2004 NFL season

The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League. 32 teams each played 16 games.

Due to hurricanes, two of the Miami Dolphins' home games were rescheduled. The game against the Tennessee Titans was moved up one day to Saturday, September 11 to avoid oncoming Hurricane Ivan. And the game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 26 was moved back 7 1/2 hours to miss the eye of Hurricane Jeanne.

The season ended with Super Bowl XXXIX when the New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.

[edit] Major rule changes

• Due to several incidents during the 2003 NFL season, officials are authorized to penalize excessive celebration. The 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be marked off from the spot at the end of the previous play or, after a score, on the ensuing kickoff. If the infraction is ruled flagrant by the officials, the player can be ejected.
• Due to several instances during the 2003-04 playoffs, officials are instructed to strictly enforce illegal contact, pass interference, and defensive holding.
• Timeouts can be called by head coaches.
• In addition to the numbers 80-89, wide receivers will now be allowed to use numbers 10-19.
• A punt or missed field goal that is untouched by the receiving team is immediately dead once it touches either the end zone or any member of the kicking team in the end zone. Previously, a punt or missed field goal that lands in the end zone before being controlled by the kicking team could be picked up by a member of the receiving team and immediately run the other way.
• Teams will be awarded a third instant replay challenge if their first two are successful. Previously, teams were only limited to two regardless of what occurred during the game.

[edit] Final standings

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

[edit] Tiebreakers

• Indianapolis clinched the AFC 3 seed instead of San Diego based on better head-to-head record (1-0).
• N.Y. Jets clinched the AFC 5 seed instead of Denver based on better record in common games (5-0 to 3-2).
• St. Louis clinched the NFC 5 seed instead of Minnesota or New Orleans based on better conference record (7-5 to Minnesota's 5-7 to New Orleans' 6-6).
• Minnesota clinched the NFC 6 seed instead of New Orleans based on better head-to-head record (1-0).
• N.Y. Giants finished ahead of Dallas and Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (3-1 to Dallas' 2-2 to Washington's 1-3).
• Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (2-0).

[edit] Playoffs

Main article: NFL playoffs, 2004-05

Template:NFL seeds 2002-

Home team in capitals

[edit] AFC

• Wild-Card playoffs: N.Y. Jets 20, SAN DIEGO 17 (OT); INDIANAPOLIS 49, Denver 24
• Divisional playoffs: PITTSBURGH 20, N.Y. Jets 17 (OT); NEW ENGLAND 20, Indianapolis 3
• AFC Championship: New England 41, PITTSBURGH 27

[edit] NFC

• Wild-Card playoffs: St. Louis 27, SEATTLE 20; Minnesota 31, GREEN BAY 17
• Divisional playoffs: ATLANTA 47, St. Louis 17; PHILADELPHIA 27, Minnesota 14
• NFC Championship: PHILADELPHIA 27, Atlanta 10

[edit] Super Bowl XXXIX

• New England (AFC) 24, Philadelphia (NFC) 21 at ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

[edit] Milestones

The following players set all-time NFL records during the season:

[edit] Statistical leaders

[edit] Team

[edit] Individual

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

• NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 193299436X)
• NFL History 2001- (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0062701746)
• Celebration penalty among rules changes (Last accessed October 17, 2005)