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1983 Detroit Lions season
Head Coach Monte Clark
Home Field Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record 9–7
Place 1st NFC Central
Playoff Finish Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 23–24
Timeline
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1982 1984

The 1983 Detroit Lions season was the 54th season in franchise history. Despite an awful 1-4 start, the Lions rallied to finish with a 9-7 record. They were able to rise to the top of a weak NFC Central, to claim their first division championship since 1957 and the first time the team had made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since making it three straight years from 1960-1962. The Lions would not return to the postseason for another eight years.

The offense ranked 15th in the NFL in points scored, leaving the defense to carry the load. The Lions’ defense turned out to be the second-best in the league in points allowed, keyed defensive tackle Doug English and his 13 sacks. English was the team’s only Pro Bowler, though he also got some help from defensive end William Gay, who registered 13 ½ sacks of his own. In the NFC playoffs, the Lions lead the San Francisco 49ers late into the 4th Quarter, until Joe Montana drove the 49ers down the field for a 14-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Solomon to give the 49ers a 24–23 lead. The Lions would have a chance to win the game, as Gary Danielson drove them into field goal range, but placekicker Eddie Murray missed a 44-yard field goal with five seconds remaining. [1]

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

Round Pick Player Position School
1 13 James Jones FB Florida
2 40 Rich Strenger OT Michigan
3 67 Mike Cofer LB Tennessee
4 94 August Curley LB USC
5 115 Demetrious Johnson S Missouri
5 121 Steve Mott C Alabama
6 154 Todd Brown WR Nebraska
7 181 Mike Black P Arizona State
8 208 Bill Stapleton DB Washington
10 261 Dave Laube G Penn State
11 287 Ben Tate RB North Carolina Central
12 321 Jim Lane C Idaho State


Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 4, 1983 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 11–0
62,154
2 September 11, 1983 Cleveland Browns L 31–26
60,095
3 September 18, 1983 Atlanta Falcons L 30–14
54,622
4 September 25, 1983 at Minnesota Vikings L 20–17
58,254
5 October 2, 1983 at Los Angeles Rams L 21–10
49,403
6 October 9, 1983 Green Bay Packers W 38–14
67,738
7 October 16, 1983 Chicago Bears W 31–17
66,709
8 October 23, 1983 at Washington Redskins L 38–17
43,189
9 October 30, 1983 at Chicago Bears W 38–17
58,764
10 November 7, 1983 New York Giants W 15–9
68,985
11 November 13, 1983 at Houston Oilers L 27–17
40,660
12 November 20, 1983 at Green Bay Packers W 23–20 OT
50,050
13 November 24, 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers W 45–3
77,724
14 December 5, 1983 Minnesota Vikings W 13–2
79,169
15 December 11, 1983 at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–9
45,728
16 December 18, 1983 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–20
78,392

Game summaries[]

Week 1[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Lions 5 0 3 3 11
Buccaneers 0 0 0 0 0

[2]


Standings[]

Template:1983 NFC Central standings

Final Roster[]

1983 Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics
49 Active, 3 Inactive, 0 Practice squad

Postseason[]

NFC Divisional Playoff, San Francisco 49ers 24, Detroit Lions 23
1 2 3 4 Total
Lions 3 6 0 14

23

49ers 7 7 3 7

24

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 59,286
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil

Awards and records[]

References[]

AFC East Central West East Central West NFC
Baltimore Cincinnati Denver Dallas Chicago Atlanta
Buffalo Cleveland Kansas City NY Giants Detroit LA Rams
Miami Houston LA Raiders Philadelphia Green Bay New Orleans
New England Pittsburgh San Diego St. Louis Minnesota San Francisco
NY Jets Seattle Washington Tampa Bay
1983 NFL DraftNFL PlayoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XVIII
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