1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head Coach	Chuck Noll
Home Field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	10–6
Place	1st in AFC Central
Playoff Finish	Lost to Los Angeles Raiders in Divisional Playoff
Pro Bowlers	PK Gary Anderson LB Jack Lambert C Mike Webster
Team MVP	Gary Anderson
Timeline
Previous season	Next season
1982	1984

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Location	Time (ET)	TV	Result	Record
1	Sunday September 4	Denver Broncos	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	L 14–10	0–1
2	Sunday September 11	Green Bay Packers	Lambeau Field	1:00 pm	NBC	W 25–21	1–1
3	Sunday September 18	Houston Oilers	Astrodome	1:00 pm	NBC	W 40–28	2–1
4	Sunday September 25	New England Patriots	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	L 28–23	2–2
5	Sunday October 2	Houston Oilers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 17–10	3–2
6	Monday October 10	Cincinnati Bengals	Riverfront Stadium	9:00 pm	ABC	W 24–14	4–2
7	Sunday October 16	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 44–17	5–2
8	Sunday October 23	Seattle Seahawks	Kingdome	4:00 pm	NBC	W 27–21	6–2
9	Sunday October 30	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	CBS	W 17–12	7–2
10	Sunday November 6	San Diego Chargers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	W 26–3	8–2
11	Sunday November 13	Baltimore Colts	Memorial Stadium	2:00 pm	NBC	W 24–13	9–2
12	Sunday November 20	Minnesota Vikings	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	CBS	L 17–14	9–3
13	Thursday November 24	Detroit Lions	Pontiac Silverdome	12:30 pm	NBC	L 45–3	9–4
14	Sunday December 4	Cincinnati Bengals	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	L 23–10	9–5
15	Saturday December 10	New York Jets	Shea Stadium	12:30 pm	NBC	W 34–7	10–5
16	Sunday December 18	Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	1:00 pm	NBC	L 30–17	10–6

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 4, 1983): vs. Denver Broncos

	1	2	3	4	OT
Broncos	0	7	0	7	14
Steelers	0	7	3	0	10

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 58,233
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers: (NBC) Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Denver – Winder 1 run (Karlis kick)
• Pittsburgh – F. Harris 4 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Denver – Egloff 2 pass from DeBerg (Karlis kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 11, 1983): at Green Bay Packers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	7	6	3	9	25
Packers	7	7	0	7	21

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 58,144
• Referee: Fred Silva
• TV announcers: (NBC) Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – F. Harris 3 run (Anderson kick)
• Green Bay – Lofton 71 pass from Dickey (Stenerud kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stoudt 1 run (kick blocked)
• Green Bay – Lofton 73 pass from Dickey (Stenerud kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Green Bay – Lofton 13 pass from Dickey (Stenerud kick)
• Pittsburgh – Safety, Kohrs tackled Dickey in end zone

Week 3 (Sunday September 18, 1983): at Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	6	6	14	14	40
Oilers	7	0	0	21	28

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 44,150
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
• Houston – Roaches 97 kickoff return (Kempf kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
• Pittsburgh – F. Harris 6 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 30 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Hinkle 14 interception return (Anderson kick)
• Houston – Moriarty 1 run (Kempf kick)
• Houston – Campbell 1 run (Kempf kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 50 run (Anderson kick)
• Houston – Walls 28 pass from Manning (Kempf kick)

Week 4 (Sunday September 25, 1983): vs. New England Patriots

	1	2	3	4	OT
Patriots	7	7	7	7	28
Steelers	7	6	0	10	23

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 55,282
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Sweeney 3 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• New England – Weishuhn 27 run with lateral of interception by Nelson (J. Smith kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
• New England – Ramsey 4 pass from Grogan (J. Smith kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
• New England – Collins 4 run (J. Smith kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 26 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• New England – Starring 76 pass from Grogan (J. Smith kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 2, 1983): vs. Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Oilers	0	3	7	0	10
Steelers	0	7	0	10	17

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 56,901
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Houston – FG Kempf 34
• Houston – Campbell 1 run (Kempf kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 51 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18

Week 6 (Monday October 10, 1983): at Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	7	3	0	14	24
Bengals	0	14	0	0	14

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 56,086
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & O.J. Simpson (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Woods 38 fumble return (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
• Cincinnati – Johnson 1 run (Breech kick)
• Cincinnati – J. Griffin 41 interception return (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – Johnson 34 interception return (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Clayton 70 interception return (Anderson kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 16, 1983): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	OT
Browns	3	7	7	0	17
Steelers	20	14	0	10	44

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 59,263
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Merriweather 31 interception return (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 27
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
• Cleveland – Green 23 run (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – F. Harris 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Sweeney 40 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – Green 1 run (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
• Pittsburgh – Best 94 fumble return (Anderson kick)

Week 8 (Sunday October 23, 1983): at Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	7	17	0	3	27
Seahawks	0	0	7	14	21

at The Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

• Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 61,615
• Referee: Gordon McCarter
• TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – F. Harris 9 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stoudt 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
• Seattle – Warner 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
• Seattle – Largent 21 pass from Krieg (N. Johnson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
• Seattle – Johns 26 pass from Krieg (N. Johnson kick)

