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
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 League and from the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Concordes. Kelly would ultimately sign with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers for the following three seasons 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.
Personnel Staff
Roster
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 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
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
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
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Standings
Awards and honors All-Pros Fred Smerlas, Nose tackle Steve Freeman, Safety
Notes
References
External links 1983 Buffalo Bills at Pro-Football-Reference.com