1983 Dallas Cowboys season

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.

1983 Dallas Cowboys season
OwnerClint Murchison Jr.
General managerTex Schramm
Head coachTom Landry
Home fieldTexas Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place2nd NFC East
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Rams) 17–24
Pro Bowlers5

Summary

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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

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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

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1983 Undrafted Free Agents of note
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

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Dallas Cowboys 1983 roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

Rookies in italics
48 active, 5 inactive

Schedule

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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

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Week 1

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (1–0) 0 3 141431
Redskins (0–1) 10 13 0730

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

Game information

Week 2

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1 234Total
Cowboys (2–0) 0 17710 34
Cardinals (0–2) 10 007 17

[1]

Week 3

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1 234Total
Giants (1–2) 3 0100 13
Cowboys (3–0) 0 14014 28

[2]

Week 4

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Saints (2–2) 0 10 3720
Cowboys (4–0) 7 6 0821

at Texas Stadium

Game information

Week 5

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (5–0) 3 10 141037
Vikings (3–2) 7 17 0024

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Game information

Week 6

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Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Buccaneers (0–6) 10 0 77024
Cowboys (6–0) 7 7 37327

at Texas Stadium

  • 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

Week 7

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles (4–3) 7 0 007
Cowboys (7–0) 10 13 7737

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

Week 8

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders (6–2) 10 21 3640
Cowboys (7–1) 7 17 01438

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

Week 9

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (8–1) 7 10 71438
Giants (2–6–1) 7 7 6020

at The Meadowlands

  • 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

Week 10

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (9–1) 0 10 10727
Eagles (4–6) 7 3 3720

at Veterans Stadium

  • 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

Week 11

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (9–2) 0 6 31423
Chargers (4–7) 7 10 7024

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

Week 12

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1 234Total
Chiefs (5–7) 0 0147 21
Cowboys (10–2) 10 10714 41

[3]

Week 13

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals (5–7–1) 7 0 3717
Cowboys (11–2) 7 14 01435

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

Week 14

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (12–2) 7 7 71435
Seahawks (7–7) 0 3 0710

at Seattle Kingdome

Game information

Week 15

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins (13–2) 14 0 71031
Cowboys (12–3) 7 3 0010

at Texas Stadium

Game information

Week 16

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Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (12–4) 3 7 0717
49ers (10–6) 21 0 71442

at Candlestick Park

Game information

Wild card playoffs

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December 26, 1983

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NFC: Los Angeles Rams 24, Dallas Cowboys 17

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Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams (10–7) 7 0 71024
Cowboys (12–5) 0 7 3717

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information
  • Scoring
    • LA – D. Hill 18 pass from Ferragamo (Lansford kick) RAMS 7–0
    • DAL – T. Hill 14 pass from White (Septién kick) 7–7
    • DAL – field goal Septién 41 DAL 10–7
    • LA – Dennard 16 pass from Ferragamo (Lansford kick) RAMS 14–10
    • LA – Farmer 8 pass from Ferragamo (Lansford kick) RAMS 21–10
    • LA – field goal Lansford 20 RAMS 24–10
    • DAL – Cosbie 2 pass from White (Septién kick) RAMS 24–17

Standings

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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
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

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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

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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

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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

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