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1983 Houston Oilers season

NFL team season

Field	Value
team	Houston Oilers
year	1983
record	2–14
division_place	4th AFC Central
coach	Ed Biles
Chuck Studley (interim)
general manager	Ladd Herzeg
owner	Bud Adams
stadium	Houston Astrodome
playoffs	Did not qualify
pro_bowlers	RB Earl Campbell
shortnavlink	Oilers seasons

Chuck Studley (interim)

The 1983 Houston Oilers season was the 24th season overall and 14th with the National Football League (NFL). After a strike-shorted 1–8 season, the Oilers traded their second draft choice to the Los Angeles Rams, probably fearing that Eric Dickerson, the player they desired to pick with that second choice, would join the Los Angeles Express of the USFL. Dickerson was cool about playing for the Oilers, while his family was firmly opposed.

The Oilers ultimately made a marginal improvement, winning two games, but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The 460 points allowed by the team are the most given up by the team in franchise history.

The week 13 game against Tampa Bay, before which both teams had 1–11 records, was nicknamed the "Repus Bowl". Steve Wulf wrote of the game, "Yes, this was the Small One, the battle of the beatens, the movable object meeting the resistible force. There were only tomorrows. When these two teams get together, nothing can happen. This game was for a marble." Tampa Bay won the game 33–24.

The last remaining active member of the 1983 Houston Oilers was offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, who retired after the 2001 season.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1983 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

Owner/Chairman of the Board/President – Bud Adams
Executive Vice President/General Manager – Ladd Herzeg
Head coach – Ed Biles
Offensive coordinator – Kay Dalton
Offensive backs – Elijah Pitts
Receivers – Andy Bourgeois
Tight ends – Vic Rapp
Offensive line – Bill Walsh
Defensive coordinator – Chuck Studley
Defensive line – Ralph Staub
Linebackers – Dick Selcer
Defensive backs – Ken Houston
Special teams – Vic Rapp
Strength and Conditioning – Bill Allerheiligen

Roster

Schedule

Houston Oilers	year=1983	border=2}}"	Week	Houston Oilers	year=1983
September 4	[Green Bay Packers](1983-green-bay-packers-season)	L 38–41 (OT)	0–1	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309040oti.htm)
September 11	at [Los Angeles Raiders](1983-los-angeles-raiders-season)	L 6–20	0–2	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309110rai.htm)
September 18	[Pittsburgh Steelers](1983-pittsburgh-steelers-season)	L 28–40	0–3	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309180oti.htm)
September 25	at [Buffalo Bills](1983-buffalo-bills-season)	L 13–30	0–4	Rich Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309250buf.htm)
October 2	at [Pittsburgh Steelers](1983-pittsburgh-steelers-season)	L 10–17	0–5	Three Rivers Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310020pit.htm)
October 9	[Denver Broncos](1983-denver-broncos-season)	L 14–26	0–6	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310090oti.htm)
October 16	at [Minnesota Vikings](1983-minnesota-vikings-season)	L 14–34	0–7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310160min.htm)
October 23	[Kansas City Chiefs](1983-kansas-city-chiefs-season)	L 10–13 (OT)	0–8	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310230oti.htm)
October 30	at [Cleveland Browns](1983-cleveland-browns-season)	L 19–25 (OT)	0–9	Cleveland Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310300cle.htm)
November 6	[Cincinnati Bengals](1983-cincinnati-bengals-season)	L 14–55	0–10	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311060oti.htm)
November 13	[Detroit Lions](1983-detroit-lions-season)	W 27–17	1–10	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311130oti.htm)
November 20	at [Cincinnati Bengals](1983-cincinnati-bengals-season)	L 10–38	1–11	Riverfront Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311060oti.htm)
November 27	at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1983-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)	L 24–33	1–12	Tampa Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311270tam.htm)
December 4	[Miami Dolphins](1983-miami-dolphins-season)	L 17–24	1–13	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312040oti.htm)
December 11	[Cleveland Browns](1983-cleveland-browns-season)	W 34–27	2–13	Astrodome	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312110oti.htm)
December 18	at [Baltimore Colts](1983-baltimore-colts-season)	L 10–20	2–14	Memorial Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312180clt.htm)

Season summary

Week 1 vs Packers

First quarter

GB – Paul Coffman 25-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:31. ''Packers 7–0. '''Drive:'''''
HOU – Florian Kempf 49-yard field goal, 6:30. ''Packers 7–3. '''Drive:'''''
HOU – Tim Smith 47-yard pass from Archie Manning (Florian Kempf kick), 2:40. ''Oilers 10–7. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
GB – John Jefferson 5-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 8:55. ''Packers 14–10. '''Drive:'''''
GB – John Jefferson 13-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:51. ''Packers 21–10. '''Drive:'''''
GB – Gerry Ellis 11-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:30. ''Packers 28–10. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
HOU – Earl Campbell 7-yard run (Florian Kempf kick), 9:08. ''Packers 28–17. '''Drive:'''''
GB – Jan Stenerud 46-yard field goal, 4:36. ''Packers 31–17. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
HOU – Earl Campbell 8-yard run (Florian Kempf kick), 11:05. ''Packers 31–24. '''Drive:'''''
HOU – Earl Campbell 1-yard run (Florian Kempf kick), 4:23. ''Tie 31–31. '''Drive:'''''
GB – James Lofton 74-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 4:13. ''Packers 38–31. '''Drive:'''''
HOU – Larry Moriarty 2-yard run (Florian Kempf kick), 0:48. ''Tie 38–38. '''Drive:''''' Overtime
GB – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal, 9:05. ''Packers 41–38. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
GB – Lynn Dickey – 27/31, 333 yards, 5 TD, INT
HOU – Archie Manning – 22/34, 348 yards, TD, 2 INT ;Top rushers
GB – Eddie Lee Ivery – 12 rushes, 71 yards
HOU – Earl Campbell – 27 rushes, 123 yards, 3 TD ;Top receivers
GB – James Lofton – 8 receptions, 154 yards, TD
HOU – Tim Smith – 8 receptions, 197 yards, TD

Week 11 vs Lions

Standings

References

(April 24, 1983). "Rams, Oilers Trade Drafts". [[The Sacramento Bee]].
(April 23, 1983). "Dickerson Not Eager To Be Oiler". [[Austin American-Statesman]].
(April 22, 1983). "SMU’s Dickerson Cool to Prospect of Oilers". [[The San Francisco Examiner]].
"1983 Houston Oilers". Pro Football Reference.
Patra, Kevin. (December 25, 2012). "Tennessee Titans on pace to break shameful record". [[National Football League]].
Murphy, Austin. (November 20, 2008). "Washington-Washington State playing for pride in Apple Cup". Sports Illustrated.
"1983 Houston Oilers draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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