| Team: | New England Patriots |
| Year: | 1983 |
| Record: | 8–8 |
| Division Place: | T-2nd AFC East |
| Coach: | Ron Meyer |
| General Manager: | Patrick Sullivan |
| Owner: | Billy Sullivan |
| Stadium: | Sullivan Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | P Rich Camarillo CB Raymond Clayborn RB Tony Collins G John Hannah T Brian Holloway |
| Ap All-Pros: | G John Hannah (1st team) P Rich Camarillo (2nd team) |
| Shortnavlink: | Patriots seasons |
The 1983 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League and 24th overall. The Patriots played inconsistently all season, but at 8–7 had a chance for a playoff spot with a win in their final game of the season in Seattle. The Patriots would have problems with turnovers as rookie quarterback Tony Eason was swallowed up in a 24–6 loss to the Seahawks.
In the first week of December, in shocking conditions with sleet and snow,[1] the Patriots’ game with wild card contender New Orleans Saints saw just one score set up by Ricky Smith returning the Saints’ initial kickoff to the 3-yard line. As of 2023, this game remains the most recent 7–0 result in NFL history,[2] with only three games since seeing just one score,[3] all three of which a single field goal was the only score.[4]
See main article: 1983 NFL draft.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4 | Baltimore Colts | L 23–29 | 0–1 | Sullivan Stadium | 45,526 | ||
| 2 | September 11 | at Miami Dolphins | L 24–34 | 0–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | 59,343 | ||
| 3 | September 18 | New York Jets | W 23–13 | 1–2 | Sullivan Stadium | 43,182 | ||
| 4 | September 25 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 28–23 | 2–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | 58,282 | ||
| 5 | October 2 | San Francisco 49ers | L 13–33 | 2–3 | Sullivan Stadium | 54,293 | ||
| 6 | October 9 | at Baltimore Colts | L 7–12 | 2–4 | Memorial Stadium | 35,618 | ||
| 7 | October 16 | San Diego Chargers | W 37–21 | 3–4 | Sullivan Stadium | 59,016 | ||
| 8 | October 23 | at Buffalo Bills | W 31–0 | 4–4 | Rich Stadium | 60,424 | ||
| 9 | October 30 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 13–24 | 4–5 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 47,546 | ||
| 10 | November 6 | Buffalo Bills | W 21–7 | 5–5 | Sullivan Stadium | 42,604 | ||
| 11 | November 13 | Miami Dolphins | W 17–6 | 6–5 | Sullivan Stadium | 60,771 | ||
| 12 | November 20 | Cleveland Browns | L 0–30 | 6–6 | Sullivan Stadium | 40,987 | ||
| 13 | November 27 | at New York Jets | L 3–26 | 6–7 | Giants Stadium | 48,620 | ||
| 14 | December 4 | W 7–0 | 7–7 | Sullivan Stadium | 24,579 | |||
| 15 | December 11 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 21–7 | 8–7 | Anaheim Stadium | 46,503 | ||
| 16 | December 18 | L 6–24 | 8–8 | Kingdome | 59,688 | |||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | ||||||||