1983 Detroit Lions season

The 1983 Detroit Lions season was the 54th season in franchise history. Despite a 1–4 start, the Lions rallied to finish with a 9–7 record. They were able to rise to the top of a weak NFC Central (three of the other four teams went 8–8, and Tampa Bay tied for the NFL's worst record at 2–14), to claim their first division championship since 1957, made the playoffs in a non-strike season for the first time since 1970, and the first time they would make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since playing for the NFL championship in 1952, 1953 and 1954. The Lions would not return to the postseason for another eight years and not do so in consecutive seasons until doing it three straight years from 1993 to 1995.

1983 Detroit Lions season
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford, Sr.
Head coachMonte Clark
Home fieldPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record9–7
Division place1st NFC Central
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(at 49ers) 23–24
Pro BowlersDT Doug English
AP All-ProsDT Doug English (2nd team)

The offense ranked 15th in the NFL in points scored, leaving the defense to carry the load. The Lions’ defense turned out to be the second-best in the league in points allowed, keyed defensive tackle Doug English and his 13 sacks. English was the team's only Pro Bowler, though he also got some help from defensive end William Gay, who registered 13½ sacks of his own. In the NFC playoffs, the Lions lead the San Francisco 49ers late into the fourth quarter, until Joe Montana drove the 49ers down the field for a 14-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Solomon to give the 49ers a 24–23 lead. The Lions would have a chance to win the game, as Gary Danielson drove them into field goal range, but placekicker Eddie Murray missed a 44-yard field goal with five seconds remaining.[1]

Offseason

NFL draft
Main article: 1983 NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position School
1 13 James Jones FB Florida
2 40 Rich Strenger OT Michigan
3 67 Mike Cofer LB Tennessee
4 94 August Curley LB USC
5 115 Demetrious Johnson S Missouri
5 121 Steve Mott C Alabama
6 154 Todd Brown WR Nebraska
7 181 Mike Black P Arizona State
8 208 Bill Stapleton DB Washington
10 261 Dave Laube G Penn State
11 287 Ben Tate RB North Carolina Central
12 321 Jim Lane C Idaho State

Roster
1983 Detroit Lions final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 41 James Caver DB/WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 50 August Curley LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 43 Al Latimer CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Rookies in italics
 49 active, 3 inactive, 0 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 September 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 11–0 1–0 62,154
2 September 11 Cleveland Browns L 31–26 1–1 60,095
3 September 18 Atlanta Falcons L 30–14 1–2 54,622
4 September 25 at Minnesota Vikings L 20–17 1–3 58,254
5 October 2 at Los Angeles Rams L 21–10 1–4 49,403
6 October 9 Green Bay Packers W 38–14 2–4 67,738
7 October 16 Chicago Bears W 31–17 3–4 66,709
8 October 23 at Washington Redskins L 38–17 3–5 43,189
9 October 30 at Chicago Bears W 38–17 4–5 58,764
10 November 7 New York Giants W 15–9 5–5 68,985
11 November 13 at Houston Oilers L 27–17 5–6 40,660
12 November 20 at Green Bay Packers W 23–20(OT) 6–6 50,050
13 November 24 Pittsburgh Steelers W 45–3 7–6 77,724
14 December 5 Minnesota Vikings W 13–2 8–6 79,169
15 December 11 at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–9 8–7 45,728
16 December 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–20 9–7 78,392
Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.

Week 1
1 234Total
• Lions 5 033 11
Buccaneers 0 000 0
  • Date: September 4
  • Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 62,154
  • Game weather: 82 °F or 27.8 °C, wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • Television network: CBS
Scoring summary
Q1DETSafety, Jerry Golsteyn tackled by Doug English in end zoneDET 2–0
Q1DETEddie Murray 29 yard field goalDET 5–0
Q3DETEddie Murray 48 yard field goalDET 8–0
Q4DETEddie Murray 38 yard field goalDET 11–0

[2]

Week 11 at Oilers
Week Eleven: Detroit Lions (5–5) at Houston Oilers (0–10)
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 10 7017
Oilers 3 7 14327

at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Date: November 13, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 40,660
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • Box Score, Box Score

Billy Sims, rather than be tackled during a rushing attempt, ran at, jumped, and, while fully airborne, kicked Oilers cornerback Steve Brown in the head.

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Lions PassingEric Hipple17/29, 213 Yds, 3 INT
RushingBilly Sims20 Rush, 105 Yds, TD
ReceivingBilly Sims9 Rec, 90 Yds
Oilers PassingOliver Luck18/26, 189 Yds, 2 TD, INT
RushingEarl Campbell28 Rush, 107 Yds
ReceivingMike Renfro7 Rec, 75 Yds

Standings
NFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Detroit Lions(3) 9 7 0 .563 7–1 8–4 347 286 W1
Green Bay Packers 8 8 0 .500 4–4 6–6 429 439 L1
Chicago Bears 8 8 0 .500 4–4 7–7 311 301 W2
Minnesota Vikings 8 8 0 .500 4–4 4–8 316 348 W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 14 0 .125 1–7 1–11 241 380 L3

Postseason
NFC Divisional Playoff, San Francisco 49ers 24, Detroit Lions 23
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 3 6 01423
49ers 7 7 3724

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

References
  1. Season summary at Sports E Cyclopedia
  2. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-Dec-23.
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