Login
Login

1983 Chicago Bears season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Chicago Bears

| logo =

| year = 1983

| record = 8–8

| division_place = 3rd NFC Central

| coach = Mike Ditka
(2nd season)

| general manager = Jim Finks

| owner = George Halas (until October 31)
The McCaskey Family
(Family control since 1921; Virginia McCaskey since 1983)

| stadium = Soldier Field

| pro bowlers = {{Collapsible list

|title = 2{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1983/probowl.htm |title=1983 NFL Pro Bowlers |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

|1 = RB Walter Payton

|2 = MLB Mike Singletary

}}

| AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list

|title = 2{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1983/allpro.htm |title=1983 NFL All-Pros |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

|1 = RB Walter Payton

|2 = MLB Mike Singletary

}}

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| shortnavlink = Bears seasons

}}

The 1983 season was the Chicago Bears' 64th in the National Football League, and their second under head coach Mike Ditka. The team improved from their 3–6 record from 1982 to finish at 8–8, but to failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Jim McMahon was the quarterback, who completed 175 of 295 pass attempts. The Bears 1983 NFL draft class was ranked #3 in NFL Top 10{{'}}s greatest draft classes.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d80798fca&template=with-video&confirm=true |title=NFLs top 10 draft classes in league history |work=National Football League |access-date=2012-07-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102144536/http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d80798fca&template=with-video&confirm=true |archive-date=2012-11-02 }}

Offseason

= 1983 NFL Draft =

{{main article|1983 NFL Draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

|teamname=Chicago Bears

|year=1983

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 6

| player = Jim Covert

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Pittsburgh

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 18

| player = Willie Gault

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Tennessee

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 33

| player = Mike Richardson

| position = Cornerback

| college = Arizona State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 64

| player = Dave Duerson

| position = Safety

| college = Notre Dame

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 91

| player = Tom Thayer

| position = Center

| college = Notre Dame

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 107

| player = Pat Dunsmore

| position = Tight end

| college = Drake

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 203

| player = Richard Dent

| position = Defensive end

| college = Tennessee State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 219

| player = Mark Bortz

| position = Guard

| college = Iowa

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 230

| player = Rob Fada

| position = Guard

| college = Pittsburgh

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 235

| player = Mark Zavagnin

| position = Linebacker

| college = Notre Dame

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 256

| player = Anthony Hutchison

| position = Running back

| college = Texas Tech

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 286

| player = Gary Worthy

| position = Running back

| college = Wilmington (OH)

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 313

| player = Oliver Williams

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Illinois

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft end}}

= Undrafted free agents =

class="wikitable"

|+ 1983 Undrafted Free Agents of note

!Player

!Position

!College

Dave McCarrell

|Quarterback

|Wheaton

Dan Ruzich

|Linebacker

|Kansas State

Roster and staff

= Staff =

class="toccolours" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|Coaching Staff of 1983 season
valign="top"|

Front office

Coaches

|width="25"| 

|valign="top"|

Position coaches

Trainers

|width="25"| 

|valign="top"|

Scouts

= Roster =

{{NFL final roster

|Year=1983

|TeamName=Chicago Bears

|Active=

|Inactive=

|PS=

|Quarterbacks=

{{NFLplayer| 7|Bob Avellini}}

{{NFLplayer| 8|Vince Evans}}

{{NFLplayer| 9|Jim McMahon}}

|Running Backs=

{{NFLplayer|29|Dennis Gentry}}

{{NFLplayer|32|Anthony Hutchison|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|34|Walter Payton}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Matt Suhey|FB}}

{{NFLplayer|33|Calvin Thomas|d=American football}}

|Wide Receivers=

{{NFLplayer|84|Brian Baschnagel}}

{{NFLplayer|83|Willie Gault|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Ken Margerum}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Dennis McKinnon|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|89|James Scott|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Rickey Watts}}

|Tight Ends=

{{NFLplayer|88|Pat Dunsmore|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|87|Emery Moorehead}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Jay Saldi}}

|Offensive Linemen=

{{NFLplayer|79|Kurt Becker|G}}

{{NFLplayer|62|Mark Bortz|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Jim Covert|rookie=y|T}}

