1996 NFL season

The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League.

When Art Modell, owner of the Cleveland Browns, wanted to relocate his team to Baltimore before the season, the league made an agreement with him and the City of Cleveland. In the agreement, the name, colors and history of the Browns were to remain in Cleveland, while the relocated club would technically be a new league franchise. Thereafter, Modell's team became the Baltimore Ravens.

The season ended with Super Bowl XXXI when the Green Bay Packers defeated the New England Patriots. One of the most memorable aspects of the 1996 season was that the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, each in only its second year of existence, both advanced to their respective conference championship games.

[edit] Major rule changes

• In order to reduce injuries, hits with the helmet or to the head will be personal fouls and subject to fines.

[edit] Final standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

[edit] Tiebreakers

• Jacksonville was the second AFC Wild Card ahead of Indianapolis and Kansas City based on better conference record (7-5 to Colts' 6-6 and Chiefs' 5-7).
• Indianapolis was the third AFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over Kansas City (1-0).
• Cincinnati finished ahead of Houston in the AFC Central based on better net division points (19 to Oilers' 11).
• Oakland finished ahead of Seattle in the AFC West based on better division record (3-5 to Seahawks' 2-6).
• Dallas finished ahead of Philadelphia in the NFC East based on better record against common opponents (8-5 to Eagles' 7-6).
• Minnesota was the third NFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Washington (8-4 to Redskins' 6-6).
• Carolina finished ahead of San Francisco in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).
• Atlanta finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).

[edit] Playoffs

Main article: NFL playoffs, 1996-97

Home team in capitals

[edit] AFC

• Wild-Card playoffs: Jacksonville 30, BUFFALO 27; PITTSBURGH 42, Indianapolis 14
• Divisional playoffs: Jacksonville 30, DENVER 27; NEW ENGLAND 28, Pittsburgh 3
• AFC Championship: NEW ENGLAND 20, Jacksonville 6

[edit] NFC

• Wild-Card playoffs: DALLAS 40, Minnesota 15; SAN FRANCISCO 14, Philadelphia 0
• Divisional playoffs: GREEN BAY 35, San Francisco 14; CAROLINA 26, Dallas 17
• NFC Championship: GREEN BAY 30, Carolina 13

[edit] Super Bowl XXXI

• Green Bay (NFC) 35, New England (AFC) 21, at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

[edit] Statistical leaders

[edit] Team

[edit] Individual

[edit] Awards

[edit] Other Occurences

• The Washington Redskins played their last season in RFK Stadium.

[edit] References

• NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 193299436X)
• NFL History 1991-2000 (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0062701746)
• Steelers Fever - History of NFL Rules