The 49ers (1-1) travel to Giants Stadium for a Sunday kickoff against the New York Giants (0-2) on Mon October 5, 1987. The NFL Players Association's three-week strike has been replaced by games featuring replacement players.
Mark Stevens at quarterback in place of Montana (striking players boycotted). The Giants start replacement quarterback Jeff Rutledge. The game's attendance was 16,471, the lowest in Giants Stadium history.[1][2][3]
The NFLPA strike. NFL owners decided to play the W4-W6 games with replacement players. The 49ers' replacement-player roster includes quarterback Mark Stevens, running back Doug DuBose, and several free agents brought in for the strike. The Giants' replacement squad starts Jeff Rutledge. The game's attendance of 16,471 is the lowest in Giants Stadium history.
Week 4 has the conference's NFL games being played with replacement players. The 49ers' Sunday at Giants Stadium is one of 14 strike-played games on the slate. Around the league the AFC's contenders use replacement players. The NFC's contenders use replacement players. The strike's impact on the year's regular-season standings will be the year's storyline.
Through three games the 49ers are 1-1 (one game cancelled). The Giants are 0-2 with a minus 14 differential. The strike began Tuesday and W3 was cancelled. Both teams' regular-season rosters are unavailable; the matchup features replacement players. Vegas does not list a line for replacement games. Number to track today: how the replacement rosters produce regular-season-counting outcomes.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-1 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-1 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 2-0 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1-1 | W1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 1-1 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 1-1 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 2-0 | W2 |
| Denver Broncos | 1-0-1 | T1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-1 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-1 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-1 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-1 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-1 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1-1 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 2-0 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-0 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-1-1 | T1 |
| Detroit Lions | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-1 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-1 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-1 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 0-2 | L2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jeff Brockhaus 39 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Giants | Lewis Bennett 46 yard pass from Jim Crocicchia (George Benyola kick) | 3-7 |
| 49ers | Del Rodgers 2 yard rush (Jeff Brockhaus kick) | 10-7 |
| 49ers | Mike Wells 1 yard blocked punt return (Jeff Brockhaus kick) | 17-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Carl Monroe 39 yard pass from Mark Stevens (Jeff Brockhaus kick) | 24-7 |
| 49ers | Jeff Brockhaus 22 yard field goal | 27-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mark Stevens 9 yard rush (Jeff Brockhaus kick) | 34-7 |
| Giants | Reggie McGowan 63 yard pass from Mike Busch (George Benyola kick) | 34-14 |
| 49ers | Tony Cherry 13 yard rush (Jeff Brockhaus kick) | 41-14 |
| Giants | Edwin Lovelady 7 yard pass from Mike Busch (George Benyola kick) | 41-21 |
Mark Stevens threw two touchdowns and the 49ers' replacement-player roster beat the New York Giants 41-21 at Giants Stadium. Stevens finished with 200-plus passing yards. Doug DuBose ran for 95 with a touchdown. Bob Gagliano added relief snaps. The Giants' replacement roster scored 21 points. The 49ers improved to 2-1.[1][2][3]
The 49ers' replacement-player roster beat the New York Giants' replacement roster 41-21 at Giants Stadium. Mark Stevens threw two touchdowns in his first NFL action. Doug DuBose ran for 95 yards with a touchdown. The game's attendance was 16,471, the lowest in Giants Stadium history.
The replacement game produced regular-season-counting results: a 41-21 49ers road win plus a 0-3 Giants record (the Giants' replacement roster lost both prior strike games as well). The 49ers' offense produced 41 points with the kind of conservative passing approach the replacement quarterback ran. Defense produced multiple turnovers.
The strike will continue through W6. The 49ers' replacement-player run is part of the regular season; the standings will count these games.
49ers 41, Giants 21. Margin: plus 20. Record: 2-1 (strike game).
A 41-21 replacement-player road win at Giants Stadium. The 49ers' strike-replacement roster moves to 2-1.
How it unfolded
The replacement-player game features a different roster from the regular-season opener. The 49ers' offense produced multiple scoring drives.
The turning point
The strike. The NFLPA's three-week walkout produced the league's first replacement-player games of the modern era. The games count toward the regular season; the 49ers' replacement-roster wins will be added to the season's final standings.
By the numbers
Mark Stevens (replacement QB): 200-plus passing yards with two touchdowns. Doug DuBose: 95 rushing yards with one touchdown. The game's attendance of 16,471 was the year's lowest in any NFL stadium.
What it means
2-1. The strike continues. The Falcons road game next Sunday will be the next replacement game.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 28 | 14 |
| Total Yards | 433 | 231 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 14/23 | 9/21 |
| Pass yards | 202 | 184 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 11 | 30 |
| Net pass yards | 191 | 154 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 49 | 22 |
| Rush yards | 242 | 77 |
| Rush TD | 3 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 6 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties | 8 | 3 |
| Penalty yards | 84 | 14 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Bob Gagliano | 12/21 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 79.5 |
| Mark Stevens | 2/2 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 158.3 |
| NYG | |||||
| Mike Busch | 3/6 | 95 | 2 | 1 | 95.8 |
| Jim Crocicchia | 6/15 | 89 | 1 | 0 | 82.4 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Mike Varajon | 16 | 75 | 0 | 11 |
| Tony Cherry | 13 | 65 | 1 | 16 |
| Andre Hardy | 7 | 48 | 0 | 14 |
| Mark Stevens | 7 | 36 | 1 | 16 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Del Rodgers | 4 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
| Ed Blount | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NYG | ||||
| Van Williams | 6 | 31 | 0 | 16 |
| Earl Beecham | 5 | 22 | 0 | 10 |
| Robert DiRico | 5 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| Jim Crocicchia | 4 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Fred DiRenzo | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Edwin Lovelady | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Carl Monroe | 3 | 66 | 1 | 39 |
| Tony Gladney | 4 | 60 | 0 | 19 |
| Mike Varajon | 3 | 25 | 0 | 12 |
| Del Rodgers | 1 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| Terry Greer #84 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Chris Dressel | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Andre Hardy | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| NYG | ||||
| Lewis Bennett | 4 | 87 | 1 | 46 |
| Reggie McGowan | 1 | 63 | 1 | 63 |
| Edwin Lovelady | 2 | 15 | 1 | 8 |
| Jeff Smith | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Van Williams | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1987 W4 - 49ers at New York Giants - Game Thread