The 1983 season was the Los Angeles Raiders' 14th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 24th season overall, and their second season in Los Angeles. The team began by attempting to improve on their 8–1 record from 1982 and went on to win the Super Bowl for the third time in franchise history. Prior to the Los Angeles Rams victory in Super Bowl LVI, the 1983 Raiders were the only NFL team to win the Super Bowl while based in Los Angeles. They became the 2nd team in NFL history to win 3 Super Bowls, the first being the Steelers. As of 2025, this is the Raiders' most recent championship; they also would not make another appearance in the Super Bowl until the 2002 season, by then back in Oakland.

NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled Just Win, Baby!; it was narrated by John Facenda, the 16th and final Raiders highlight film narrated by Facenda, who died on September 26, 1984. On November 24, 2006, NFL Network aired America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, in which they ranked the 1983 Raiders at #20; the film was narrated by Alec Baldwin and featured commentary from players Marcus Allen, Todd Christensen and Howie Long.

Offseason

NFL draft During the draft the Raiders had attempted to execute a 3-team trade that would have brought future Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway to Los Angeles, but this trade was blocked, and Elway was instead drafted by the Colts, for whom he refused to play, then traded to the Broncos.

1983 Los Angeles Raiders Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 26 Don Mosebar C USC 2 54 Bill Pickel NT Rutgers 3 82 Tony Caldwell LB Washington 4 110 Greg Townsend DE TCU 5 138 Dokie Williams WR UCLA 6 166Traded to the Washington Redskins 7 194 Jeff McCall RB Clemson 8 222 Mike Dotterer RB Stanford 9 249 Kent Jordan TE St. Mary's 10 277 Mervyn Fernandez WR San Jose State 11 305Traded to the Cleveland Browns 12 333 Scott Lindquist QB Northern Arizona

Personnel Staff / Coaches

Roster

Training Camp The 1983 Los Angeles Raiders training camp facility was the El Rancho Tropicana in Santa Rosa, California.

Preseason

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap 1 San Francisco 49ers W 26–23 ) 1–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 41,337 Recap 2 at New York Jets L 17–20 1–1 Giants Stadium 43,392 Recap 3 Chicago Bears L 21–27 1–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 30,187 Recap 4 at Cleveland Browns L 17–20 1–3 Cleveland Stadium 61,844 Recap

Game summaries

Week P1 (Saturday, August 6, 1983): vs. San Francisco 49ers

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

49ersGame statisticsRaiders First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession

Week P2 (Saturday, August 13, 1983): at New York Jets

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

RaidersGame statisticsJets First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession

Week P3 (Saturday, August 20, 1983): vs. Chicago Bears

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

BearsGame statisticsRaiders First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession

Week P4 (Friday, August 26, 1983): at Cleveland Browns

Point spread: Over/under: Time of game:

RaidersGame statisticsBrowns First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession

Regular season

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 4 at Cincinnati Bengals W 20–10 1–0 Riverfront Stadium 50,956 Recap 2 September 11 Houston Oilers W 20–6 2–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 37,526 Recap 3 Miami Dolphins W 27–14 3–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 57,796 Recap 4 September 25 at Denver Broncos W 22–7 4–0 Mile High Stadium 74,289 Recap 5 October 2 at Washington Redskins L 35–37 4–1 RFK Stadium 54,106 Recap 6 October 9 Kansas City Chiefs W 21–20 5–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 40,492 Recap 7 October 16 at Seattle Seahawks L 36–38 5–2 The Kingdome 60,967 Recap 8 October 23 at Dallas Cowboys W 40–38 6–2 Texas Stadium 64,991 Recap 9 October 30 Seattle Seahawks L 21–34 6–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 49,708 Recap 10 November 6 at Kansas City Chiefs W 28–20 7–3 Arrowhead Stadium 75,497 Recap 11 November 13 Denver Broncos W 22–20 8–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 57,562 Recap 12 November 20 at Buffalo Bills W 27–24 9–3 Rich Stadium 72,393 Recap 13 November 27 New York Giants W 27–12 10–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 41,473 Recap 14 at San Diego Chargers W 42–10 11–3 Jack Murphy Stadium 47,760 Recap 15 December 11 St. Louis Cardinals L 24–34 11–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 32,111 Recap 16 December 18 San Diego Chargers W 30–14 12–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 57,325 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday, September 4, 1983): at Cincinnati Bengals The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Oct-01.