{{NFLplayer|64|Rob Fada|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|71|Andy Frederick|OL}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Jay Hilgenberg|C}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Noah Jackson|G}}

{{NFLplayer|72|John Janata|rookie=y|T}}

{{NFLplayer|52|Dan Neal|C}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Tim Norman|rookie=y|T}}

{{NFLplayer|69|Revie Sorey|G}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Keith Van Horne|T}}

|Defensive Linemen=

{{NFLplayer|95|Richard Dent|rookie=y|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|99|Dan Hampton|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Mike Hartenstine|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|98|Tyrone Keys|rookie=y|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|76|Steve McMichael|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Jim Osborne|d=American football|DT}}

|Linebackers=

{{NFLplayer|51|Kelvin Atkins|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|59|Gary Campbell|d=linebacker}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Brian Cabral}}

{{NFLplayer|90|Al Harris|d=defensive lineman}}

{{NFLplayer|58|Jerry Muckensturm}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Dan Rains}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Dave Simmons|d=linebacker, born 1957}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Mike Singletary}}

{{NFLplayer|55|Otis Wilson}}

|Defensive Backs=

{{NFLplayer|25|Todd Bell|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Dave Duerson|rookie=y|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|45|Gary Fencik|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Jeff Fisher|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|21|Leslie Frazier|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Mike Richardson|d=American football, born 1961|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|44|Terry Schmidt|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Kevin Potter|d=American football|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Walt Williams|d=cornerback|CB}}

|Special Teams=

{{NFLplayer|16|Robert R. Thomas|K}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Bob Parsons|d=American football|P}}

{{NFLplayer|19|Ray Stachowicz|P}}

|Reserve Lists=

|practice_squad=

}}

Preseason

The Bears were predicted to finish 7–9 and fourth in the division by Paul Zimmerman. Their prized new weapon would be Willie Gault. Dennis McKinnon (signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 1983) would also play a key role in the receiving corps and Jimbo Covert would help open bigger holes for Walter Payton but it was felt they were a few offensive lineman and a tight end away from being effective. The defense would be led by All-Pro Dan Hampton and new defensive backs Mike Richardson and Dave Duerson.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140102194234/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1121192/2/index.htm Sports Illustrated. 1 Sept 1983] The Bears started 1983 by losing 7 of their first 10, but won 5 of their last 6 to finish 8–8. The Bears would go 71–18 in regular season games from November 13, 1983, through October 2, 1989.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Venue

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| August 6

| Buffalo Bills

| W 27–17

| 1–0

| Soldier Field

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| August 13

| at St. Louis Cardinals

| L 24–27

| 1–1

| Busch Stadium

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| August 20

| at Los Angeles Raiders

| W 27–21

| 2–1

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| August 27

| Kansas City Chiefs

| W 20–17

| 3–1

| Soldier Field

Regular season

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| September 4

| Atlanta Falcons

| L 17–20

| 0–1

| Soldier Field

| 60,165

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 11

| Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| W 17–10

| 1–1

| Soldier Field

| 58,186

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| September 18

| at New Orleans Saints

| L 31–34

| 1–2

| Louisiana Superdome

| 64,692

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| September 25

| at Baltimore Colts

| L 19–22

| 1–3

| Memorial Stadium

| 34,350

style="background:#cfc"

! 5

| October 2

| Denver Broncos

| W 31–14

| 2–3

| Soldier Field

| 58,210

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 9

| Minnesota Vikings

| L 14–23

| 2–4

| Soldier Field

| 59,632

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| October 16

| at Detroit Lions

| L 17–31

| 2–5

| Pontiac Silverdome

| 66,709

style="background:#cfc"

! 8

| October 23

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| W 7–6

| 3–5

| Veterans Stadium

| 45,263

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| October 30

| Detroit Lions

| L 17–38

| 3–6

| Soldier Field

| 58,764

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 6

| at Los Angeles Rams

| L 14–21

| 3–7

| Anaheim Stadium

| 53,010

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 13

| Philadelphia Eagles

| W 17–14

| 4–7

| Soldier Field

| 47,524

style="background:#cfc"

! 12

| November 20

| at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| W 27–0

| 5–7

| Tampa Stadium

| 36,816

style="background:#cfc"