Week 9 (Sunday October 30, 1983): vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Buccanneers	6	3	3	0	12
Steelers	0	0	0	17	17

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 57,468
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Kelly (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Tampa Bay – FG Capece 26
• Tampa Bay – FG Capece 49
• Tampa Bay – FG Capece 27
• Tampa Bay – FG Capece 28
• Pittsburgh – Capers 11 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 2 run (Anderson kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 6, 1983): vs. San Diego Chargers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Chargers	0	3	0	0	3
Steelers	17	3	3	3	26

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 58,191
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers: (NBC) Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 6 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
• Pittsburgh – Blount 3 fumble return (Anderson kick)
• San Diego – FG Benirschke 39
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42

Week 11 (Sunday November 13, 1983): at Baltimore Colts

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	7	10	0	7	24
Colts	3	3	7	0	13

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

• Game time: 2:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 57,319
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• TV announcers: (NBC) Merle Harmon (play by play), Jim Turner (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 11 run (Anderson kick)
• Baltimore – FG Allegre 46
• Baltimore – FG Allegre 37
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
• Pittsburgh – Sweeney 7 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Baltimore – Dickey 5 run (Allegre kick)
• Pittsburgh – Cunningham 2 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 20, 1983): vs. Minnesota Vikings

	1	2	3	4	OT
Vikings	7	0	10	0	17
Steelers	7	0	0	7	14

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 58,417
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Kelly (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Cunningham 3 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Minnesota – McCullum 30 pass from Dils (Ricardo kick)
• Minnesota – Galbreath 6 pass from Dils (Ricardo kick)
• Minnesota – FG Ricardo 39
• Pittsburgh – Stoudt 4 run (Anderson kick)

Week 13 (Thursday November 24, 1983): at Detroit Lions

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	3	0	0	3
Lions	17	7	7	14	45

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

• Game time: 12:30 pm EST
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 77,724
• Referee: Gene Barth
• TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Detroit – Sims 2 run (Murray kick)
• Detroit – FG Murray 27
• Detroit – Norris 13 pass from Hipple (Murray kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
• Detroit – Sims 2 run (Murray kick)
• Detroit – Martin 81 punt return (Murray kick)
• Detroit – Norris 4 yd pass from Eric Hipple (Murray kick)
• Detroit- Chadwick 5 pass from Danielson (Murray kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 4, 1983): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bengals	14	3	3	3	23
Steelers	0	3	0	7	10

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 55,832
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Cincinnati – Johnson 1 run (Breech kick)
• Cincinnati – Johnson 16 run (Breech kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 19
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 27
• Pittsburgh – F. Harris 29 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 32

Week 15 (Saturday December 10, 1983): at New York Jets

See also: 1983 New York Jets season

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 7 13 7 7 34 Jets 0 0 7 0 7 at Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY Date: December 10 Game time: 12:30 pm EST Game weather: 45 °F, wind 12 mph Game attendance: 53,996 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen Box Score

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring Information Score Plays Yards TOP Steelers Jets 1 Steelers Gregg Garrity 17-yard touchdown reception from Terry Bradshaw, Gary Anderson kick good 7 0 2 Steelers Calvin Sweeney 10-yard touchdown reception from Terry Bradshaw, Gary Anderson kick good 14 0 2 Steelers 29-yard field goal by Gary Anderson 17 0 2 Steelers 40-yard field goal by Gary Anderson 20 0 3 Steelers Bennie Cunningham 13-yard touchdown reception from Cliff Stoudt, Gary Anderson kick good 27 0 3 Jets Johnny Lam Jones 27-yard touchdown reception from Pat Ryan, Pat Leahy kick good 27 7 4 Steelers Calvin Sweeney 18-yard touchdown reception from Cliff Stoudt, Gary Anderson kick good 34 7 "TOP" = Time of Possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 34 7

Week 16 (Sunday December 18, 1983): at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	3	7	0	7	17
Browns	9	14	7	0	30

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 72,313
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers: (NBC) Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
• Cleveland – Belk 64 pass from Sipe (kick failed)
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 30
• Cleveland – Holt 3 pass from Sipe (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stoudt 3 run (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – Feacher 4 pass from Sipe (Bahr kick)
• Cleveland – Holt 1 pass from Sipe (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – F. Harris 2 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
Pittsburgh Steelers	10	6	0	.625	355	303	L-1
Cleveland Browns	9	7	0	.563	356	342	W-1
Cincinnati Bengals	7	9	0	.438	346	302	L-1
Houston Oilers	2	14	0	.125	288	460	L-1

Playoffs

Game summary

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 1, 1984): at Los Angeles Raiders

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	3	0	7	0	10
Raiders	7	10	21	0	38

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 90,380
• Referee: Gene Barth
• TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 17
• Los Angeles Raiders – Hayes 18 interception return (Bahr kick)
• Los Angeles Raiders – Allen 4 run (Bahr kick)
• Los Angeles Raiders – FG Bahr 45
• Los Angeles Raiders – King 9 run (Bahr kick)
• Los Angeles Raiders – Allen 49 run (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 58 pass from Stoudt (Anderson kick)
• Los Angeles Raiders – Hawkins 2 run (Bahr kick)