1983 Dallas Cowboys season
1983 Dallas Cowboys season | |
---|---|
Owner | Clint Murchison Jr. |
General manager | Tex Schramm |
Head coach | Tom Landry |
Home stadium | Texas Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–4 |
Division place | 2nd NFC East |
Playoffs | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Rams) 17–24 |
Pro Bowlers | 5 |
The 1983 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Football League. Despite a hot start that saw them win their first seven games, the Cowboys finished second in the NFC East. They qualified for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, setting a new record for most consecutive playoff appearances by a team in NFL history (the previous mark was jointly held by three teams, one of which was the 1966–1973 Cowboys). The record was tied by the Indianapolis Colts in 2010 before the New England Patriots broke the record in 2019.
Summary
The team started the season with seven straight victories, including a memorable Monday night win over the Washington Redskins in which the team erased a 20-point halftime deficit and prevailed, 31–30. The Cowboys were particularly strong on offense, led by quarterback Danny White and running back Tony Dorsett. The Cowboys scored a team record 479 points and staged a few come-from-behind victories during the season. However, the defense gave up many points, despite strong play from Randy White, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, and Everson Walls. In particular, the young secondary was guilty of giving up many big plays throughout the season.
Late in the season, the Cowboys met the Redskins at Texas Stadium with the NFC East crown up for grabs. Both teams entered the game with 12–2 records, but the defending champion Redskins proved too much for the Cowboys and emerged with a 31–10 victory, giving them the NFC East title. With the Cowboys trailing 14–10 in the third quarter, the Cowboys failed on a fourth and one at midfield. The play was a key turning point. There appeared to be a miscommunication between quarterback Danny White and Tom Landry as to whether to run the play. The failed play led to a rare emotional outburst from Landry as he yelled "No, Danny, no." After a 42–17 drubbing at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers the following week, the Cowboys faced the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card game of the NFC playoffs. Despite having the home field advantage, the Cowboys fell, 24–17.
NFL draft
1983 Dallas Cowboys draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 23 | Jim Jeffcoat | DE | Arizona State | |
2 | 50 | Michael Walter | LB | Oregon | |
3 | 70 | Bryan Caldwell | DE | Arizona State | |
4 | 108 | Chris Faulkner | TE | Florida | |
5 | 135 | Chuck McSwain | RB | Clemson | |
6 | 162 | Reggie Collier | QB | Southern Miss | |
7 | 189 | Chris Schultz | OT | Arizona | |
8 | 220 | Lawrence Ricks | RB | Michigan | |
9 | 246 | Al Gross | S | Arizona | |
10 | 273 | Eric Moran | OT | Washington | Signed with the USFL |
11 | 300 | Dan Taylor | OT | Idaho State | |
12 | 331 | Lorenzo Bouier | RB | Maine | |
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Undrafted free agents
Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Raúl Allegre | Kicker | Texas |
Jerry Schmidt | Def. Line | Cal Poly SLO |
Bill Bates | Safety | Tennessee |
Broderick Thompson | Tackle | Kansas |
Mark Tuinei | Tackle | Hawaii |
Roster
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 5 | at Washington Redskins | W 31–30 | 1–0 | RFK Stadium | 55,045 | Recap |
2 | September 11 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 34–17 | 2–0 | Busch Stadium | 48,532 | Recap |
3 | September 18 | New York Giants | W 28–13 | 3–0 | Texas Stadium | 62,347 | Recap |
4 | September 25 | New Orleans Saints | W 21–20 | 4–0 | Texas Stadium | 62,136 | Recap |
5 | October 2 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 37–24 | 5–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 60,774 | Recap |
6 | October 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–24 (OT) | 6–0 | Texas Stadium | 63,308 | Recap |
7 | October 16 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 37–7 | 7–0 | Texas Stadium | 63,070 | Recap |
8 | October 23 | Los Angeles Raiders | L 38–40 | 7–1 | Texas Stadium | 64,991 | Recap |
9 | October 30 | at New York Giants | W 38–20 | 8–1 | Giants Stadium | 76,142 | Recap |
10 | November 6 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 27–20 | 9–1 | Veterans Stadium | 71,236 | Recap |
11 | November 13 | at San Diego Chargers | L 23–24 | 9–2 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 46,192 | Recap |
12 | November 20 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 41–21 | 10–2 | Texas Stadium | 64,103 | Recap |
13 | November 24 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 35–17 | 11–2 | Texas Stadium | 60,974 | Recap |
14 | December 4 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 35–10 | 12–2 | Kingdome | 63,352 | Recap |
15 | December 11 | Washington Redskins | L 10–31 | 12–3 | Texas Stadium | 65,074 | Recap |
16 | December 19 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 17–42 | 12–4 | Candlestick Park | 59,957 | Recap |
Division opponents are in bold text
The October 16 and November 6 games against the Philadelphia Eagles were played with locations switched from the original schedule, because of October 16 conflict with game 5 of the baseball World Series.
