1983 Chicago Bears season
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NFL team season The 1983 season was the Chicago Bears' 64th in the National Football League, and their second under head coach Mike Ditka. The team improved from their 3–6 record from 1982 to finish at 8–8, but to failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Jim McMahon was the quarterback, who completed 175 of 295 pass attempts. The Bears 1983 NFL draft class was ranked #3 in NFL Top 10Template:'s greatest draft classes.[1]
Offseason
1983 NFL draft
Template:Main article Template:NFL team draft start Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft end
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Dave McCarrell | Quarterback | Wheaton |
| Dan Ruzich | Linebacker | Kansas State |
Roster and staff
Staff
| Coaching Staff of 1983 season | ||||||
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Front office
Coaches
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Position coaches
Trainers
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Scouts
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Roster
Preseason
The Bears were predicted to finish 7–9 and fourth in the division by Paul Zimmerman. Their prized new weapon would be Willie Gault. Dennis McKinnon (signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 1983) would also play a key role in the receiving corps and Jimbo Covert would help open bigger holes for Walter Payton but it was felt they were a few offensive lineman and a tight end away from being effective. The defense would be led by All-Pro Dan Hampton and new defensive backs Mike Richardson and Dave Duerson.[2] The Bears started 1983 by losing 7 of their first 10, but won 5 of their last 6 to finish 8–8. The Bears would go 71–18 in regular season games from November 13, 1983, through October 2, 1989.
| style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Week | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Date | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Result | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Record | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 6 | Buffalo Bills | W 27–17 | 1–0 | Soldier Field |
| 2 | August 13 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 24–27 | 1–1 | Busch Stadium |
| 3 | August 20 | at Los Angeles Raiders | W 27–21 | 2–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| 4 | August 27 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 20–17 | 3–1 | Soldier Field |
Regular season
Schedule
| style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Week | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Date | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Result | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Record | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Venue | style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4 | Atlanta Falcons | L 17–20 | 0–1 | Soldier Field | 60,165 | |
| 2 | September 11 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 17–10 | 1–1 | Soldier Field | 58,186 | |
| 3 | September 18 | at New Orleans Saints | L 31–34 | 1–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,692 | |
| 4 | September 25 | at Baltimore Colts | L 19–22 | 1–3 | Memorial Stadium | 34,350 | |
| 5 | October 2 | Denver Broncos | W 31–14 | 2–3 | Soldier Field | 58,210 | |
| 6 | October 9 | Minnesota Vikings | L 14–23 | 2–4 | Soldier Field | 59,632 | |
| 7 | October 16 | at Detroit Lions | L 17–31 | 2–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | 66,709 | |
| 8 | October 23 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 7–6 | 3–5 | Veterans Stadium | 45,263 | |
| 9 | October 30 | Detroit Lions | L 17–38 | 3–6 | Soldier Field | 58,764 | |
| 10 | November 6 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 14–21 | 3–7 | Anaheim Stadium | 53,010 | |
| 11 | November 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 17–14 | 4–7 | Soldier Field | 47,524 | |
| 12 | November 20 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–0 | 5–7 | Tampa Stadium | 36,816 | |
| 13 | November 27 | San Francisco 49ers | W 13–3 | 6–7 | Soldier Field | 40,483 | |
| 14 | December 4 | at Green Bay Packers | L 28–31 | 6–8 | Lambeau Field | 51,147 | |
| 15 | December 11 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 19–13 | 7–8 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 57,880 | |
| 16 | December 18 | Green Bay Packers | W 23–21 | 8–8 | Soldier Field | 35,807 | |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Bears | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago
- Date: Sunday, September 4
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 2 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Bears | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
- Box Score
CHI: Mike Hartenstine 2.0 sacks, Terry Schmidt INT Template:AmFootballScoreSummaryStart Template:AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry Template:AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry Template:AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry Template:AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry Template:AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry Template:AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd
Week 3: at New Orleans Saints
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />OTScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| Saints | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: Sunday, September 18
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors, dome
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Morris
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 4: at Baltimore Colts
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />OTScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 19 |
| Colts | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: Sunday, September 25
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 5: vs. Denver Broncos
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Bears | 14 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: Sunday, October 2
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
- Date: Sunday, October 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 14 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: Sunday, October 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Bears | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: Sunday, November 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Johnny Morris
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
| Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: Sunday, November 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Red Cashion
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: Sunday, November 27
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Packers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: Sunday, December 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert"., wind Script error: No such module "convert".
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings
Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |
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Week 16 vs. Green Bay Packers
| Quarter | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Bears | 7 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 23 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Script error: No such module "convert".
- Game attendance: 35,807
- Referee: Red Cashion
- Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>
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Standings
Template:1983 NFC Central standings
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Sports Illustrated. 1 Sept 1983
- ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Mar-02.
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External links
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