1983 · Wild Card Round · Game 2

Pregame

AI summary based on verified facts

The Wild Card Round matchup pairs the Los Angeles Rams against the Dallas Cowboys on 1983-12-26 at Texas Stadium. The conference bracket's postseason slate includes this matchup as one of the calendar's most-anticipated games.

The starting quarterbacks, the lead-back rotations, and the receiver rooms project the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Wild Card Round game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys is the kind of postseason matchup where the conference's projected leaders carry their regular-season pacing into the bracket. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity both staffs have been pointing toward.

The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the home team's offensive line. The bracket continues for the winner.

AI summary based on verified facts

Around the conference the Wild Card Round bracket produces the kind of matchups the wire copy has been writing into across the postseason slate. The Los Angeles Rams versus Dallas Cowboys game is one of the calendar's most-anticipated postseason windows.

The opposite-conference bracket carries through to its own conference matchup. The Monday-night game closes the week with playoff implications that affect the conference seeding.

AI summary based on verified facts

Across the regular season both the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys tracked the kind of pace that anchored their conference seeding into the Wild Card Round. The starting quarterbacks' passing lines came through. The lead backs' rushing workloads were the staffs' projected calls. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotations' pass-rush production.

League standings entering Week 17

Standings as of kickoff, Week 17 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Best record league-wide: Washington Redskins (14-2).

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Pittsburgh Steelers10-6L1
Cleveland Browns9-7W1
Cincinnati Bengals7-9L1
Houston Oilers2-14L1

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Miami Dolphins12-4W5
Buffalo Bills8-8L2
New England Patriots8-8L1
Baltimore Colts7-9W1
New York Jets7-9L2

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Raiders12-4W1
Denver Broncos9-7L1
Seattle Seahawks9-7W2
Kansas City Chiefs6-10W1
San Diego Chargers6-10L1

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
San Francisco 49ers10-6W3
Los Angeles Rams9-7W1
New Orleans Saints8-8L1
Atlanta Falcons7-9W1

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Detroit Lions9-7W1
Chicago Bears8-8W2
Green Bay Packers8-8L1
Minnesota Vikings8-8W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-14L3

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Washington Redskins14-2W9
Dallas Cowboys12-4L2
St. Louis Cardinals8-7-1W3
Philadelphia Eagles5-11L2
New York Giants3-12-1L4

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1983 NFC Wild Card - Rams vs. Cowboys · channel: 80s Football Cards

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Around the league this week (1):

Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
astroturf
Weather
20°F, 48% humidity, wind 13 mph
Vegas line
Dallas Cowboys -8
Over/Under
45.5 (under)

Score

Reveal through:

Los Angeles Rams 24, Dallas Cowboys 17[2][1]

1234T
Los Angeles Rams7071077142424
Dallas Cowboys073707101717

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
RamsDavid Hill 18 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Mike Lansford kick)7-0

Q2

TeamPlayScore
CowboysTony Hill 14 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)7-7

Q3

TeamPlayScore
CowboysRafael Septien 41 yard field goal7-10
RamsPreston Dennard 16 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Mike Lansford kick)14-10

Q4

TeamPlayScore
RamsGeorge Farmer 8 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Mike Lansford kick)21-10
RamsMike Lansford 20 yard field goal24-10
CowboysDoug Cosbie 2 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)24-17

Recap

AI summary based on verified facts

The Los Angeles Rams won the Wild Card Round game on 1983-12-26 against the Dallas Cowboys 0-0. . . . For the other side Vince Ferragamo went 15 of 30 for 162 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Eric Dickerson ran for 99 on 23 carries. The 49ers stay on track for the divisional standings expected coming into the calendar's back half.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Los Angeles Rams took the Wild Card Round game over the Dallas Cowboys on 1983-12-26. . . .

The afternoon's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script both staffs have been projecting since the regular season closed. The offensive line's pocket time on the dropbacks produced the kind of pass-protection the winning playbook called. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway that defined the closing two quarters. The Wild Card Round's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the wire copy has been writing into. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the winning unit has been generating.

AI summary based on verified facts

Los Angeles Rams 0, Dallas Cowboys 0. The Wild Card Round's box score reads: . . . On the other side: Vince Ferragamo went 15 of 30 for 162 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Eric Dickerson ran for 99 on 23 carries.

AI summary based on verified facts

The Los Angeles Rams's Wild Card Round game against the Dallas Cowboys on 1983-12-26 ended with the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into. The conference bracket continues to shape across the calendar's projected postseason pacing.

How it unfolded

. . . The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace both playbooks have been working through across the bye-week preparation. On the defensive side Vince Ferragamo went 15 of 30 for 162 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, and Eric Dickerson ran for 99 on 23 carries.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The winning front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

. The lead-back rotation: . Receiver room: .

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort both staffs have been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offensive production.

What it means

The Wild Card Round's outcome maps to the projected postseason pacing. The next-round bracket continues. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.

Box score

RamsCowboys
Team totals
First Downs1924
Total Yards243363
Turnovers04
Passing
Comp/Att16/3132/53
Pass yards163330
Pass TD32
Interceptions03
Sacks taken23
Sack yards lost1430
Net pass yards149300
Rushing
Rushes3020
Rush yards9463
Rush TD00
Discipline
Fumbles02
Fumbles lost01
Penalties46
Penalty yards1840

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
RAM
Vince Ferragamo15/301623099.6
Eric Dickerson1/110079.2
DAL
Danny White32/533302367.3

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
RAM
Eric Dickerson2399020
Barry Redden3502
Vince Ferragamo4-100-2
DAL
Tony Dorsett1759011
Ron Springs2403
Danny White1000

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
RAM
George Farmer547118
Preston Dennard444116
Henry Ellard122022
Mike Barber220011
David Hill219118
Eric Dickerson21108
DAL
Tony Hill9115123
Doug Cosbie562122
Drew Pearson249030
Ron Springs638012
Timmy Newsome225015
Butch Johnson320012
Tony Dorsett41206
Billy Joe DuPree1909

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1983 Wild Card Round - Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys - Game Thread