The 1987 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 27th year in the National Football League. A players' strike caused the cancellation of the September 27 game at the Kansas City Chiefs, while the games played on October 4, 11 and 18 were played with replacement players. The Vikings finished with an 8–7 record. Despite finishing the season only one game over .500, and losing three of their final four games, Minnesota sneaked into the playoffs with the final Wild Card position. There, they won two huge upsets, beating the New Orleans Saints (12–3) and San Francisco 49ers (13–2) on the road. The Vikings were unable, however, to defeat the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Game. (en)
*President – Wheelock Whitney, Jr. *Executive vice president/general manager – Mike Lynn *Director of football operations – Jerry Reichow *Director of player personnel – Frank Gilliam *Director of pro personnel – Bob Hollway (en)
First quarter *WAS – Kelvin Bryant 42-yard pass from Doug Williams . Redskins 7–0. Second quarter *MIN – Leo Lewis 23-yard pass from Wade Wilson . Tied 7–7. Third quarter *WAS – Ali Haji-Sheikh 28-yard field goal. Redskins 10–7. Fourth quarter *MIN – Chuck Nelson 18-yard field goal. Tied 10–10. *WAS – Gary Clark 7-yard pass from Doug Williams . Redskins 17–10. (en)
First quarter *NO – Eric Martin 10-yard pass from Bobby Hebert . Saints 7–0. *MIN – Chuck Nelson 42-yard field goal. Saints 7–3. *MIN – Anthony Carter 84-yard punt return . Vikings 10–7. Second quarter *MIN – Steve Jordan 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson . Vikings 17–7. *MIN – Anthony Carter 10-yard pass from Allen Rice . Vikings 24–7. *NO – Morten Andersen 40-yard field goal. Vikings 24–10. *MIN – Hassan Jones 44-yard pass from Wade Wilson . Vikings 31–10. Third quarter *MIN – Chuck Nelson 42-yard field goal. Vikings 34–10. Fourth quarter *MIN – Chuck Nelson 19-yard field goal. Vikings 37–10. *MIN – D. J. Dozier 18-yard run . Vikings 44–10. (en)
First quarter *MIN – Chuck Nelson 21-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. *SF – Ray Wersching 43-yard field goal. Tied 3–3. Second quarter *MIN – Carl Hilton 7-yard pass from Wade Wilson . Vikings 10–3. *MIN – Chuck Nelson 23-yard field goal. Vikings 13–3. *MIN – Najee Mustafaa 45-yard interception return . Vikings 20–3. Third quarter *SF – Jeff Fuller 48-yard interception return . Vikings 20–10. *MIN – Hassan Jones 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson . Vikings 27–10. *SF – Steve Young 5-yard run . Vikings 27–17. *MIN – Chuck Nelson 40-yard field goal. Vikings 30–17. Fourth quarter *MIN – Chuck Nelson 40-yard field goal. Vikings 33–17. *SF – John Frank 16-yard pass from Steve Young . Vikings 33–24. *MIN – Chuck Nelson 23-yard field goal. Vikings 36–24. (en)
First quarter *MIN – Anthony Carter 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer . Vikings 7–0. *MIN – Tommy Kramer 1-yard run . Vikings 14–0. Second quarter *DAL – Danny White 1-yard run . Vikings 14–7. *DAL – Herschel Walker 3-yard pass from Danny White . Tied 14–14. *MIN – Anthony Carter 37-yard pass from Tommy Kramer . Vikings 21–14. Third quarter *MIN – Darrin Nelson 52-yard run . Vikings 28–14. *DAL – Roger Ruzek 38-yard field goal. Vikings 28–17. *DAL – Mike Renfro 8-yard pass from Danny White . Vikings 28–24. Fourth quarter *MIN – Chuck Nelson 33-yard field goal. Vikings 31–24. *MIN – Rick Fenney 1-yard run . Vikings 38–24. *DAL – Mike Renfro 14-yard pass from Danny White . Vikings 38–31. *DAL – Mike Renfro 18-yard pass from Danny White . Tie 38–38. Overtime *MIN – Darrin Nelson 24-yard run. Vikings 44–38. (en)
Top passers *MIN – Wade Wilson – 20/34, 298 yards, 2 TD, INT *SF – Steve Young – 12/17, 158 yards, TD, INT Top rushers *MIN – Darrin Nelson – 11 rushes, 42 yards *SF – Steve Young – 6 rushes, 72 yards, TD Top receivers *MIN – Anthony Carter – 10 receptions, 227 yards *SF – Roger Craig – 9 receptions, 78 yards (en)
Top passers *MIN – Wade Wilson – 9/18, 189 yards, INT *DAL – Danny White – 25/41, 341 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT Top rushers *MIN – Darrin Nelson – 16 rushes, 118 yards, 2 TD *DAL – Herschel Walker – 21 rushes, 76 yards Top receivers *MIN – Anthony Carter – 8 receptions, 184 yards, 2 TD *DAL – Mike Renfro – 7 receptions, 100 yards, 3 TD (en)
Top passers *MIN – Wade Wilson – 11/20, 189 yards, 2 TD *NO – Bobby Hebert – 9/19, 84 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers *MIN – Darrin Nelson – 17 rushes, 73 yards *NO – Dalton Hilliard – 8 rushes, 39 yards Top receivers *MIN – Anthony Carter – 6 receptions, 79 yards, TD *NO – Hoby Brenner – 2 receptions, 33 yards (en)
Top passers *MIN – Wade Wilson – 19/39, 243 yards, TD, INT *WAS – Doug Williams – 9/26, 119 yards, 2 TD Top rushers *MIN – Wade Wilson – 4 rushes, 28 yards *WAS – Timmy Smith – 13 rushes, 72 yards Top receivers *MIN – Anthony Carter – 7 receptions, 85 yards *WAS – Gary Clark – 3 receptions, 57 yards, TD (en)