1983 Washington Redskins season
The 1983 Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 47th in Washington, D.C.. The season began with the team trying to win consecutive Super Bowls, following their victory in Super Bowl XVII against the Miami Dolphins. Washington's 14–2 record was the best in the NFL. Though the Redskins won their second-consecutive NFC Championship and advanced to their second consecutive Super Bowl, they were blown out by the Los Angeles Raiders 9–38 despite being 3-point favorites.
1983 Washington Redskins season | |
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Owner | Jack Kent Cooke |
Head coach | Joe Gibbs |
General manager | Bobby Beathard |
Home field | RFK Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 14–2 |
Division place | 1st NFC East |
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (Rams) 51–7 Won Conference Championship (49ers) 24–21 Lost Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders) 9–38 |
The Redskins' 541 points scored and +209 point differential was the best in the league, with the 541 points setting an NFL record at the time.[1] The 1983 Redskins also had a turnover margin of +43, an NFL record.[2] Washington was the first team since the merger to record more than 60 takeaways (61).[3]
This season is cornerback Darrell Green's first in the league. He would spend the next 19 years with the team.
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
{{{reserve_lists}}}
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Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Game recap |
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1 | September 5 | Dallas Cowboys | L 30–31 | 0–1 | RFK Stadium | 55,045 | Recap |
2 | September 11 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 23–13 | 1–1 | Veterans Stadium | 69,542 | Recap |
3 | September 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 27–12 | 2–1 | RFK Stadium | 52,610 | Recap |
4 | September 25 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 27–17 | 3–1 | Kingdome | 60,718 | Recap |
5 | October 2 | Los Angeles Raiders | W 37–35 | 4–1 | RFK Stadium | 54,106 | Recap |
6 | October 9 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 38–14 | 5–1 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 42,698 | Recap |
7 | October 17 | at Green Bay Packers | L 47–48 | 5–2 | Lambeau Field | 55,255 | Recap |
8 | October 23 | Detroit Lions | W 38–17 | 6–2 | RFK Stadium | 43,189 | Recap |
9 | October 31 | at San Diego Chargers | W 27–24 | 7–2 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 46,114 | Recap |
10 | November 6 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 45–7 | 8–2 | RFK Stadium | 51,380 | Recap |
11 | November 13 | at New York Giants | W 33–17 | 9–2 | Giants Stadium | 71,482 | Recap |
12 | November 20 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 42–20 | 10–2 | Anaheim Stadium | 63,031 | Recap |
13 | November 27 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 28–24 | 11–2 | RFK Stadium | 54,324 | Recap |
14 | December 4 | Atlanta Falcons | W 37–21 | 12–2 | RFK Stadium | 52,074 | Recap |
15 | December 11 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 31–10 | 13–2 | Texas Stadium | 65,074 | Recap |
16 | December 17 | New York Giants | W 31–22 | 14–2 | RFK Stadium | 53,874 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Cowboys (1–0) | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 31 |
Redskins (0–1) | 10 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Monday, September 5
- Game time: 9:00 p.m.(et)
- Game weather: 84 degrees, relative humidity 66, round(wind) 6.5 mph
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell and Don Meredith
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (1–1) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 23 |
Eagles (1–1) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
- Date: Sunday, September 11, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 83 degrees, relative humidity 57%, wind 10 mph
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Chiefs (1–2) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Redskins (2–1) | 0 | 0 | 17 | 10 | 27 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Sunday, September 18, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 72 degrees, relative humidity 58%, wind 6 mph
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (3–1) | 7 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
Seahawks (2–2) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
- Date: Sunday, September 25, 1983
- Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 72 degrees
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Hank Stram
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Raiders
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Week 6: at St. Louis Cardinals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (5–1) | 7 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
Cardinals (1–5) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
- Date: Sunday, October 9, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 56 degrees, relative humidity 76%, wind 10 mph
- Referee: Red Cashion
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (5–2) | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 47 |
Packers (4–3) | 10 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 48 |
- Date: Monday, October 17, 1983
- Game time: 9:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 47 degrees, relative humidity 67, round(wind) 10.5 mph
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and O.J. Simpson
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Lions (3–5) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
Redskins (6–2) | 14 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 38 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Sunday, October 23, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 56 degrees, relative humidity 85%, wind 8 mph
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 9: at San Diego Chargers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (7–2) | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
