1983 New England Patriots season

Season of National Football League team the New England Patriots November 2013 March 2026 New England Patriots 1983 8–8 T-2nd AFC East Ron Meyer Patrick Sullivan Billy Sullivan Sullivan Stadium Did not qualify P Rich CamarilloCB Raymond ClaybornRB Tony CollinsG John HannahT Brian Holloway G John Hannah (1st team) P Rich Camarillo (2nd team) 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; Games with Final Score 7–0 with only three games since seeing just one score,Pro Football Reference; 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 1983 NFL draft 1983 New England Patriots 1 15 Tony Eason Quarterback Illinois yes no 2 47 Darryal Wilson Wide receiver Tennessee yes no 3 74 Stephen Starring Wide receiver McNeese State yes no 3 80 Steve Moore Guard Tennessee State yes no 4 101 Johnny Rembert Linebacker Clemson yes yes 5 118 Smiley Creswell Defensive end Michigan State no no 5 128 Darryl Lewis Tight end Texas-Arlington no no 6 155 Mike Bass Placekicker Illinois no no 7 187 Craig James Running back Southern Methodist yes yes 8 214 Ronnie Lippett Cornerback Miami (FL) yes no 9 233 Ricky Williams Running back Langston no no 9 240 Mark Keel Tight end Arizona no no 10 264 James Williams Tight end Wyoming no no 10 265 Toby Williams Defensive end Nebraska yes no 10 267 Tom Ramsey Quarterback UCLA yes no 11 292 Steve Parker Wide receiver Abilene Christian no no 11 294 Calvin Eason Defensive back Houston no no 12 319 Waddell Kelly Running back Arkansas State no no 12 326 Andy Ekern Offensive tackle Missouri no no Staff New England Patriots 1983 staff Front office President – Billy Sullivan Executive vice president – Chuck Sullivan Vice-president – Bucko Kilroy General manager – Patrick Sullivan Director of player development – Dick Steinberg Director of college scouting – Joe Mendes Director of pro scouting – Bill McPeak Head coaches Head coach – Ron Meyer Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Lew Erber Offensive backs – Cleve Bryant Receivers – Steve Endicott Offensive line – Bill Muir Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Rod Rust Defensive line – Tommy Brasher Linebackers – Steve Sidwell Secondary – Steve Walters Special teams coaches Special teams/tight ends – Dante Scarnecchia Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – LeBaron Caruthers Roster 1983 New England Patriots 11 Tony Eason y 14 Steve Grogan 19 Mike Kerrigan 33 Tony Collins American football 30 Mosi Tatupu 34 Mark van Eeghen 24 Robert Weathers 35 George Peoples 83 Cedric Jones wide receiver 86 Stanley Morgan 81 Stephen Starring y 82 Clarence Weathers y 87 Lin Dawson 88 Derrick Ramsey 80 Brooks Williams 58 Pete Brock American football C 75 Bob Cryder T 68 Darryl Haley T 73 John Hannah American football G 76 Brian Holloway T 78 Art Kuehn C 67 Steve Moore American football G/T y 62 Dwight Wheeler C 60 Ron Wooten G 85 Julius Adams DE 74 Dave Browning DE 98 Dennis Owens NT 65 Doug Rogers American football DE 77 Kenneth Sims DE 72 Lester Williams American football NT 90 Toby Williams American football y DE 55 Don Blackmon OLB 59 Tim Golden American football ILB 50 Larry McGrew OLB 57 Steve Nelson American football ILB 56 Andre Tippett OLB 53 Clayton Weishuhn ILB 52 Johnny Rembert y ILB 95 Ed Reynolds linebacker y OLB 26 Raymond Clayborn CB 38 Roland James SS 22 Keith Lee American football CB/S 42 Ronnie Lippett y CB 31 Fred Marion FS 24 Rick Sanford FS 27 Ricky Smith American football CB 47 Paul Dombroski CB  3 Rich Camarillo P  2 Joaquin Zendejas y K 92 Smiley Creswell y DE IR 91 George Crump American football DE IR 60 Andy Ekern y T IR 70 Luther Henson NT IR 51 Brian Ingram LB IR 49 Darryl Lewis y TE IR 48 Darryal Wilson y WR IR Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 4 Baltimore Colts L 23–29 0–1 Sullivan Stadium 45,526 2 September 11 at Miami Dolphins L 24–34 0–2 Miami Orange Bowl 59,343 3 September 18 New York Jets W 23–13 1–2 Sullivan Stadium 43,182 4 September 25 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 28–23 2–2 Three Rivers Stadium 58,282 5 October 2 San Francisco 49ers L 13–33 2–3 Sullivan Stadium 54,293 6 October 9 at Baltimore Colts L 7–12 2–4 Memorial Stadium 35,618 7 October 16 San Diego Chargers W 37–21 3–4 Sullivan Stadium 59,016 8 October 23 at Buffalo Bills W 31–0 4–4 Rich Stadium 60,424 9 October 30 at Atlanta Falcons L 13–24 4–5 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 47,546 10 November 6 Buffalo Bills W 21–7 5–5 Sullivan Stadium 42,604 11 November 13 Miami Dolphins W 17–6 6–5 Sullivan Stadium 60,771 12 November 20 Cleveland Browns L 0–30 6–6 Sullivan Stadium 40,987 13 November 27 at New York Jets L 3–26 6–7 Shea Stadium 48,620 14 December 4 New Orleans Saints W 7–0 7–7 Sullivan Stadium 24,579 15 December 11 at Los Angeles Rams W 21–7 8–7 Anaheim Stadium 46,503 16 December 18 at Seattle Seahawks L 6–24 8–8 Kingdome 59,688 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings Notes note References See also List of New England Patriots seasons New England Patriots Category:New England Patriots seasons New England Patriots Category:Sports competitions in Foxborough, Massachusetts Category:Long stubs with short prose