1983 Cleveland Browns season

The 1983 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 34th season with the National Football League.

1983 Cleveland Browns season
OwnerArt Modell
Head coachSam Rutigliano
Home fieldCleveland Municipal Stadium
Local radioWHK
Results
Record9–7
Division place2nd AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone

Season summary

In a season which was eerily similar to the 1979 campaign, which was arguably the beginning of "The Kardiac Kids" period, seven contests were decided by seven points or less, with the Browns going 4–3. Like the '79 and '80 seasons, the Browns scored often and gave up almost as many points, with the Browns scoring 356 to their opponents' 342. Quarterback Brian Sipe, in his last season with the Browns before jumping to the USFL, had 26 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions, nearly the same ratio (28-to-26) he had had in 1979. It was a good way to go out for Sipe, who had lost his starting job to Paul McDonald late in the 1982 season and then re-gained it in the '83 training camp. Fullback Mike Pruitt, in his last great season with the Browns, rushed for 1,184 yards. And finally, in his last season in Cleveland before being traded to the Denver Broncos, wide receiver Dave Logan was second on the team in receptions with 37, but that was far behind the team-record 89 hauled in by Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome in a season that could be dubbed "The Kardiac Kids' Last Hurrah".[1]

Offseason

NFL Draft

The following were selected in the 1983 NFL Draft.

RoundOverallPlayerPositionSchool/Club Team
241Ron BrownWide receiverArizona State
368Reggie CampDefensive endCalifornia
5122Bill ContzOffensive tacklePenn State
6145Tim StrackaTight endWisconsin
6149Dave PuzzuoliNose tacklePittsburgh
7176Rocky BelkWide receiverMiami
8209Mike McClearnGuardTemple
10262Thomas HopkinsOffensive tackleAlabama A&M
11288Boyce GreenRunning backCarson Newman College
11305Howard McAdooLinebackerMichigan State
12316Paul FarrenOffensive tackleBoston University

[2]

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance Record
1 September 4, 1983 Minnesota Vikings L 27–21
70,087
 0–1
2 September 11, 1983 at Detroit Lions W 31–26
60,095
 1–1
3 September 15, 1983 Cincinnati Bengals W 17–7
79,700
 2–1
4 September 25, 1983 at San Diego Chargers W 30–24
49,482
 3–1
5 October 2, 1983 Seattle Seahawks L 24–9
75,446
 3–2
6 October 9, 1983 New York Jets W 10–7
78,235
 4–2
7 October 16, 1983 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 44–17
59,263
 4–3
8 October 23, 1983 at Cincinnati Bengals L 28–21
50,047
 4–4
9 October 30, 1983 Houston Oilers W 25–19
68,851
 5–4
10 November 6, 1983 at Green Bay Packers in Milwaukee L 35–21
54,089
 5–5
11 November 13, 1983 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–0
56,091
 6–5
12 November 20, 1983 at New England Patriots W 30–0
40,987
 7–5
13 November 27, 1983 Baltimore Colts W 41–23
65,812
 8–5
14 December 4, 1983 at Denver Broncos L 27–6
70,912
 8–6
15 December 11, 1983 at Houston Oilers L 34–27
29,746
 8–7
16 December 18, 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers W 30–17
72,313
 9–7

Week 2

Brian Sipe throws four touchdowns to lead the Browns to a 31-26 win at Detroit. Sipe becomes Cleveland's career leader, raising his TD total to 135 (surpassing Frank Ryan) with throws to Ricky Feacher, Mike Pruitt, Ozzie Newsome and Dave Logan. Pruitt also rushes for 137 yards.

Week 4

Harry Holt, a 25-year-old NFL rookie, catches a 48-yard touchdown pass form Sipe on Cleveland's fourth play of overtime as The Browns beat The Chargers, 30-24, at San Diego. Holt catches his first NFL touchdown after Matt Bahr forces overtime with a 32-yard field goal with 18 seconds left in regulation.

Week 6

Linebacker Tom Cousineau records 15 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery while leading Cleveland to a 10-7 win over the New York Jets. His interception stops a Jets drive at the Browns' 5-yard line and his fumble recovery stops New York at the Cleveland 9. The Browns' only touchdown is scored by wide receiver Bobby Jones on a 32-yard pass from Sipe.

Week 8

The Browns lose a tough one at Cincinnati, 28-21, when Bengals' cornerback Ken Riley intercepts a Sipe pass and returns it 42 yards for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Riley's 60th career interception spoils a three-TD pass performance by Sipe.

Week 12

After going eight seasons without a shutout, the Browns made it two straight with a 30-0 rout of the Patriots at Foxboro. One week after posting a 20-0 win over Tampa Bay, Pruitt runs for 136 yards and Matt Bahr kicks three field goals. The defensive star is linebacker Chip Banks, who returns an interception 65 yards for a touchdown and records two sacks. Cousineau and Hanford Dixon each intercept two passes.

Standings
AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Pittsburgh Steelers(3) 10 6 0 .625 4–2 8–4 355 303 L1
Cleveland Browns 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 356 342 W1
Cincinnati Bengals 7 9 0 .438 4–2 4–8 346 302 L1
Houston Oilers 2 14 0 .125 1–5 1–11 288 460 L1

Roster
1983 Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special Teams

Rookies in italics

Awards and records
  • Brian Sipe, NFL Leader, Touchdown Passes (26), Tied with another player

References
  1. "Season summary and statistics at Cleveland Browns.com". Archived from the original on 2011-10-25. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  2. "1983 NFL Draft Listing – Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
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