1983 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1983 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Football League. The cowboys finished second in the NFC East and improving their 6-3 record from 1982. The team broke the record for consecutive playoff appearances with 9 (the 2010 Colts later tied the record).
1983 Dallas Cowboys season | |
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Head coach | Tom Landry |
General manager | Tex Schramm |
Owner | Clint Murchison Jr. |
Home field | Texas Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–4 |
Division place | 2nd NFC East |
Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card playoffs (Rams) 24–17 |
Pro Bowlers | 5 |
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. 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.
The Redskins trailing with the score 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."
NFL Draft
1983 Dallas Cowboys draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
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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 |
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Raul Allegre | Kicker | Texas |
Jerry Schmidt | Def. Line | Cal Poly SLO |
Bill Bates | Safety | Tennessee |
Broderick Thompson | Tackle | Kansas |
Mark Tuinei | Tackle | Hawaii |
Roster
Dallas Cowboys 1983 roster | ||||||
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve Lists
Rookies in italics | |||
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
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Week 3
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Week 4
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
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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: CBS
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 7
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 10
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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: CBS
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 11
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 12
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Week 13
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Cowboys (12–2) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
Seahawks (7–7) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Seattle Kingdome
- 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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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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 | |||||||||
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W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Washington Redskins(1) | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 541 | 332 | W9 |
Dallas Cowboys(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 |
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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