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1983 Houston Oilers season
NFL team 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 | border=2}}" | Date | Houston Oilers | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Houston Oilers | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Result | Houston Oilers | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Record | Houston Oilers | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Venue | Houston Oilers | year=1983 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 4 | Green Bay Packers | L 38–41 (OT) | 0–1 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 11 | at Los Angeles Raiders | L 6–20 | 0–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 28–40 | 0–3 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 25 | at Buffalo Bills | L 13–30 | 0–4 | Rich Stadium | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 2 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 10–17 | 0–5 | Three Rivers Stadium | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 9 | Denver Broncos | L 14–26 | 0–6 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 16 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 14–34 | 0–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 23 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 10–13 (OT) | 0–8 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 30 | at Cleveland Browns | L 19–25 (OT) | 0–9 | Cleveland Stadium | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 14–55 | 0–10 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 13 | Detroit Lions | W 27–17 | 1–10 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 20 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 10–38 | 1–11 | Riverfront Stadium | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 27 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 24–33 | 1–12 | Tampa Stadium | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 4 | Miami Dolphins | L 17–24 | 1–13 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 11 | Cleveland Browns | W 34–27 | 2–13 | Astrodome | Recap | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 18 | at Baltimore Colts | L 10–20 | 2–14 | Memorial Stadium | Recap |
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
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.
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