1983 Buffalo Bills season

24th season in franchise history November 2013 March 2026 Buffalo Bills 1983 8–8 2nd AFC East Kay Stephenson Ralph Wilson Rich Stadium Did not qualify RB Joe CribbsDT Fred Smerlas Bills seasons The 1983 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League, and the 24th overall. It was the first of three seasons for head coach Kay Stephenson. Bills running back Joe Cribbs was both the Bills' leading rusher (1,131 yards), and the team's leader in receptions and receiving yards (57 catches for 524 yards).1983 was the last of Cribbs' three NFL Pro Bowl seasons before he left the NFL for the USFL's Birmingham Stallions in 1984. The team looked to improve on its 4–5 record from 1982. With the NFL schedule back to 16 games, the Bills were a more competitive team during 1983. The team started 5–2 through its first 7 games. However, they would struggle the rest of the way, as they went 3–6 in its final 9 games en route to a mediocre 8–8 season. This season also saw the Bills beat the Dolphins in Miami for the first time since 1966, Miami's inaugural season. After beating the Chiefs, 14–9, at Arrowhead Stadium on December 4, the Bills would lose 22 road games in a row, which included going 0–8 on the road in each of the following two seasons. Offseason NFL draft 1983 NFL draft The Bills drafted future Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, the third of a record six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 1983 draft. Kelly received opposing offers from the United States Football LeagueNorthrop Milt Bills To Battle With USFL — Blitz Make Pitch for Kelly The Buffalo News April 30, 1983 C-1 and from the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Concordes.Beacon Bill Concordes Make Pitch for Kelly The Ottawa Citizen May 4, 1983 49 Kelly would ultimately sign with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers for the following three seasonsFelser Larry Northrop Milt Bills To Lose Jim Kelly to the USFL The Buffalo News June 9, 1983 C-1 before making his first start with the Bills in Week One of the 1986 season. The Bills later retired Kelly's #12, at the time the only number the franchise retired. Linebacker Darryl Talley played for twelve years with the Bills. He was a two-time Pro Bowler, in 1990 and 1991. He was inducted into the Bills Wall of Fame. 1983 Buffalo Bills 1 12 Tony Hunter Tight end Notre Dame yes 1 14 Jim Kelly Quarterback Miami (FL) Kelly would join the Bills for the 1986 season. no yes yes 2 39 Darryl Talley Linebacker West Virginia yes yes 4 93 Trey Junkin Linebacker Louisiana Tech yes 4 112 Jimmy Payne Defensive end Georgia 5 126 Matt Vandenboom Defensive back Wisconsin 7 180 Gurnest Brown Defensive tackle Maryland 8 207 James Durham Defensive back Houston 9 234 George Parker Running back Norfolk State 10 260 Richard Tharpe Defensive tackle Louisville 11 293 Larry White Defensive end Jackson State 12 320 Julius Dawkins Wide receiver Pittsburgh yes https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1983_draft.htm 1983 Buffalo Bills draftees Pro-Football-Reference.com November 15, 2014 Personnel Staff 1983 Buffalo Bills President – Ralph Wilson Senior Executive Vice President – Pat McGroder Vice President of Football Operations – Kay Stephenson Vice President of Player