Point spread: Raiders +2 Over/under: 42.0 (under) Time of game:

RaidersGame statisticsBengals22 First downs 1740–124 Rushes–yards 16–58158 Passing yards 22614–30–1 26–35–13–25 Sacked–yards 4–23133 Net passing yards 203257 Total yards 26160 Return yards 1105–37.4 5–38.80–0 Fumbles–lost 4–28–65 Penalties–yards 8–7435:37 Time of possession 24:23

Individual stats Raiders Passing C/ATT1YdsTDINTSkYdsLG3RatePlunkett14/29158013252650.6Allen0/100000039.6

Raiders Rushing Car2YdsTDLG3Allen174728King103408Pruitt532018Hawkins2503Montgomery1505Plunkett5105

Raiders ReceivingRec4YdsTDLG3Barnwell566026Christensen335018Allen319010King217010Branch111011

Raiders Kick ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt22512.500

Raiders Punt ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt3217.000

Raiders PuntingPntYdsY/PLngBlckGuy519438.8

Raiders KickingFGM–FGAXPM–XPABahr2–22–2

Raiders SacksSacksAlzado2.0Pickel2.0

Raiders InterceptionsIntYdsTDLGPDMillen114014

Starting Lineups Position Starting Lineups at Cincinnati Offense WR Cliff Branch LT Bruce Davis LG Charley Hannah C Dave Dalby RG Mickey Marvin RT Henry Lawrence TE Todd Christensen WR Malcolm Barnwell QB Jim Plunkett FB Kenny King RB Marcus Allen Defense LDE Howie Long NT Reggie Kinlaw RDE Lyle Alzado LOLB Ted Hendricks LILB Matt Millen RILB Bob Nelson ROLB Rod Martin LCB Lester Hayes RCB Ted Watts SS Mike Davis FS Vann McElroy

Week 2 (Sunday, September 11, 1983): vs. Houston Oilers The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Oct-01.

Point spread: Raiders −10 Over/under: 44.0 (under) Time of game:

OilersGame statisticsRaiders7 First downs 2627–153 Rushes–yards 36–186107 Passing yards 2296–19–2 19–28–25–37 Sacked–yards 3–2970 Net passing yards 200177 Total yards 38697 Return yards 466–37.3 2–38.51–0 Fumbles–lost 2–28–61 Penalties–yards 3–3027:03 Time of possession 32:57

Individual stats Raiders Passing C/ATT1YdsTDINTSkYdsLG3RatePlunkett19/28229123295074.9

Raiders Rushing Car2YdsTDLG3Allen1796019Pruitt341116King92717Hawkins423010Plunkett2003Willis1−10−1

Raiders ReceivingRec4YdsTDLG3Christensen658116Allen429011Branch375050King324011Barnwell231019Muhammad112012

Raiders Kick ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt11313.000Martin100.000

Raiders Punt ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt4338.300

Raiders PuntingPntYdsY/PLngBlckGuy27738.5

Raiders KickingFGM–FGAXPM–XPAMFGBahr2–30–336, 41, 26

Raiders SacksSacksAlzado2.0Davis1.0Nelson1.0Reese1.0

Raiders InterceptionsIntYdsTDLGPDMartin1000McElroy1000

Starting Lineups Position Starting Lineups vs. Houston Offense WR Cliff Branch LT Bruce Davis LG Charley Hannah C Dave Dalby RG Steve Sylvester RT Henry Lawrence TE Todd Christensen WR Malcolm Barnwell QB Jim Plunkett FB Kenny King RB Marcus Allen Defense LDE Howie Long NT Reggie Kinlaw RDE Lyle Alzado LOLB Ted Hendricks LILB Matt Millen RILB Bob Nelson ROLB Rod Martin LCB Lester Hayes RCB Ted Watts SS Mike Davis FS Vann McElroy

Week 3 (Monday, September 19, 1983): vs. Miami Dolphins The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Oct-01.