Season summary
Week 1
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (1–0) | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 31 |
Redskins (0–1) | 10 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Monday, September 5
- Game time: 9:00 p.m.(et)
- Game weather: 84 degrees, relative humidity 66, round(wind) 6.5 mph
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, O. J. Simpson and Howard Cosell
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 2
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
• Cowboys (2–0) | 0 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
Cardinals (0–2) | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
- Date: September 11
- Location: Busch Stadium • St. Louis, Missouri
- Game start: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), wind 10 mph
- Referee: Tom Dooley
1 | STL | Roy Green 39-yard pass from Jim Hart (Neil O'Donoghue kick) | Cardinals 7–0 | |
1 | STL | Neil O'Donoghue 23-yard field goal | Cardinals 10–0 | |
2 | DAL | Ron Springs 1-yard run (Rafael Septién kick) | Cardinals 10–7 | |
2 | DAL | Drew Pearson 10-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick) | Cowboys 14–10 | |
2 | DAL | Rafael Septién 45-yard field goal | Cowboys 17–10 | |
3 | DAL | Ron Springs 19-yard run (Rafael Septién kick) | Cowboys 24–10 | |
4 | DAL | Dennis Thurman recovered fumble in end zone (Rafael Septién kick) | Cowboys 31–10 | |
4 | STL | Stump Mitchell 5-yard run (Neil O'Donoghue kick) | Cowboys 31–17 | |
4 | DAL | Rafael Septién 24-yard field goal | Cowboys 34–17 |
Week 3
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants (1–2) | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
• Cowboys (3–0) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
- Date: September 18
- Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Game start: 3:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind 15
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
1 | NYG | Ali Haji-Sheikh 31-yard field goal | Giants 3–0 | |
2 | DAL | Doug Cosbie 4-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick) | Cowboys 7–3 | |
2 | DAL | Doug Cosbie 2-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick) | Cowboys 14–3 | |
3 | NYG | Butch Woolfolk 1-yard run (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick) | Cowboys 14–10 | |
3 | NYG | Ali Haji-Sheikh 27-yard field goal | Cowboys 14–13 | |
4 | DAL | Dextor Clinkscale 68-yard interception return (Rafael Septién kick) | Cowboys 21–13 | |
4 | DAL | Michael Downs 10-yard fumble return (Rafael Septién kick) | Cowboys 28–13 |
Week 4
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints (2–2) | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
Cowboys (4–0) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 21 |
- Date: Sunday, September 25, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 71 degrees, relative humidity 51, round(wind) 11.7 mph
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 5
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (5–0) | 3 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 37 |
Vikings (3–2) | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
- Date: Sunday, October 2, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 72, no wind
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 6
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers (0–6) | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Cowboys (6–0) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
- Date: Sunday, October 9, 1983
- Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 70 degrees, relative humidity 69, round(wind) 6.2 mph
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 7
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagles (4–3) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Cowboys (7–0) | 10 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 37 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 4:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 73 degrees, relative humidity 70%, round(wind) 12.8 mph
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV: CBS
- htm Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 8
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders (6–2) | 10 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 40 |
Cowboys (7–1) | 7 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 38 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Sunday October 23, 1983
- Game time: 8:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C), wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 64,991
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers: Frank Gifford (play-by-play), Don Meredith & O. J. Simpson (color commentators)
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 9
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (8–1) | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
Giants (2–6–1) | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
- Date: Sunday Oct 30, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 43 degrees, relative humidity 49, round(wind) 14.5 mph (23 km/h)
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 10
