Login
Login

1983 Houston Oilers season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Houston Oilers

| year = 1983

| record = 2–14

| division_place = 4th AFC Central

| coach = Ed Biles
Chuck Studley {{small|(interim)}}

| general manager = Ladd Herzeg

| owner = Bud Adams

| stadium = Houston Astrodome

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro_bowlers = RB Earl Campbell

| shortnavlink = Oilers seasons

}}

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,{{cite news|title=Rams, Oilers Trade Drafts|work=The Sacramento Bee|date=April 24, 1983|page=C4}} probably fearing that Eric Dickerson, the player they desired to pick with that second choice,{{cite news|title=Dickerson Not Eager To Be Oiler|work=Austin American-Statesman|date=April 23, 1983|page=C2}} would join the Los Angeles Express of the USFL. Dickerson was cool about playing for the Oilers, while his family was firmly opposed.{{cite news|title=SMU’s Dickerson Cool to Prospect of Oilers|work=The San Francisco Examiner|date=April 22, 1983|page=F6}}

The Oilers ultimately made a marginal improvement, winning two games,{{cite web|publisher=Pro Football Reference|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1983.htm|title=1983 Houston Oilers}} 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.{{cite web|last=Patra|first=Kevin|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/tennessee-titans-on-pace-to-break-shameful-record-0ap1000000116858|title=Tennessee Titans on pace to break shameful record|publisher=National Football League|date=December 25, 2012|access-date=December 25, 2012}}

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."{{cite web | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/austin_murphy/11/20/apple.cup/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201144514/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/austin_murphy/11/20/apple.cup/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 1, 2008 | title=Washington-Washington State playing for pride in Apple Cup | work=Sports Illustrated | date=November 20, 2008 | access-date=August 31, 2013 | author=Murphy, Austin}} 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|1983 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start|year=1983|teamname=Houston Oilers}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=1|pick=9|player=Bruce Matthews|position=Guard|college=USC|notes=|maderoster=yes|probowl=yes|hof=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=30|player=Harvey Salem|position=Tackle|college=California|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=42|player=Keith Bostic|position=Defensive back|college=Michigan|notes=|maderoster=yes|probowl=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=58|player=Tim Joiner|position=Linebacker|college=LSU|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=69|player=Chris Dressel|position=Tight end|college=Stanford|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=83|player=Steve Brown|position=Defensive back|college=Oregon|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=86|player=Greg Hill|position=Defensive back|college=Oklahoma State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=88|player=Mike McCloskey|position=Tight end|college=Penn State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=114|player=Larry Moriarty|position=Running back|college=Notre Dame|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=139|player=Jerome Foster|position=Defensive end|college=Ohio State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=6|pick=142|player=Steve Haworth|position=Defensive back|college=Oklahoma|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=7|pick=170|player=Herkie Walls|position=Wide receiver|college=Texas|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=8|pick=198|player=Robert Thompson|position=Linebacker|college=Michigan|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=9|pick=226|player=Kevin Potter|position=Defensive back|college=Missouri|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft end}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1983_draft.htm |title=1983 Houston Oilers draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=November 12, 2014 }}

Personnel

=Staff=

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1983

| team = Houston Oilers

| front_office =

  • Owner/Chairman of the Board/President – Bud Adams
  • Executive Vice President/General Manager – Ladd Herzeg

| head_coach =

| offensive =

| defensive =

| special_teams =

  • Special teams – Vic Rapp

| strength =

  • Strength and Conditioning – Bill Allerheiligen

}}

=Roster=

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1983

| team = Houston Oilers

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|10|Oliver Luck}}

{{NFLplayer|14|Gifford Nielsen}}

{{NFLplayer|12|Brian Ransom|d=gridiron football|rookie=y}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|34|Earl Campbell}}

{{NFLplayer|35|Stan Edwards}}

{{NFLplayer|45|Dwayne Crutchfield}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|81|Steve Bryant|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Mike Renfro}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Carl Roaches}}

{{NFLplayer|83|Tim Smith|d=wide receiver}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Herkie Walls}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|88|Chris Dressel|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|89|Mike McCloskey|rookie=y}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|58|David Carter|d=offensive lineman|C}}

{{NFLplayer|77|Doug France|T}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Bruce Matthews|d=American football|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Mike Munchak|G}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Harvey Salem|rookie=y|T}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|75|Jesse Baker|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Elvin Bethea|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Mike Stensrud|NT}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|54|Gregg Bingham}}

{{NFLplayer|52|Robert Brazile}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Daryl Hunt|ILB}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Tim Joiner|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Avon Riley|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Ted Thompson|ILB}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|25|Keith Bostic|d=American football|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Steve Brown|d=American football|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|36|Carter Hartwig}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Bill Kay|d=defensive back|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Darryl Meadows|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Willie Tullis|CB}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer| 6|John James|d=American football|P}}

{{NFLplayer| 4|Florian Kempf|K}}

| reserve_lists =

| practice_squad =

}}

Schedule

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

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1983|border=2}}"| Date

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1983|border=2}}"| Opponent

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1983|border=2}}"| Result

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1983|border=2}}"| Record

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1983|border=2}}"| Venue

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1983|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background: #fcc;"