Point spread: Raiders —1½ Over/under: 39.5 (over) Time of game: 2 hours, 57 minutes

DolphinsGame statisticsRaiders19 First downs 2129—101 Rushes–yards 38—152234 Passing yards 16221—35—1 11—15—03—27 Sacked–yards 6—43207 Net passing yards 119308 Total yards 271102 Return yards 365—45.8 4—47.32—1 Fumbles–lost 2—15—41 Penalties–yards 5—5128:35 Time of possession 31:25

Individual stats Raiders Passing C/ATT1YdsTDINTSkYdsLG3RatePlunkett11/151621053528130.4Allen0/0000180

Raiders Rushing Car2YdsTDLG3Allen22105015King727011Hawkins51215Plunkett2407Pruitt2415

Raiders ReceivingRec4YdsTDLG3Christensen685128Barnwell235020Branch116016Allen110010King1606

Raiders Punt ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt3268.700

Raiders PuntingPntYdsY/PLngBlckGuy418947.3

Raiders KickingFGM–FGAXPM–XPABahr3–4

Raiders SacksSacksMartin2.0Pickel1.0

Raiders InterceptionsIntYdsTDLGPDDavis110010

Starting Lineups Position Starting Lineups vs. Miami Offense WR Cliff Branch LT Bruce Davis LG Charley Hannah C Dave Dalby RG Steve Sylvester RT Henry Lawrence TE Todd Christensen WR Malcolm Barnwell QB Jim Plunkett FB Kenny King RB Marcus Allen Defense LDE Howie Long NT Reggie Kinlaw RDE Lyle Alzado LOLB Ted Hendricks LILB Matt Millen RILB Bob Nelson ROLB Rod Martin LCB Lester Hayes RCB Ted Watts SS Mike Davis FS Vann McElroy

Week 4 (Sunday, September 25, 1983): at Denver Broncos The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Oct-01.

Point spread: Raiders —3½ Over/under: 34.0 (under) Time of game:

RaidersGame statisticsBroncos11 First downs 1637–82 Rushes–yards 30–130154 Passing yards 18813–24–1 14–33–23–22 Sacked–yards 5–50132 Net passing yards 138214 Total yards 268113 Return yards 1229–46.1 8–42.63–0 Fumbles–lost 4–24–22 Penalties–yards 9–7829:29 Time of possession 30:31

Individual stats Raiders Passing C/ATT1YdsTDINTSkYdsLG3RatePlunkett13/24154213223584.4

Raiders Rushing Car2YdsTDLG3Allen154509Hawkins61708King61709Pruitt4502Willis4104Plunkett2−30−1

Raiders ReceivingRec4YdsTDLG3Allen42009Branch363235King337018Barnwell225019Christensen1909

Raiders Kick ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt12323.000

Raiders Punt ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt45313.300

Raiders PuntingPntYdsY/PLngBlckGuy941546.1

Raiders KickingFGM–FGAXPM–XPABahr2–22–2

Raiders SacksSacksTownsend2.0Alzado1.0Hendricks1.0Reese1.0

Raiders InterceptionsIntYdsTDLGPDMcElroy237000

Starting Lineups Position Starting Lineups at Denver Offense WR Cliff Branch LT Bruce Davis LG Charley Hannah C Dave Dalby RG Mickey Marvin RT Henry Lawrence TE Todd Christensen WR Malcolm Barnwell QB Jim Plunkett FB Kenny King RB Marcus Allen Defense LDE Howie Long NT Reggie Kinlaw RDE Lyle Alzado LOLB Ted Hendricks LILB Matt Millen RILB Bob Nelson ROLB Rod Martin LCB Lester Hayes RCB Ted Watts SS Mike Davis FS Vann McElroy

Week 5 (Sunday, October 2, 1983): at Washington Redskins The Football Database. Retrieved 2023-Oct-01.

Point spread: Raiders +2 Over/under: 38.5 (over) Time of game:

RaidersGame statisticsRedskins19 First downs 2524–105 Rushes–yards 32–98372 Passing yards 41716–30–4 23–40–05–46 Sacked–yards 6–56326 Net passing yards 361431 Total yards 459248 Return yards 1964–43.5 7–40.12–2 Fumbles–lost 1–18–70 Penalties–yards 8–8425:12 Time of possession 34:48

Individual stats Raiders Passing C/ATT1YdsTDINTSkYdsLG3RatePlunkett16/293724454699100.1Pruitt0/100000039.6

Raiders Rushing Car2YdsTDLG3Hawkins1564016King72006Plunkett221012

Raiders ReceivingRec4YdsTDLG3Muhammad5112235Christensen570141Barnwell375039Branch199199King1909Hawkins1707

Raiders Kick ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt611919.800Montgomery12121.000

Raiders Punt ReturnsRetYdsY/RtTDLngPruitt410827.010

Raiders PuntingPntYdsY/PLngBlckGuy417443.5

Raiders KickingFGM–FGAXPM–XPAMFGBahr5–50–141

Raiders SacksSacksLong5.0Townsend1.0

Starting Lineups