The 1983 Season

Record: 12-4
2nd in NFC Eastern Division

Synopsis:

The 1983 Cowboys were much like the 1982 team, just a year older. The draft only yielded one impact player--Jim Jeffcoat. Again, the draft failed to yield those younger stars.

Dallas blasted out of the gates with one of their best starts. Dallas won their first 7 games. The concern was most games were close. Dallas blitzed the league to a 12-2 record through 14 games and looked as if the Cowboys of old. The last two games to the best of the NFC erased any comparison to the great Cowboy teams. Dallas lost to Washington 31-10 and San Francisco 42-17 to end the season on a low note. The 12-4 record was good enough for second in the NFC East and another trip to playoffs. The Cowboys scored a record 479 points. Record for them, the Redskins scored 541. The Cowboys defense also allowed a record 360.

The Cowboys began the playoffs with one thing in mind -- end the streak of losses in the NFC Championship Game which now stood at three. The Cowboys were successful in stopping the streak, but not how they envisioned. The Cowboys were rudely bounced from the playoffs in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams 24-17. The loss signaled that change was just around the corner and the Cowboys would have a completely different feel to them before 1984.

Notables:

• Tony Dorsett sets NFL record 99 yard run from scrimmage vs. Minnesota on January 3.
• Roger Staubach inducted into "Ring of Honor" on October 9
• Ground broke for new headquarters at Valley Ranch

see 1983 NFL Standings