! 13

| November 27

| San Francisco 49ers

| W 13–3

| 6–7

| Soldier Field

| 40,483

style="background:#fcc"

! 14

| December 4

| at Green Bay Packers

| L 28–31

| 6–8

| Lambeau Field

| 51,147

style="background:#cfc"

! 15

| December 11

| at Minnesota Vikings

| W 19–13

| 7–8

| Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

| 57,880

style="background:#cfc"

! 16

| December 18

| Green Bay Packers

| W 23–21

| 8–8

| Soldier Field

| 35,807

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

= Game summaries =

== Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, September 4

|time=12:00 p.m.

|road=Falcons

|R1=6 |R2=0 |R3=7|R4=7

|home=Bears

|H1=0 |H2=10 |H3=7 |H4=0

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|80|F}}, wind {{convert|12|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Chuck Heberling

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309040chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 2 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=#fff

|bg2=#eee

|titlestyle=background-color:#000; color:#fff

|state=collapsed

|date=September 11

|time=12:00 p.m.

|road=Buccaneers

|R1=0 |R2=3 |R3=7 |R4=0

|home=Bears

|H1=0 |H2=10 |H3=0 |H4=7

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|68|F}}, wind {{convert|11|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Ben Dreith

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309110chi.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

|stats=

Passing

  • TB: Jerry Golsteyn 22/42, 277 yards, INT
  • CHI: Jim McMahon 16/24, 286 yards, TD, 2 INT

Rushing

  • TB: James Wilder 11–40, James Owens 12–25, TD, Mel Carver 2–12, Michael Morton 1–5, Jerry Golsteyn 3–3
  • CHI: Walter Payton 17–45, Matt Suhey 11–31, Jim McMahon 2–15, Willie Gault 1–4

Receiving

  • TB: Gerald Carter 6–98, Jimmie Giles 7–80, Theo Bell 1–52, James Owens 2–14, Kevin House 3–11, Michael Morton 1–9, Andre Tyler 1–9, Mel Carver 1–4
  • CHI: Walter Payton 6–115, TD, Willie Gault 3–75, Matt Suhey 4–57, Ken Margerum 2–26, Emery Moorehead 1–13

}}

CHI: Mike Hartenstine 2.0 sacks, Terry Schmidt INT

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Buccaneers|HomeName=Bears|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Buccaneers

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=20

| Kicker=Bill Capece

| Visitor=3

| Home=0

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Bears

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Walter Payton

| QB=Jim McMahon

| yards=73

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Bob Thomas

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=3

| Home=7

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Bears

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=50

| Kicker=Bob Thomas

| Visitor=3

| Home=10

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Buccaneers

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=James Owens

| yards=1

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Bob Capece

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=10

| Home=10

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Bears

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=Other

| Other=Terry Schmidt 32-yard interception return, Bob Thomas kick good

| Visitor=10

| Home=17

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=10|Home=17}}

== Week 3: at New Orleans Saints ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, September 18

|time=12:00 p.m.

|road=Bears

|R1=7 |R2=3 |R3=7|R4=14 |R5=0

|home=Saints

|H1=7 |H2=3 |H3=14 |H4=7 |H5=3

|stadium=Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

|attendance=

|weather=Indoors, dome

|referee=Fred Wyant

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309180nor.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 4: at Baltimore Colts ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, September 25

|time=2:00 p.m.

|road=Bears

|R1=0 |R2=3 |R3=3|R4=13 |R5=0

|home=Colts

|H1=0 |H2=13 |H3=0 |H4=6 |H5=3

|stadium=Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|54|F}}, wind {{convert|7|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Jerry Seeman

|TV= CBS

|TVAnnouncers= Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309250clt.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 5: vs. Denver Broncos ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, October 2

|time=12:00 p.m.

|road=Broncos

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=7|R4=7

|home=Bears

|H1=14 |H2=10 |H3=0 |H4=7

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|68|F}}, wind {{convert|13|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Fred Silva

|TV= NBC

|TVAnnouncers= Charlie Jones and Bob Griese

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310020chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings ==

== Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, October 23

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Bears

|R1=7 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=0

|home=Eagles

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=3 |H4=3

|stadium=Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|50|F}}, wind {{convert|9|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Dick Jorgensen

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310230phi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, October 30

|time=12:00 p.m.

|road=Lions

|R1=14|R2=3 |R3=14|R4=7

|home=Bears

|H1=0 |H2=3 |H3=0 |H4=14

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|43|F}}, wind {{convert|10|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Tom Dooley

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310300chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, November 13

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Eagles

|R1=7 |R2=0 |R3=7 |R4=0

|home=Bears

|H1=0 |H2=14 |H3=0 |H4=3

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|33|F}}, wind {{convert|8|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Bob McElwee

|TV= CBS

|TVAnnouncers= Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311130chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, November 20

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Bears

|R1=0 |R2=14 |R3=6|R4=7

|home=Buccaneers

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=0

|stadium=Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|69|F}}, wind {{convert|12|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Red Cashion

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311200tam.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, November 27

|time=12:00 p.m.

|road=49ers

|R1=3 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=0

|home=Bears

|H1=3 |H2=7 |H3=3 |H4=0

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|39|F}}, wind {{convert|18|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Pat Haggerty

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311270chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 14: at Green Bay Packers ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=autocollapse

|title=

|date=Sunday, December 4

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Bears

|R1=7 |R2=7 |R3=0|R4=14

|home=Packers

|H1=14 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=10

|stadium=Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|25|F}}, wind {{convert|6|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=Ben Dreith

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312040gnb.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

}}

== Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings ==

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Bears

|V1= 10|V2= 6|V3=0 |V4=3

|Host=Vikings

|H1= 6|H2= 0|H3= 7|H4=0

|Date=December 11

|Location=Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

|StartTime=12:00 p.m.

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather=Indoors (dome)

|Referee=Tom Dooley

|TVAnnouncers= Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris

|TVStation= CBS

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=Q1 |Time= |Team=MIN |Event=Benny Ricardo 30-yard field goal |Score= MIN 3–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q1 |Time= |Team=MIN |Event= Benny Ricardo 29-yard field goal |Score= MIN 6–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q1|Time= |Team=CHI |Event= Walter Payton 74-yard pass from Matt Suhey (Bob Thomas kick) |Score= CHI 7–6}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q1|Time= |Team=CHI |Event= Bob Thomas 42-yard field goal |Score= CHI 10–6}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q2|Time= |Team=CHI |Event= Emery Moorehead 2-yard pass from Jim McMahon (kick failed) |Score= CHI 17–6}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q3|Time= |Team=MIN |Event= Ted Brown 1 yard run (Benny Ricardo kick) |Score= CHI 19–13}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q4|Time= |Team=CHI |Event= Bob Thomas 22-yard field goal |Score=CHI 19–13 |LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312110min.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2014-Mar-02.

{{Clear}}

== Week 16 vs. Green Bay Packers ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Chicago Bears|year=1983|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week 16: Green Bay Packers (8–7) at Chicago Bears (7–8)

|date=December 18

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Packers

|R1=7 |R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=7

|home=Bears

|H1=7 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=9

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

|attendance=35,807

|weather={{Convert|1|F|C}}

|referee=Red Cashion

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312180chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com], [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1983121803 The Football Database]

|scoring=

;First quarter

;Second quarter

  • GB – James Lofton 31-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:05. Packers 14–7.

;Third quarter

  • CHI – Dennis McKinnon 22-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick), 6:35. Tie 14–14.

;Fourth quarter

  • CHI – Jim McMahon 6-yard run (kick failed), 4:34. Bears 20–14.
  • GB – Paul Coffman 5-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:08. Packers 21–20.
  • CHI – Bob Thomas 22-yard field goal, 0:10. Bears 23–21.

|stats=

;Top passers

;Top rushers

;Top receivers

}}

= Standings =

{{1983 NFC Central standings}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{wikiquote}}

  • [http://www.bearshistory.com/seasons/1983chicagobears.aspx 1983 Chicago Bears Season at www.bearshistory.com]

{{Chicago Bears}}

{{Chicago Bears seasons}}

{{1983 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1983 Chicago Bears Season}}

Chicago Bears

Category:Chicago Bears seasons

Chicago