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1983 Washington Redskins season
Owner Jack Kent Cooke
General manager Bobby Beathard
Head coach Joe Gibbs
Home field RFK Stadium
Results
Record14–2
Division place1st NFC East
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Rams) 51–7
Won NFC Championship
(vs. 49ers) 24–21
Lost Super Bowl XVIII
(vs. Raiders) 9–38
The Redskins playing against the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII.

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 a franchise record and the best in the NFL. Their two losses were by a combined two points. Though the Redskins won the NFC Championship and advanced to a second consecutive Super Bowl, they were blown out by the Los Angeles Raiders 38–9 despite being 3-point favorites. They were the first defending Super Bowl champions to qualify for the playoffs since the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers.

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 20 seasons with the team until his retirement in 2002.

The 27-12 victory on September 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs is the only win in franchise history against them as of 2023.

Roster

1983 Washington Redskins roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

{{{reserve_lists}}}


Practice squad {{{practice_squad}}}


Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Game
recap
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.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys (1–0) 0 3 141431
Redskins (0–1) 10 13 0730

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

Game information

Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles

Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (1–1) 7 0 31323
Eagles (1–1) 0 3 7313

at Veterans Stadium

Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs (1–2) 3 9 0012
Redskins (2–1) 0 0 171027

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, September 18, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 58%, wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks

Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (3–1) 7 13 0727
Seahawks (2–2) 3 7 0717

at Seattle Kingdome

Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

1 234Total
Raiders (4–1) 0 71414 35
Redskins (4–1) 7 10317 37
  • Date: October 2
  • Location: RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 54,106
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and John Brodie

[4]

Week 6: at St. Louis Cardinals

Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (5–1) 7 17 14038
Cardinals (1–5) 0 7 7014

at Busch Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, October 9, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Hank Stram
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 7: at Green Bay Packers

Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (5–2) 10 10 131447
Packers (4–3) 10 14 71748

at Lambeau Field

Game information

Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions

Period 1 2 34Total
Lions (3–5) 0 3 7717
Redskins (6–2) 14 14 3738

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, October 23, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), relative humidity 85%, wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 9: at San Diego Chargers

Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (7–2) 7 3 71027
Chargers (3–6) 7 0 01724

at Jack Murphy Stadium

  • Date: Monday, October 31, 1983
  • Game time: 9:00pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 73%, wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 10: vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals (3–6–1) 0 0 707
Redskins (8–2) 7 10 21745

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

Week 11: at New York Giants

Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (9–2) 13 3 10733
Giants (2–8–1) 3 0 01417

at The Meadowlands

  • Date: Sunday, November 13, 1983
  • Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C), relative humidity 55%, wind 19 mph (31 km/h), wind chill 27 °F (−3 °C)
  • Referee: Chuck Heberling
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams

Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (10–2) 10 19 10342
Rams (7–5) 6 0 01420

at Anaheim Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, November 20, 1983
  • Game time: 4:00pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 15 mph (24 km/h)
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Period 1 2 34Total
Eagles (4–9) 0 21 3024
Redskins (11–2) 7 21 0028

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons (6–8) 0 0 02121
Redskins (12–2) 7 13 14337

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, December 4, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Hill and Tom Brookshier
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys

1 234Total
Redskins (13–2) 14 0710 31
Cowboys (12–3) 7 300 10

[5]

Week 16: vs. New York Giants

Period 1 2 34Total
Giants (3–12–1) 3 9 7322
Redskins (14–2) 0 7 71731

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

  • Date: Saturday, December 17, 1983
  • Game time: 12:30pm(ET)
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C), relative humidity 50%, wind 8.2 mph (13.2 km/h)
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Venue Attendance Game
recap
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

January 1, 1984

NFC: Washington Redskins 51, Los Angeles Rams 7

Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 7 007
Redskins 17 21 6751

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Game information
  • Scoring
    • WAS – Riggins 3 run (Moseley kick)WAS 7–0
    • WAS – Monk 40 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick) 14–0
    • WAS – field goal Moseley 42 WAS 17–0
    • WAS – Riggins 1 run (Moseley kick) WAS 24–0
    • LA – Dennard 32 pass from Ferragamo (Lansford kick) WAS 24–7
    • WAS – Monk 21 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick) WAS 31–7
    • WAS – Riggins 1 run (Moseley kick) WAS 38–7
    • WAS – field goal Moseley 36 WAS 41–7
    • WAS – field goal Moseley 41 WAS 44–7
    • WAS – Green 72 interception return (Moseley kick) WAS 51–7

January 8, 1984

NFC Championship: Washington Redskins 24, San Francisco 49ers 21

Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 0 02121
Redskins 0 7 14324

at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Game information
  • Scoring
    • WAS – Riggins 4 run (Moseley kick) WAS 7–0
    • WAS – Riggins 1 run (Moseley kick) WAS 14–0
    • WAS – Brown 70 pass from Theismann (Moseley kick) WAS 21–0
    • SF – Wilson 5 pass from Montana (Wersching kick) WAS 21–7
    • SF – Solomon 76 pass from Montana (Wersching kick) WAS 21–14
    • SF – Wilson 12 pass from Montana (Wersching kick) 21–21
    • WAS – field goal Moseley 25 WAS 24–21

Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9

Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins (NFC) 0 3 609
Raiders (AFC) 7 14 14338

at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Standings

NFC East
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

References

  1. ^ 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).
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ As of the 2011 season, only the 1983 Redskins and the 1984 Seattle Seahawks (63) have recorded more than 60 takeaways.
  4. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  5. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  6. ^ "Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients". Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2010.