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1983 New England Patriots season

{{short description|Season of National Football League team the New England Patriots}}

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

{{Infobox NFL season

| team = New England Patriots

| year = 1983

| record = 8–8

| division_place = T-2nd AFC East

| coach = Ron Meyer

| general manager = Patrick Sullivan

| owner = Billy Sullivan

| stadium = Sullivan Stadium

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro bowlers = P Rich Camarillo
CB Raymond Clayborn
RB Tony Collins
G John Hannah
T Brian Holloway

| AP All-pros = G John Hannah (1st team)
P Rich Camarillo (2nd team)

| shortnavlink = Patriots seasons

}}

The 1983 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League and 24th overall. The Patriots played inconsistently all season, but at 8–7 had a chance for a playoff spot with a win in their final game of the season in Seattle. The Patriots would have problems with turnovers as rookie quarterback Tony Eason was swallowed up in a 24–6 loss to the Seahawks.

In the first week of December, in shocking conditions with sleet and snow,‘Kickoff Return Practices Pay Off as Patriots Slip Past Saints 7–0’; St. Petersburg Times, December 5, 1983, p. 5C the Patriots’ game with wild card contender New Orleans Saints saw just one score set up by Ricky Smith returning the Saints’ initial kickoff to the 3-yard line. As of 2023, this game remains the most recent 7–0 result in NFL history,Pro Football Reference; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_scores_find.cgi?pts_win=7&pts_lose=0 Games with Final Score 7–0] with only three games since seeing just one score,Pro Football Reference; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_scores_find.cgi?pts_win=3&pts_lose=0 Games with Final Score 3–0] all three of which a single field goal was the only score.These 3–0 scores occurred in 1993 when the Jets defeated the Redskins, in 2007 when the Steelers defeated the Dolphins, and in 2023 when the Vikings defeated the Raiders

Draft

{{main|1983 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1983

| teamname = New England Patriots

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 15

| player = Tony Eason

| position = Quarterback

| college = Illinois

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 47

| player = Darryal Wilson

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Tennessee

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 74

| player = Stephen Starring

| position = Wide receiver

| college = McNeese State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 80

| player = Steve Moore

| position = Guard

| college = Tennessee State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 101

| player = Johnny Rembert

| position = Linebacker

| college = Clemson

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 118

| player = Smiley Creswell

| position = Defensive end

| college = Michigan State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 128

| player = Darryl Lewis

| position = Tight end

| college = Texas-Arlington

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 155

| player = Mike Bass

| position = Placekicker

| college = Illinois

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 187

| player = Craig James

| position = Running back

| college = Southern Methodist

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 214

| player = Ronnie Lippett

| position = Cornerback

| college = Miami (FL)

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 233

| player = Ricky Williams

| position = Running back

| college = Langston

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 240

| player = Mark Keel

| position = Tight end

| college = Arizona

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 264

| player = James Williams

| position = Tight end

| college = Wyoming

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 265

| player = Toby Williams

| position = Defensive end

| college = Nebraska

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 267

| player = Tom Ramsey

| position = Quarterback

| college = UCLA

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 292

| player = Steve Parker

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Abilene Christian

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 294

| player = Calvin Eason

| position = Defensive back

| college = Houston

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 319

| player = Waddell Kelly

| position = Running back

| college = Arkansas State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 326

| player = Andy Ekern

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Missouri

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl = no

}}

{{NFL team draft end}}

Staff

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="7" style="background-color: #d82e39; color: white; text-align: center;"|New England Patriots 1983 staff
style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

|width="35"| 

|valign="top"|

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

Roster

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1983

| team = New England Patriots

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|11|Tony Eason|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|14|Steve Grogan}}

{{NFLplayer|19|Mike Kerrigan|rookie=y}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|33|Tony Collins|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|34|Mark van Eeghen|FB}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Mosi Tatupu}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Robert Weathers}}

{{NFLplayer|35|George Peoples}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|83|Cedric Jones|d=wide receiver}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Stanley Morgan}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Clarence Weathers|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Stephen Starring|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|48|Darryal Wilson|rookie=y}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|87|Lin Dawson}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Brooks Williams}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Don Hasselbeck}}

{{NFLplayer|88|Derrick Ramsey}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|58|Pete Brock|d=American football|C}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Art Kuehn|C}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Bob Cryder|T}}