Personnel – Norm Pollom Head Coach – Kay Stephenson Running Backs – Andy MacDonald Receivers – Milt Jackson Tight Ends – Al Sandahl Offensive Line – Jim Niblack Offensive Assistant – Perry Moss Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Bob Zeman Defensive Line – Don Lawrence Defensive Backfield – Jerry Glanville Defensive Assistant – Miller McCalmon Special Teams – Miller McCalmon Roster 1983 Buffalo Bills 11 Joe Dufek y 12 Joe Ferguson 10 Matt Kofler 20 Joe Cribbs 48 Roosevelt Leaks 34 Booker Moore 40 Robb Riddick 23 Van Williams American football 89 Julius Dawkins y 85 Byron Franklin 82 Frank Lewis American football 81 Perry Tuttle 84 Buster Barnett 86 Mark Brammer 47 Tony Hunter tight end y 73 Jon Borchardt G 67 Darryl Caldwell y T/G 63 Justin Cross T 53 Will Grant C 72 Ken Jones American football T 61 Tom Lynch American football T 51 Jim Ritcher G 65 Tim Vogler C/G 75 Bill Acker NT 90 Scott Hutchinson American football DE 91 Ken Johnson defensive end, born 1955 DE 76 Fred Smerlas NT 93 Scott Virkus y DE 77 Ben Williams American football, born 1954 DE 55 Jim Haslett ILB 50 Trey Junkin y OLB 52 Chris Keating ILB 59 Joey Lumpkin ILB 54 Eugene Marve ILB 58 Mark Merrill ILB 62 Ervin Parker OLB 56 Darryl Talley y OLB 57 Lucius Sanford OLB 29 Mario Clark CB 28 Judson Flint SS 22 Steve Freeman American football FS 47 Bill Hurley SS 21 Mike Kennedy American football SS 43 David Kilson y CB 26 Charles Romes CB 24 Gary Thompson gridiron football y CB 27 Chris Williams defensive back FS  7 Greg Cater P 19 Joe Danelo K 80 Jerry Butler American football WR IR 70 Joe Devlin American football T IR -- Tom Gilmartin y no NT IR 87 Robert Holt American football WR IR 25 Roland Hooks RB IR 42 Rod Kush S IR 88 Mike Mosley American football WR IR 38 Jeff Nixon S PUP 74 Jimmy Payne no y DE IR 99 Mark Roopenian NT IR 79 Roger Taylor American football T IR 39 Matt Vandenboom no y S IR 41 Phil Villapiano LB IR 45 Len Walterscheid S IR 83 Sherman White American football DE IR Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance Notes 1 September 4, 1983 Miami Dolphins L 12–0 0–1 78,715 Uwe von Schamann accounted for all points scored 2 September 11, 1983 at Cincinnati Bengals W 10–6 1–1 46,839 Joe Ferguson threw a 14-yard touchdown 3 September 18, 1983 Baltimore Colts W 28–23 2–1 40,937 Game lead changed seven times in final three quarters 4 September 25, 1983 Houston Oilers W 30–13 3–1 60,070 Ferguson threw for only 127 yards 5 October 3, 1983 New York Jets L 34–10 3–2 79,933 Buffalo's only Monday Night Football appearance of the year 6 October 9, 1983 at Miami Dolphins W 38–35 4–2 59,948 Ferguson threw five touchdowns and 419 yards; first road win over Miami since 1966 7 October 16, 1983 at Baltimore Colts W 30–7 5–2 38,565 Last trip to Baltimore until formation of Ravens 8 October 23, 1983 New England Patriots L 31–0 5–3 60,424 Ferguson intercepted three times by Roland James 9 October 30, 1983 New Orleans Saints W 27–21 6–3 49,413 Ferguson threw four touchdowns 10 November 6, 1983 at New England Patriots L 21–76–4 42,604 Ferguson intercepted four times 11 November 13, 1983 at New York Jets W 24–17 7–4 48,513 Bills outscored Jets 24–3 in second half; Bills last visit ever to Shea Stadium and Queens, NY 12 November 20, 1983 Los Angeles Raiders L 27–24 7–5 72,393 