! 1

| September 4

| Green Bay Packers

| L 38–41 {{small|(OT)}}

| 0–1

|Astrodome

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309040oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 2

| September 11

| at Los Angeles Raiders

| L 6–20

| 0–2

|Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309110rai.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 3

| September 18

| Pittsburgh Steelers

| L 28–40

| 0–3

| Astrodome

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309180oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc"

! 4

| September 25

| at Buffalo Bills

| L 13–30

| 0–4

|Rich Stadium

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309250buf.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 5

| October 2

| at Pittsburgh Steelers

| L 10–17

| 0–5

|Three Rivers Stadium

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310020pit.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc"

! 6

| October 9

| Denver Broncos

| L 14–26

| 0–6

| Astrodome

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310090oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 7

| October 16

| at Minnesota Vikings

| L 14–34

| 0–7

|Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310160min.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 8

| October 23

| Kansas City Chiefs

| L 10–13 {{small|(OT)}}

| 0–8

| Astrodome

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310230oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 9

| October 30

| at Cleveland Browns

| L 19–25 {{small|(OT)}}

| 0–9

| Cleveland Stadium

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198310300cle.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 10

| November 6

| Cincinnati Bengals

| L 14–55

| 0–10

| Astrodome

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311060oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #cfc;"

! 11

| November 13

| Detroit Lions

| W 27–17

| 1–10

| Astrodome

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311130oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 12

| November 20

| at Cincinnati Bengals

| L 10–38

| 1–11

|Riverfront Stadium

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311060oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 13

| November 27

| at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| L 24–33

| 1–12

|Tampa Stadium

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311270tam.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 14

| December 4

| Miami Dolphins

| L 17–24

| 1–13

| Astrodome

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312040oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #cfc;"

! 15

| December 11

| Cleveland Browns

| W 34–27

| 2–13

| Astrodome

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312110oti.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 16

| December 18

| at Baltimore Colts

|L 10–20

| 2–14

|Memorial Stadium

|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312180clt.htm Recap]

=Season summary=

==Week 1 vs Packers==

{{See also|1983 Green Bay Packers season}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

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

|state=collapsed

|title=Week One: Green Bay Packers (0–0) at Houston Oilers (0–0)

|date=September 4

|time=1:00 p.m. EST

|road=Packers

|R1= 7|R2=21 |R3=3 |R4=7 |R5=3

|home=Oilers

|H1=10 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=21 |H5=0

|stadium=Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas

|attendance=44,073

|weather=Indoors (dome)

|referee=Bob McElwee

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309040oti.htm Box Score], [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1983090407 Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

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:

|stats=

;Top passers

;Top rushers

;Top receivers

}}

==Week 11 vs Lions==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Houston Oilers|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week Eleven: Detroit Lions (5–5) at Houston Oilers (0–10)

|date=November 13, 1983

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Lions

|R1= 0|R2=10 |R3=7 |R4=0

|home=Oilers

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

|stadium=Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas

|attendance=40,660

|weather=Indoors (dome)

|referee=Bob Frederic

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198311130oti.htm Box Score], [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore/detroit-lions-vs-houston-oilers-1983111304 Box Score]

|scoring=

|stats=

}}

{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers

| Float = left

| Visitor = Detroit Lions

| VisitorDisplay = Lions

| Home = Houston Oilers

| HomeDisplay = Oilers

| VisPasser = Eric Hipple

| VisPassStats = 17/29, 213 Yds, 3 INT

| VisRusher = Billy Sims

| VisRushStats = 20 Rush, 105 Yds, TD

| VisReceiver = Billy Sims

| VisReceivingStats = 9 Rec, 90 Yds

| HomePasser = Oliver Luck

| HomePassStats = 18/26, 189 Yds, 2 TD, INT

| HomeRusher = Earl Campbell

| HomeRushStats = 28 Rush, 107 Yds

| HomeReceiver = Mike Renfro

| HomeReceivingStats = 7 Rec, 75 Yds

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=DET|HomeName=HOU|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=1

| Time=8:02

| Team=Oilers

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=47

| Kicker=Florian Kempf

| Visitor=0

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=12:48

| Team=Lions

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Billy Sims

| yards=1

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Eddie Murray

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=7

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=3:48

| Team=Lions

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=35

| Kicker=Eddie Murray

| Visitor=10

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=0:50

| Team=Oilers

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Mike McCloskey

| QB=Oliver Luck

| yards=13

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Florian Kempf

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=10

| Home=10

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=10:25

| Team=Lions

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=James Jones

| QB=Gary Danielson

| yards=3

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Eddie Murray

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=17

| Home=10

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=9:12

| Team=Oilers

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Chris Dressel

| QB=Oliver Luck

| yards=13

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Florian Kempf

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=17

| Home=17

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=1:01

| Team=Oilers

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Larry Moriarty

| yards=4

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Florian Kempf

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=17

| Home=24

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=13:08

| Team=Oilers

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=21

| Kicker=Florian Kempf

| Visitor=17

| Home=27

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=17|Home=27}}

{{Clear}}

=Standings=

{{1983 AFC Central standings}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Tennessee Titans}}

{{Tennessee Titans seasons}}

{{1983 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1983 Houston Oilers season}}

Category:Houston Oilers seasons

Houston Oilers

Houston