1983 Los Angeles Rams season


The 1983 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 46th year with the National Football League and the 38th season in the city of Los Angeles. The franchise drafted a future Hall of Fame Running Back in Eric Dickerson. The season saw the team attempt to improve on its 2-7 record from 1982. The team started out 5-2 before splitting their next 4 games and then lost at home to Washington to sit at 7-5. They would split their last 4 games to finish 9-7 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1980 after a 2-year absence. In the playoffs, they defeated the Cowboys 24-17 in Dallas to advance to the Divisional Round. However, in the game, the Rams were annihilated 7–51 by the Redskins, who would move on to the Super Bowl, only to lose to the other Los Angeles NFL team, the Los Angeles Raiders, 38–9.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Regular season

Eric Dickerson

While he considered going to the Los Angeles Express in the United States Football League, Dickerson decided to go into the National Football League at the advice of his mother because the NFL had been around longer. He was selected second overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. An immediate pro success, he established rookie records for most rushing attempts, most rushing yards gained and most touchdowns rushing, including another two receiving touchdowns. His efforts earned him All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultSummaryAttendance
1September 4, 1983at New York GiantsW 16–6Vince Ferragamo tossed 2 touchdown passes to new TE Mike Barber and rookie Eric Dickerson rushed for 91 yards on 31 carries in his Ram debut. Rams were also buoyed by the defense, which sacked Giants QB Scott Brunner five times and intercepted 3 passes.
75,281
2September 11, 1983New Orleans SaintsW 30–27In a barnburner of a game, the Saints took a late 4th quarter lead, 27–21, on a Ken Stabler touchdown pass to Eugene Goodlow. After stalling on their next drive, the Rams pinned the Saints deep and punter Russell Erxleben chose to run out of the end zone for a safety. However, Ferragamo and the Rams took the free kick and drove to the winning score on a 3-yard run by Dickerson, his third of the day.
45,572
3September 18, 1983at Green Bay PackersL 27–24Rams fought back from a 17–3 halftime deficit with 21 unanswered points in the third. Ferragamo threw for 2 touchdowns and Dickerson rushed for another, but the Packers came back in the fourth and won a late FG.
54,037
4September 25, 1983at New York JetsL 27–24Dickerson ripped off an 85-yard touchdown run on the Rams' second play from scrimmage and finished with 192 yards rushing, but the Jets prevailed in OT as Richard Todd passed for 446 yards and two touchdowns. This game was marred by a brawl between Rams OT Jackie Slater and Jets DE Mark Gastineau after Gastineau did his infamous "sack dance".
52,070
5October 2, 1983Detroit LionsW 21–10New superstar Dickerson paved the way as Rams got back on winning track, rushing for 199 yards and all three Rams touchdowns.
49,403
6October 9, 1983at San Francisco 49ersW 10–7Rams gained an early upper hand in the NFC West in a tough defensive struggle on the road. Dickerson rushed for 142 yards and the Rams only touchdown
59,118
7October 16, 1983Atlanta FalconsW 27–21Rams fought back from a 21–7 deficit as Ferragamo hit Mike Guman on a late touchdown pass. Dickerson was held in check, but scored two more touchdowns.
50,404
8October 23, 1983San Francisco 49ersL 45–3549ers prevailed in a slugfest, overcoming 5 touchdown passes by Ferragamo and 144 yards rushing by Dickerson. The 49ers rallied from a 28–17 deficit by scoring 28 fourth quarter points, the go-ahead touchdown coming when DE Dwaine Board recovered a Dickerson fumble in the end zone. Joe Montana tossed 3 touchdowns for the winners.
66,070
9October 30, 1983at Miami DolphinsL 30–14Dolphins pulled away in the second half behind rookie QB Dan Marino, who passed for 2 touchdowns and ran for another.
72,175
10November 6, 1983Chicago BearsW 21–14Rams rolled to a 14–0 halftime lead and held on. Dickerson had 127 yards and 2 more touchdowns
53,010
11November 14, 1983at Atlanta FalconsW 36–13Dickerson and backup Barry Redden both went over 100 yards rushing and Ferragamo passed for two touchdowns in this Monday night rout.
31,202
12November 20, 1983Washington RedskinsL 42–20Rams were blown out at home by the defending Super Bowl champs. The Redskins rolled up 479 yards of offense and got 3 rushing touchdowns from John Riggins and 4 FG's from Mark Moseley.
63,031
13November 27, 1983Buffalo BillsW 41–17Ferragamo passed for 3 touchdowns and Dickerson ran for 125 yards and another touchdown. CB Johnnie Johnson sealed the victory with a 60-yard INT return for a touchdown late.
48,246
14December 4, 1983at Philadelphia EaglesL 13–9In a tough game in the cold at Philadelphia, the Rams couldn't crack the end zone and the Eagles won on a Ron Jaworski touchdown pass late.
32,867
15December 11, 1983New England PatriotsL 21–7This was a sloppy clunker for the Rams at home as Mosi Tatupu ran for all three Patriots touchdowns and the Rams lost six fumbles. The loss eliminated the Rams from the NFC West division race.
46,503
16December 18, 1983at New Orleans SaintsW 26–24Needing a win for a playoff berth, the Rams failed to cross the goal line on offense, but were helped by defense and special teams on the road. In a nip-and-tuck battle, the Saints scored first on a Stabler touchdown pass. The Rams then ran off 16 unanswered points on a Jack Youngblood safety, a punt return touchdown by Henry Ellard, and an INT return touchdown by Johnnie Johnson. The Saints got a touchdown run by backup QB Dave Wilson and a FG, but then Nolan Cromwell returned an INT for a touchdown. After the Saints scored their final touchdown to go up by one, Mike Lansford won it for the Rams on a late FG.
70,148

September 25, 1983

Week 4: Los Angeles Rams 24, New York Jets 27

Playoffs

December 26, 1983

NFC: Los Angeles Rams 24, Dallas Cowboys 17

January 1, 1984

NFC: Washington Redskins 51, Los Angeles Rams 7

Standings

Awards and honors