49ers Throwback: Inside the Forgotten 1987 Season and the Playoff Collapse vs. Vikings

Many fans believed the San Francisco 49ers were on track for a potential Super Bowl three-peat in the 1990 season, but forgot about the 1987 season.

A strike shortened the 1987 season, and for 24 days, many players refused to cross the picket lines, while replacement players were used early in the season.

The 49ers opened the season with a 30–17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but responded with a seven-game winning streak, including three victories with replacement players during Weeks 4–6.

When play resumed, the San Francisco 49ers finished the season with a 13–2 record, earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but their season ended with a heartbreaking 36–24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Round.

In a playoff game where the Niners were heavily favored, the closest the game would get was in the first quarter, when the score was 3-3.

In the second quarter, Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson connected with tight end Carl Hilton on a seven-yard touchdown pass, giving the Vikings a 10–3 lead.

The 49ers offense punted the ball after a disastrous drive, and Wilson went back to work, leading the Vikings down the field, including a 63-yard pass to wide receiver Anthony Carter to the 49ers' 11-yard line.

The 49ers' defense kept Minnesota out of the end zone, but kicker Chuck Nelson added a 23-yard field goal to extend the Vikings' lead to 13–3.

Things went from bad to worse for the 49ers' offense on the second play of the drive, when defensive back Najee Mustafa intercepted Joe Cool and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown, increasing the Vikings' lead to 20–3.

Both teams exchanged a series of punts, but the 49ers regained possession at the two-minute warning. Montana led the offense to the Vikings' five-yard line, but after a sack by Scott Studwell and a missed field goal by Ray Wersching, the Vikings took a 20–3 lead into halftime.

The 49ers got a break in the third quarter when defensive back Jeff Fuller returned the favor and picked off Wilson, returning it 48 yards for a touchdown, cutting into the Vikings' lead 20-10.

Wilson burst any hopes of a comeback by leading the Vikings down the field and connecting with Hassan Jones for a five-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 27–10.

Both teams exchanged punts, but when the 49ers took the field again, Steve Young came in under center to relieve a struggling Joe Montana.

Despite being named First-Team All-Pro and throwing a career-high 31 touchdowns that season, Montana finished the game 12-of-26 for 109 yards, with one interception and four sacks.

Young's first pass went to Roger Craig, who took it 31 yards to the Vikings' four-yard line, and two plays later, the backup quarterback ran it in from five yards out, cutting the Vikings' lead to 27–17.

Wilson would continue his surgical dissection of the 49ers' top-ranked defense by hitting Carter, who finished the game with 10 receptions for 220 yards, including a 40-yarder to the 49ers' 25-yard line.

The Niners' defense kept the Vikings out of the end zone, but Nelson hit a 40-yard field goal and extended their lead to 30-17.

Young tried to rally the 49ers after a 42-yard run to the Vikings' 31-yard line, but the drive stalled, and Ray Wershing missed a 48-yard field goal.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Vikings offense continued to dominate the 49ers defense, setting up a 46-yard field goal by Nelson to extend the lead to 33–17.

The game was far from over, and Young attempted to rally the offense, but his pass intended for John Taylor was intercepted by Carl Lee at the Vikings' 18-yard line.

The Vikings went three-and-out, giving the ball back to the 49ers with 5:55 remaining in the game, where Young threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Frank, cutting into the Vikings' 33-24 lead with 3:42 left in the game.

The 49ers failed to recover the onside kick, and Carter then outshone Jerry Rice—who finished the game with three receptions for 28 yards—by making a key 35-yard catch on third-and-seven, advancing the ball to the 49ers' nine-yard line.

This play would set up Nelson's fifth field goal, sealing a 36–24 victory for the Vikings and ending the 49ers' season and possible third Super Bowl appearance.