action, but leading the Chargers to their only points, an Abbott field goal.

[64] The NFLPA set a date of September 22 to strike, two weeks into the season; in response, the owners threatened to field replacement teams stocked with free agents.

[65] With this possibility in mind, San Diego was one of several teams who offered optional agreements to players they waived in the build-up to the season, allowing them to rejoin the Chargers in the event of a strike.

[72] While many of the new players had little or no NFL experience, cornerback Elvis Patterson had won the Super Bowl with the New York Giants;[73] he had been released one game into the 1987 season after being badly beaten on a touchdown catch by Chicago Bears receiver Willie Gault.

[74] At quarterback, the Chargers quickly signed Mike Kelley, formerly of the USFL, but since they also hoped to add someone familiar with their offensive scheme they approached Rick Neuheisel and Tom Flick, both of whom they had cut in training camp.

[81] The regular Chargers turned up at Jack Murphy Stadium on October 16 ready to work; they were told by Ortmayer that they could use the club's facilities, but would not be paid or permitted to play that week, whereupon they left the building.

Two other players (Mack Moore and Jeffery Dale) re-joined the team but were listed on injured reserve and unable to play, so Unrein was the lone strike-breaker to appear for the Chargers in week 6.

[86][87] Notable performers included Patterson, whose 75-yard interception return touchdown beat the Raiders in the final minute,[84] and Blaise Winter, whose 4 sacks were tied for 3rd-most in the league during the strike games.

[82] While Chandler described practising with the replacements as the biggest challenge for the returning Chargers, alternate player representative Gill Byrd praised their performances and stated that he expected no animosity between the two groups.

[278] The Chargers turned the ball over twice in the opening eight minutes; James fumbled a punt and Fouts threw an interception to Deron Cherry, with the Chiefs converting the second turnover into a field goal.

They nearly had one more opportunity, but Danny Walters was unable to come up with a tipped Blackledge pass, which was instead caught by Stephone Paige for the first down that allowed Kansas City to run out the clock.

Catches by Jay Novacek and Earl Ferrell moved the ball to the 5 yard line, from where Lomax threw three incompletions, bring up 4th and goal with 20 seconds to play.

After the next three drives ended in punts, Williams had a 15-yard catch to help position Gaffney for a 24-yard field goal, with David Diaz-Infante replacing Wheeler as the long snapper.

A sack by Phillips forced another Buccaneers three-and-out, and the Chargers drove for the go-ahead touchdown, a 19-yard pass from Neuheisel to Tim Moffett two minutes into the final quarter.

[84] Patterson gave his team the first scoring chance of the game when he recovered a fumble at the Raider 8; San Diego eventually went for the touchdown on 4th and goal from the 1, but a Sartin sweep lost 8 yards.

Two plays later, Bayless sacked Bill Kenney, forcing a fumble that Miller, a replacement player who'd retained his place in the team, recovered in the end zone.

Kenney threw a touchdown on the following drive; in response, San Diego reached a 3rd and 13 at midfield, which they converted when Chandler drew a 31-yard defensive pass interference penalty.

[295] Another 18-yard punt return by James set the Chargers up in Chiefs territory early in the second half; they reached a 2nd and goal from the 4, but Fouts fumbled while being sacked, and Kansas City recovered at their own 7.

[298] Their defense got an early turnover when ex-Brown Banks intercepted Bernie Kosar and returned the ball 20 yards to the Cleveland 15 – James went around right end for a touchdown on the next play.

[299] Banks forced and recovered a fumble early in the second half, setting his offense up at the Cleveland 29, but Fouts gave the ball back with an interception two plays later.

[301] Indianapolis opened the game with an 8-minute field goal drive, and had crossed into Charger territory again when Charles sacked Jack Trudeau, forcing a fumble that Byrd recovered.

San Diego reached a 3rd and 1 at the Indianapolis 18, whereupon Fouts fumbled; Center Don Macek recovered, allowing Abbott to kick another field goal, from 37 yards.

A 34-yard catch by James set up the lone Charger score of the game (a 33-yard Abbott field goal), but Seattle came straight back with another touchdown, and led 17–3 at halftime.

[311] On Denver's first drive they drove 74 yards to a 2nd and goal at the Charger 6, before John Elway's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Glenn; he took off along the right sideline, slipped one tackle, benefitted from a block by Benson, and completed a 103-yard touchdown return, the joint-longest in league history at that point.

San Diego staged a mini-revival late in the half, with Lee Williams sacking Moon for a safety, and the offense driving to a 3rd and 5 at the Houston 10 with seven seconds to play.

San Diego's defense was able convert the good field position into two points on the next play, as Chuck Ehin sacked Malone in the end zone for a safety.

[321] The Chargers appeared to have earned a 1st down on the Steeler 13 on their first possession of the second half, but Chandler's 22-yard catch was wiped out by another illegal motion penalty, this time on Holohan.