Bills lost despite erasing 21-point Raiders lead in the fourth 13 November 27, 1983 at Los Angeles Rams L 41–17 7–6 48,246 Eric Dickerson rushed for 125 yards 14 December 4, 1983 at Kansas City Chiefs W 14–9 8–6 27,104 Joe Cribbs' 185 rushing yards constituted almost all of Buffalo's offense 15 December 11, 1983 San Francisco 49ers L 23–10 8–7 38,039 Ferguson intercepted three times 16 December 18, 1983 at Atlanta Falcons L 31–14 8–8 31,015 Matt Kofler threw for 125 yardsNote: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text Season summary Week 1 Dolphins 0 6 3 3 Bills 0 0 0 0 September 4 Rich Stadium 1:00 PM EST 78,715 72 F C 1 • 12 mph km/h knot Jim Tunney Charlie Jones and Bob Griese NBC Week 2 Bills 0 3 7 0 Bengals 0 3 0 3 September 11 Riverfront Stadium Gordon McCarter Week 3 Colts 6 3 7 7 Bills 0 7 7 14 September 18 Rich Stadium Pat Haggerty Week 4 Oilers 3 3 7 0 Bills 7 6 3 14 September 25 Rich Stadium Chuck Heberling Week 5 Jets 0 7 10 17 Bills 0 0 0 10 October 5 Rich Stadium Jerry Markbreit Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, OJ Simpson ABC Week 6 Dan Marino first start in NFL Bills 7 7 7 14 3 Dolphins 0 7 14 14 0 October 9 Orange Bowl 1:00 PM EST 59,948 79 F C 1 • 9 mph km/h knot Fred Silva Charlie Jones and Bob Griese NBC Week 7 Bills 7 17 3 3 Colts 7 0 0 0 October 16 Memorial Stadium Bob Frederic Week 8 Patriots 0 7 0 24 Bills 0 0 0 0 October 23 Rich Stadium Tom Dooley Week 9 Saints 0 7 0 14 Bills 7 13 7 0 October 30 Rich Stadium 49,413 Jim Tunney CBS yes Q1 4:06 BUF Butler 15 yard pass from Ferguson (Danelo kick) BUF 7–0 Q2 13:14 BUF Hunter 40 yard pass from Ferguson (Danelo kick) BUF 14–0 Q2 5:59 BUF Mosley 22 yard pass from Ferguson (kick failed) BUF 20–0 Q2 1:57 NO Tice 12 yard pass from Wilson (Andersen kick) BUF 20–7 Q3 0:19 BUF Mosley 8 yard pass from Ferguson (Danelo kick) BUF 27–7 Q4 7:33 NO Brenner 3 yard pass from Wilson (Andersen kick) BUF 27–14 Q4 3:34 NO Young 5 yard pass from Wilson (Andersen kick) BUF 27–21 yes The Bills knocked Ken Stabler out of the game at the end of the first quarter with a rib injury. Eugene Register-Guard. 1983 Oct 31. Week 10 Bills 0 0 0 7 Patriots 0 14 7 0 November 6 Sullivan Stadium Pat Haggerty Week 11 Bills 0 0 14 10 Jets 0 14 3 0 November 13 Shea Stadium 48,513 37 F C 1 • 19 mph km/h knot Gene Barth Charlie Jones NBC Week 12 Los Angeles Raiders (8-3) at Buffalo Bills (7-4) Raiders 7 3 7 10 Bills 0 3 0 21 November 20 Rich Stadium - Orchard Park, New York 1:00pm EST 72,393 52 F C 1 • 12 mph km/h knot Bob McElwee Don Criqui and Gene Washington NFL on NBC Week 13 Bills 0 7 7 3 Rams 0 14 10 17 November 27 Anaheim Stadium Ben Dreith Week 14 Bills 0 7 0 7 Chiefs 0 3 3 3 December 4 Arrowhead Stadium 1:00 PM EST 27,104 29 F C 1 • 8 mph km/h knot Jerry Seeman Don Criqui NBC Week 15 49ers 3 3 14 3 Bills 0 10 0 0 December 11 Rich Stadium Orchard Park, NY 1:00 PM EST 38,039 27 F C 1 • 17-26 mph km/h knot Cloudy Bob Frederic Dick Stockton, Wayne Walker CBS Week 16 Bills 0 7 0 7 Falcons 3 14 7 7 December 18 Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Fred Silva Standings Awards and honors All-Pros Fred Smerlas, Nose tackle Steve Freeman, Safety Notes "note" References External links 1983 Buffalo Bills at Pro-Football-Reference.com Category:Buffalo Bills seasons Buffalo Bills Buffalo