{{NFLplayer|73|John Hannah|d=American football|G}}

{{NFLplayer|76|Brian Holloway|T}}

{{NFLplayer|62|Dwight Wheeler|T}}

{{NFLplayer|60|Ron Wooten|G}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Steve Moore|d=American football|T|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Darryl Haley|T}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|85|Julius Adams|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|77|Kenneth Sims|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Marshall Harris|NT}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Ron Spears|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Doug Rogers|d=American football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Lester Williams|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Luther Henson|NT}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Dave Browning|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|98|Dennis Owens|NT}}

{{NFLplayer|90|Toby Williams|rookie=y|DE}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|55|Don Blackmon|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Larry McGrew|ILB}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Steve Nelson|d=American football|ILB}}

{{NFLplayer|56|Andre Tippett|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Clayton Weishuhn}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Brian Ingram}}

{{NFLplayer|52|Johnny Rembert|rookie=y|ILB}}

{{NFLplayer|54|John Gillen|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|59|Tim Golden|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|95|Ed Reynolds|d=linebacker|rookie=y|ILB}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|26|Raymond Clayborn|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|38|Roland James|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Keith Lee|d=American football|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|42|Ronnie Lippett|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|31|Fred Marion|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Rick Sanford|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Ricky Smith|d=American football|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|47|Paul Dombroski|DB}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer|3|Rich Camarillo|P}}

{{NFLplayer|1|John Smith|d=placekicker|K}}

{{NFLplayer|2|Joaquin Zendejas|rookie=y|K}}

{{NFLplayer|5|Fred Steinfort|K}}

| reserve_lists =

| practice_squad =

}}

Regular season

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"| Week

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"| Date

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"| Opponent

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"| Result

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"| Record

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"| Venue

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| September 4

| Baltimore Colts

| L 23–29

| 0–1

| Sullivan Stadium

| 45,526

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| September 11

| at Miami Dolphins

| L 24–34

| 0–2

| Miami Orange Bowl

| 59,343

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| September 18

| New York Jets

| W 23–13

| 1–2

| Sullivan Stadium

| 43,182

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| September 25

| at Pittsburgh Steelers

| W 28–23

| 2–2

| Three Rivers Stadium

| 58,282

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| October 2

| San Francisco 49ers

| L 13–33

| 2–3

| Sullivan Stadium

| 54,293

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 9

| at Baltimore Colts

| L 7–12

| 2–4

| Memorial Stadium

| 35,618

style="background:#cfc"

! 7

| October 16

| San Diego Chargers

| W 37–21

| 3–4

| Sullivan Stadium

| 59,016

style="background:#cfc"

! 8

| October 23

| at Buffalo Bills

| W 31–0

| 4–4

| Rich Stadium

| 60,424

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| October 30

| at Atlanta Falcons

| L 13–24

| 4–5

| Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium

| 47,546

style="background:#cfc"

! 10

| November 6

| Buffalo Bills

| W 21–7

| 5–5

| Sullivan Stadium

| 42,604

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 13

| Miami Dolphins

| W 17–6

| 6–5

| Sullivan Stadium

| 60,771

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| November 20

| Cleveland Browns

| L 0–30

| 6–6

| Sullivan Stadium

| 40,987

style="background:#fcc"

! 13

| November 27

| at New York Jets

| L 3–26

| 6–7

| Giants Stadium

| 48,620

style="background:#cfc"

! 14

| December 4

| New Orleans Saints

| W 7–0

| 7–7

| Sullivan Stadium

| 24,579

style="background:#cfc"

! 15

| December 11

| at Los Angeles Rams

| W 21–7

| 8–7

| Anaheim Stadium

| 46,503

style="background:#fcc"

! 16

| December 18

| at Seattle Seahawks

| L 6–24

| 8–8

| Kingdome

| 59,688

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|year=1983|border=2}}"

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

= Standings =

{{1983 AFC East standings}}

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

References

{{reflist}}

See also

{{New England Patriots}}

{{New England Patriots seasons}}

{{1983 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1983 New England Patriots Season}}

New England Patriots

Category:New England Patriots seasons

New England Patriots

Category:Sports competitions in Foxborough, Massachusetts

{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}

{{Massachusetts-sport-stub}}