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (9–1) | 0 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
Eagles (4–6) | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
- Date: Sunday, November 6, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 38 degrees, relative humidity 74, round(wind) 10.6 mph
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 11
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (9–2) | 0 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 23 |
Chargers (4–7) | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 4:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), relative humidity 82%, round (wind) 11.4 mph
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers: Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 12
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs (5–7) | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
• Cowboys (10–2) | 10 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
- Date: November 20
- Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Game start: 3:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 54 degrees, relative humidity 49, round(wind) 17.6 mph
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
1 | DAL | Ron Springs 1-yard run (Rafael Septién kick) | DAL 7–0 | |
1 | DAL | Rafael Septién 25-yard field goal | DAL 10–0 | |
2 | DAL | Tony Dorsett 28-yard run (Rafael Septién kick) | DAL 17–0 | |
2 | DAL | Rafael Septién 40-yard field goal | DAL 20–0 | |
3 | DAL | Tony Dorsett 32-yard run (Rafael Septién kick) | DAL 27–0 | |
3 | KC | Carlos Carson 13-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick) | DAL 27–7 | |
3 | KC | Carlos Carson 48-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick) | DAL 27–14 | |
4 | DAL | Timmy Newsome 7-yard run (Rafael Septién kick) | DAL 34–14 | |
4 | DAL | Gary Allen 68-yard punt return (Rafael Septién kick) | DAL 41–14 | |
4 | KC | Stephone Paige 7-yard pass from Todd Blackledge (Nick Lowery kick) | DAL 41–21 |
Week 13
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals (5–7–1) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
Cowboys (11–2) | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Thursday, November 24, 1983
- Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 43 degrees, relative humidity 61, round(wind) 8.0 mph
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 14
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (12–2) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
Seahawks (7–7) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
- Date: Sunday, December 4, 1983
- Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 72%, no wind
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 15
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Redskins (13–2) | 14 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
Cowboys (12–3) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
- Date: Sunday, December 11
- Game time: 4:00pm(et)
- Game weather: 58 degrees, relative humidity 47, round(wind) 18.6 mph
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 16
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (12–4) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
49ers (10–6) | 21 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
- Date: Monday, December 19, 1983
- Game time: 9:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 54 degrees, relative humidity 78, round(wind) 10.8 mph
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and O. J. Simpson
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Wild card playoffs
December 26, 1983
NFC: Los Angeles Rams 24, Dallas Cowboys 17
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams (10–7) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
Cowboys (12–5) | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
- Game weather: 27 °F (−3 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 62,118
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Game information |
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Standings
NFC East | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Washington Redskins(1) | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 541 | 332 | W9 |
(4) | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 479 | 360 | L2 |
St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–4–1 | 5–6–1 | 374 | 428 | W3 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–7 | 4–10 | 233 | 322 | L2 |
New York Giants | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 | 1–6–1 | 3–8–1 | 267 | 347 | L4 |
Playoffs
Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wild Card | December 26, 1983 | Los Angeles Rams | L 17–24 | Texas Stadium | 43,521 | Recap |
Awards
Five players represented the Cowboys in the 1984 Pro Bowl: Doug Cosbie, Tony Dorsett, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Everson Walls, and Randy White. White and Walls were voted to the Associated Press' All-NFL first team, while Dorsett was voted to the AP's All-NFL second team.
Publications
The Football Encyclopedia ISBN 0-312-11435-4
Total Football ISBN 0-06-270170-3
Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes ISBN 0-446-51950-2
References
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com