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1983 Buffalo Bills season
24th season in franchise history
24th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Buffalo Bills |
| year | 1983 |
| record | 8–8 |
| division_place | 2nd AFC East |
| coach | Kay Stephenson |
| owner | Ralph Wilson |
| stadium | Rich Stadium |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro_bowlers | RB Joe Cribbs |
| DT Fred Smerlas | |
| shortnavlink | Bills seasons |
DT Fred Smerlas
The 1983 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League, and the 24th overall. It was the first of three seasons for head coach Kay Stephenson. Bills running back Joe Cribbs was both the Bills' leading rusher (1,131 yards), and the team's leader in receptions and receiving yards (57 catches for 524 yards). The team looked to improve on its 4–5 record from 1982. With the NFL schedule back to 16 games, the Bills were a more competitive team during 1983. The team started 5–2 through its first 7 games. However, they would struggle the rest of the way, as they went 3–6 in its final 9 games en route to a mediocre 8–8 season. This season also saw the Bills beat the Dolphins in Miami for the first time since 1966, Miami's inaugural season. After beating the Chiefs, 14–9, at Arrowhead Stadium on December 4, the Bills would lose 22 road games in a row, which included going 0–8 on the road in each of the following two seasons.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1983 NFL draft
The Bills drafted future Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, the third of a record six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 1983 draft. Kelly received opposing offers from the United States Football League and from the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Concordes. Kelly would ultimately sign with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers for the following three seasons before making his first start with the Bills in Week One of the 1986 season. The Bills later retired Kelly's #12, at the time the only number the franchise retired. Linebacker Darryl Talley played for twelve years with the Bills. He was a two-time Pro Bowler, in 1990 and 1991. He was inducted into the Bills Wall of Fame.
Personnel
Staff
-
President – Ralph Wilson
-
Senior Executive Vice President – Pat McGroder
-
Vice President of Football Operations – Kay Stephenson
-
Vice President of Player Personnel – Norm Pollom
-
Head Coach – Kay Stephenson
-
Running Backs – Andy MacDonald
-
Receivers – Milt Jackson
-
Tight Ends – Al Sandahl
-
Offensive Line – Jim Niblack
-
Offensive Assistant – Perry Moss
-
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Bob Zeman
-
Defensive Line – Don Lawrence
-
Defensive Backfield – Jerry Glanville
-
Defensive Assistant – Miller McCalmon
-
Special Teams – Miller McCalmon
Roster
Schedule
| Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Week | Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Date | Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Result | Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Record | Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Notes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 4, 1983 | [**Miami Dolphins**](1983-miami-dolphins-season) | **L** 12–0 | 0–1 | 78,715 | Uwe von Schamann accounted for all points scored | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 11, 1983 | at [Cincinnati Bengals](1983-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **W** 10–6 | 1–1 | 46,839 | Joe Ferguson threw a 14-yard touchdown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 18, 1983 | [**Baltimore Colts**](1983-baltimore-colts-season) | **W** 28–23 | 2–1 | 40,937 | Game lead changed seven times in final three quarters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 25, 1983 | [Houston Oilers](1983-houston-oilers-season) | **W** 30–13 | 3–1 | 60,070 | Ferguson threw for only 127 yards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 3, 1983 | [**New York Jets**](1983-new-york-jets-season) | **L** 34–10 | 3–2 | 79,933 | Buffalo's only Monday Night Football appearance of the year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 9, 1983 | **at Miami Dolphins** | **W** 38–35 | 4–2 | 59,948 | Ferguson threw five touchdowns and 419 yards; first road win over Miami since 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 16, 1983 | **at Baltimore Colts** | **W** 30–7 | 5–2 | 38,565 | Last trip to Baltimore until formation of Ravens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 23, 1983 | [**New England Patriots**](1983-new-england-patriots-season) | **L** 31–0 | 5–3 | 60,424 | Ferguson intercepted three times by Roland James | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 30, 1983 | [New Orleans Saints](1983-new-orleans-saints-season) | **W** 27–21 | 6–3 | 49,413 | Ferguson threw four touchdowns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 6, 1983 | at **New England Patriots** | **L** 21–7 | 6–4 | 42,604 | Ferguson intercepted four times | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 13, 1983 | at **New York Jets** | **W** 24–17 | 7–4 | 48,513 | Bills outscored Jets 24–3 in second half; Bills last visit ever to Shea Stadium and Queens, NY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 20, 1983 | [Los Angeles Raiders](1983-los-angeles-raiders-season) | **L** 27–24 | 7–5 | Bills lost despite erasing 21-point Raiders lead in the fourth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 27, 1983 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1983-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 41–17 | 7–6 | 48,246 | Eric Dickerson rushed for 125 yards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 4, 1983 | at [Kansas City Chiefs](1983-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **W** 14–9 | 8–6 | 27,104 | Joe Cribbs' 185 rushing yards constituted almost all of Buffalo's offense | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 11, 1983 | [San Francisco 49ers](1983-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **L** 23–10 | 8–7 | 38,039 | Ferguson intercepted three times | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 18, 1983 | at [Atlanta Falcons](1983-atlanta-falcons-season) | **L** 31–14 | 8–8 | 31,015 | Matt Kofler threw for 125 yards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buffalo Bills | year=1983 | border=2}}" | **Note**: Intra-divisional opponents are in **bold** text |
Season summary
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
The Bills knocked Ken Stabler out of the game at the end of the first quarter with a rib injury.
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Standings
Awards and honors
All-Pros
- Fred Smerlas, Nose tackle
- Steve Freeman, Safety
Notes
References
References
- 1983 was the last of Cribbs' three NFL [[Pro Bowl]] seasons before he left the NFL for the [[United States Football League. USFL]]'s [[Birmingham Stallions]] in [[1984 USFL season. 1984]].
- Northrop, Milt. (April 30, 1983). "Bills To Battle With USFL — Blitz Make Pitch for Kelly". [[The Buffalo News]].
- Beacon, Bill. (May 4, 1983). "Concordes Make Pitch for Kelly". [[Ottawa Citizen.
- (June 9, 1983). "Bills To Lose Jim Kelly to the USFL". [[The Buffalo News]].
- "1983 Buffalo Bills draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- Eugene Register-Guard. 1983 Oct 31.
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