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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.
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.
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
| Qualified for playoffs |
| AFC East | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 14 | 2 | .875 | 437 | 260 | |
| New York Jets | 10 | 6 | .625 | 333 | 261 | |
| Buffalo Bills | 9 | 7 | .562 | 395 | 284 | |
| Miami Dolphins | 4 | 12 | .250 | 275 | 354 | |
| AFC North | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 15 | 1 | .938 | 372 | 251 | |
| Baltimore Ravens | 9 | 7 | .562 | 317 | 268 | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 8 | 8 | .500 | 374 | 372 | |
| Cleveland Browns | 4 | 12 | .250 | 276 | 390 | |
| AFC South | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
| Indianapolis Colts | 12 | 4 | .750 | 522 | 351 | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 9 | 7 | .562 | 261 | 280 | |
| Houston Texans | 7 | 9 | .438 | 309 | 339 | |
| Tennessee Titans | 5 | 11 | .312 | 344 | 439 | |
| AFC West | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
| San Diego Chargers | 12 | 4 | .750 | 446 | 313 | |
| Denver Broncos | 10 | 6 | .625 | 381 | 304 | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | 9 | .438 | 483 | 435 | |
| Oakland Raiders | 5 | 11 | .312 | 320 | 442 | |
| NFC East | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | 13 | 3 | .812 | 386 | 260 | |
| New York Giants | 6 | 10 | .375 | 303 | 347 | |
| Dallas Cowboys | 6 | 10 | .375 | 293 | 405 | |
| Washington Redskins | 6 | 10 | .375 | 240 | 265 | |
| NFC North | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
| Green Bay Packers | 10 | 6 | .625 | 424 | 380 | |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 8 | .500 | 405 | 395 | |
| Detroit Lions | 6 | 10 | .375 | 296 | 350 | |
| Chicago Bears | 5 | 11 | .312 | 231 | 331 | |
| NFC South | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
| Atlanta Falcons | 11 | 5 | .688 | 340 | 337 | |
| New Orleans Saints | 8 | 8 | .500 | 348 | 405 | |
| Carolina Panthers | 7 | 9 | .438 | 355 | 339 | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5 | 11 | .312 | 301 | 304 | |
| NFC West | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9 | 7 | .562 | 371 | 373 | |
| St. Louis Rams | 8 | 8 | .500 | 319 | 392 | |
| Arizona Cardinals | 6 | 10 | .375 | 284 | 322 | |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 | 14 | .125 | 259 | 452 | |
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).
Playoffs
- Home team in capitals
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
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
Super Bowl XXXIX
- New England (AFC) 24, Philadelphia (NFC) 21 at ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Milestones
The following players set all-time NFL records during the season:
| Most Touchdown Passes, season | Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (49) |
| Highest Passer Rating, season | Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (121.1) |
| Most Interception Return Yards, season | Ed Reed, Baltimore (358) |
| Longest Interception Return | Ed Reed, Baltimore, November 7, at Cleveland (106 yards) |
Statistical leaders
Team
| Points scored | Indianapolis Colts (522) |
| Total yards gained | Kansas City Chiefs (6,695) |
| Yards rushing | Atlanta Falcons (2,672) |
| Yards passing | Indianapolis Colts (4,623) |
| Fewest points allowed | Pittsburgh Steelers (251) |
| Fewest total yards allowed | Pittsburgh Steelers (4,134) |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed | Pittsburgh Steelers (1,299) |
| Fewest passing yards allowed | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2,579) |
Individual
| Scoring | Adam Vinatieri, New England (141 points) |
| Touchdowns | Shaun Alexander, Seattle (20 TDs) |
| Most field goals made | Adam Vinatieri, New England (31 FGs) |
| Rushing | Curtis Martin, New York Jets (1,697 yards) |
| Passing | Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (121.1 rating) |
| Passing touchdowns | Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (49 TDs) |
| Pass receiving | Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City (102 catches) |
| Pass receiving yards | Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina (1,405) |
| Punt returns | Eddie Drummond, Detroit (13.2 average yards) |
| Kickoff returns | Willie Ponder, New York Giants (26.9 average yards) |
| Interceptions | Ed Reed, Baltimore (9) |
| Punting | Shane Lechler, Oakland (46.7 average yards) |
| Sacks | Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis (16) |
Awards
| Most Valuable Player | Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Indianapolis |
| Coach of the Year | Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Indianapolis |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Ed Reed, Safety, Baltimore |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback, Pittsburgh |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | Jonathan Vilma, Linebacker, New York Jets |
| NFL Comeback Player of the Year | Drew Brees, Quarterback, San Diego |
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)
National Football League seasons | 2004 in sports | 2004 in the United States
"2004 NFL season"