Chargers (3–6) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
- Date: Monday, October 31, 1983
- Game time: 9:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 71 degrees, relative humidity 73%, wind 9 mph
- Referee: Fred Silva
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 10: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Cardinals (3–6–1) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Redskins (8–2) | 7 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 45 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Sunday, November 6, 1983
- Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 43 degrees, relative humidity 72%, wind 10 mph
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 11: at New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (9–2) | 13 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
Giants (2–8–1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
- Date: Sunday, November 13, 1983
- Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 37 degrees, relative humidity 55%, wind 19 mph, wind chill 27
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (10–2) | 10 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 42 |
Rams (7–5) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
- Date: Sunday, November 20, 1983
- Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 59 degrees, relative humidity 68%, wind 15 mph
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Eagles (4–9) | 0 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
Redskins (11–2) | 7 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Sunday, November 27, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 50 degrees, relative humidity 59%, wind 5 mph
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Hank Stram
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Falcons (6–8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
Redskins (12–2) | 7 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 37 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Sunday, December 4, 1983
- Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
- Game weather: 43 degrees, relative humidity 76%, wind 9 mph
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Hill and Tom Brookshier
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys
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Week 16: vs. New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Giants (3–12–1) | 3 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 22 |
Redskins (14–2) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
- Date: Saturday, December 17, 1983
- Game time: 12:30pm(ET)
- Game weather: 40 degrees, relative humidity 50, round(wind) 8.2 mph
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Playoffs
Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Venue | Attendance | Game recap |
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Divisional | January 1, 1984 | Los Angeles Rams (5) | W 51–7 | RFK Stadium | 55,363 | Recap |
Conference Championship | January 8, 1984 | San Francisco 49ers (2) | W 24–21 | RFK Stadium | 55,363 | Recap |
Super Bowl XVIII | January 22, 1984 | Los Angeles Raiders (A1) | L 9–38 | Tampa Stadium | 72,920 | Recap |
NFC: Washington Redskins 51, Los Angeles Rams 7
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Rams | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Redskins | 17 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 51 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 54,440
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Game information |
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NFC Championship: Washington Redskins 24, San Francisco 49ers 21
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
Redskins | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 55,363
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Game information |
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Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Redskins (NFC) | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
Raiders (AFC) | 7 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: January 22, 1984
- Game attendance: 72,920
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Standings
NFC East | |||||||||
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W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Washington Redskins(1) | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 541 | 332 | W9 |
Dallas Cowboys(4) | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 479 | 360 | L2 |
St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–4–1 | 5–6–1 | 374 | 428 | W3 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–7 | 4–10 | 233 | 322 | L2 |
New York Giants | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 | 1–6–1 | 3–8–1 | 267 | 347 | L4 |
Awards and records
- Joe Gibbs, National Football League Coach of the Year Award
- John Riggins, Bert Bell Award[6]
- Joe Theismann, AP NFL MVP
- Joe Theismann, PFWA NFL MVP
- Joe Theismann, NEA NFL MVP
- Joe Theismann, National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award
- John Riggins, 1,483 Rushing Yards and set record with 24 rushing TDs (Held the TD record for 12 Years)
- Team scoring: 541 points (Held record until 1998)
- Turnover differential: +43 (Record still stands today. Next closest is Cleveland with +33 in 1946.)
References
- Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1980 to 1989, in the NFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For, the record was eventually broken in 1998 by the Minnesota Vikings with 556, and then broken again in 2007 by the New England Patriots with 589).
- The team with the second-best turnover margin, the 1946 Browns, had a margin of 33: Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending Turnover Margin.
- As of the 2011 season, only the 1983 Redskins and the 1984 Seattle Seahawks (63) have recorded more than 60 takeaways.
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2010-06-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)