# 1983 New England Patriots season

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, 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, with only three games since seeing just one score, all three of which a single field goal was the only score.

## Draft

1983 New England Patriots draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 15 | Tony Eason | Quarterback | Illinois |
| 2 | 47 | Darryal Wilson | Wide receiver | Tennessee |
| 3 | 74 | Stephen Starring | Wide receiver | McNeese State |
| 3 | 80 | Steve Moore | Guard | Tennessee State |
| 4 | 101 | Johnny Rembert * | Linebacker | Clemson |
| 5 | 118 | Smiley Creswell | Defensive end | Michigan State |
| 5 | 128 | Darryl Lewis | Tight end | Texas-Arlington |
| 6 | 155 | Mike Bass | Placekicker | Illinois |
| 7 | 187 | Craig James * | Running back | Southern Methodist |
| 8 | 214 | Ronnie Lippett | Cornerback | Miami (FL) |
| 9 | 233 | Ricky Williams | Running back | Langston |
| 9 | 240 | Mark Keel | Tight end | Arizona |
| 10 | 264 | James Williams | Tight end | Wyoming |
| 10 | 265 | Toby Williams | Defensive end | Nebraska |
| 10 | 267 | Tom Ramsey | Quarterback | UCLA |
| 11 | 292 | Steve Parker | Wide receiver | Abilene Christian |
| 11 | 294 | Calvin Eason | Defensive back | Houston |
| 12 | 319 | Waddell Kelly | Running back | Arkansas State |
| 12 | 326 | Andy Ekern | Offensive tackle | Missouri |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## 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 | Giants 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

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Miami Dolphins$^{(2)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 389 | 250 | W5 |
| New England Patriots | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 274 | 289 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 7–5 | 283 | 351 | L2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–5 | 5–9 | 264 | 354 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–5 | 4–8 | 313 | 331 | L2 |