1983 Dallas Cowboys season

1983 Dallas Cowboys season
Head coach	Tom Landry
General manager	Tex Schramm
Owner	Clint Murchison Jr.
Home field	Texas Stadium
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	2nd NFC East
Playoff finish	Lost wild card playoffs (Rams) 24–17
← 1982 Cowboys seasons 1984 →

1 2 3 4 Total • Cowboys (2–0) 0 17 7 10 34 Cardinals (0–2) 10 0 0 7 17 Date: September 11 Location: Busch Stadium • St. Louis, Missouri Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), wind 10 mph Referee: Tom Dooley

Scoring summary 1 STL Roy Green 39-yard pass from Jim Hart (Neil O'Donoghue kick) Cardinals 7–0 1 STL Neil O'Donoghue 23-yard field goal Cardinals 10–0 2 DAL Ron Springs 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cardinals 10–7 2 DAL Drew Pearson 10-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 14–10 2 DAL Rafael Septien 45-yard field goal Cowboys 17–10 3 DAL Ron Springs 19-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 24–10 4 DAL Dennis Thurman recovered fumble in end zone (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 31–10 4 STL Stump Mitchell 5-yard run (Neil O'Donoghue kick) Cowboys 31–17 4 DAL Rafael Septien 24-yard field goal Cowboys 34–17

Scoring summary
1		STL	Roy Green 39-yard pass from Jim Hart (Neil O'Donoghue kick)	Cardinals 7–0
1		STL	Neil O'Donoghue 23-yard field goal	Cardinals 10–0
2		DAL	Ron Springs 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	Cardinals 10–7
2		DAL	Drew Pearson 10-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 14–10
2		DAL	Rafael Septien 45-yard field goal	Cowboys 17–10
3		DAL	Ron Springs 19-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 24–10
4		DAL	Dennis Thurman recovered fumble in end zone (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 31–10
4		STL	Stump Mitchell 5-yard run (Neil O'Donoghue kick)	Cowboys 31–17
4		DAL	Rafael Septien 24-yard field goal	Cowboys 34–17

1 2 3 4 Total Giants (1–2) 3 0 10 0 13 • Cowboys (3–0) 0 14 0 14 28 Date: September 18 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 3:00 p.m. Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind 15 Referee: Jerry Markbreit

Scoring summary 1 NYG Ali Haji-Sheikh 31-yard field goal Giants 3–0 2 DAL Doug Cosbie 4-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 7–3 2 DAL Doug Cosbie 2-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 14–3 3 NYG Butch Woolfolk 1-yard run (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick) Cowboys 14–10 3 NYG Ali Haji-Sheikh 27-yard field goal Cowboys 14–13 4 DAL Dextor Clinkscale 68-yard interception return (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 21–13 4 DAL Michael Downs 10-yard fumble return (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 28–13

Scoring summary
1		NYG	Ali Haji-Sheikh 31-yard field goal	Giants 3–0
2		DAL	Doug Cosbie 4-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 7–3
2		DAL	Doug Cosbie 2-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 14–3
3		NYG	Butch Woolfolk 1-yard run (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick)	Cowboys 14–10
3		NYG	Ali Haji-Sheikh 27-yard field goal	Cowboys 14–13
4		DAL	Dextor Clinkscale 68-yard interception return (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 21–13
4		DAL	Michael Downs 10-yard fumble return (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 28–13

1 2 3 4 Total Chiefs (5–7) 0 0 14 7 21 • Cowboys (10–2) 10 10 7 14 41 Date: November 20 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 3:00 p.m. Game weather: 54 degrees, relative humidity 49, round(wind) 17.6 mph Referee: Jerry Markbreit Television network: NBC

Scoring summary 1 DAL Ron Springs 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 7–0 1 DAL Rafael Septien 25-yard field goal DAL 10–0 2 DAL Tony Dorsett 28-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 17–0 2 DAL Rafael Septien 40-yard field goal DAL 20–0 3 DAL Tony Dorsett 32-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 27–0 3 KC Carlos Carson 13-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick) DAL 27–7 3 KC Carlos Carson 48-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick) DAL 27–14 4 DAL Timmy Newsome 7-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 34–14 4 DAL Gary Allen 68-yard punt return (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 41–14 4 KC Stephone Paige 7-yard pass from Todd Blackledge (Nick Lowery kick) DAL 41–21

Scoring summary
1		DAL	Ron Springs 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 7–0
1		DAL	Rafael Septien 25-yard field goal	DAL 10–0
2		DAL	Tony Dorsett 28-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 17–0
2		DAL	Rafael Septien 40-yard field goal	DAL 20–0
3		DAL	Tony Dorsett 32-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 27–0
3		KC	Carlos Carson 13-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick)	DAL 27–7
3		KC	Carlos Carson 48-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick)	DAL 27–14
4		DAL	Timmy Newsome 7-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 34–14
4		DAL	Gary Allen 68-yard punt return (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 41–14
4		KC	Stephone Paige 7-yard pass from Todd Blackledge (Nick Lowery kick)	DAL 41–21

The Dallas Cowboys completed the 1983 season with a record of 12 wins and four losses, finishing second in the NFC East. The team started the season with seven straight victories, including a memorable Monday night win over the Washington Redskins in which the team erased a 20-point halftime deficit and prevailed, 31–30. The Cowboys were particularly strong on offense, led by quarterback Danny White and running back Tony Dorsett. The Cowboys scored a team record 479 points and staged a few come-from-behind victories during the season. However, the defense gave up many points, despite strong play from Randy White, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, and Everson Walls. In particular, the young secondary was guilty of giving up many big plays throughout the season.

Late in the season, the Cowboys met the Redskins at Texas Stadium with the NFC East crown up for grabs. Both teams entered the game with 12–2 records, but the defending champion Redskins proved too much for the Cowboys and emerged with a 31–10 victory, giving them the NFC East title. After a 42–17 drubbing at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers the following week, the Cowboys faced the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card game of the NFC playoffs. Despite having the home field advantage, the Cowboys fell, 24–17.

During the Redskins loss with the score 14–10 in the third quarter, the Cowboys failed on a fourth and one at midfield. The play was a key turning point. There appeared to be a miscommunication between quarterback Danny White and Tom Landry as to whether to run the play. The failed play led to a rare emotional outburst from Landry as he yelled "No, Danny, no."

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