1973 NFL season

1973 National Football League season
Regular season
Duration	September 16 – December 16, 1973
Playoffs
Start date	December 22, 1973
AFC Champions	Miami Dolphins
NFC Champions	Minnesota Vikings
Super Bowl VIII
Date	January 13, 1974
Site	Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
Champions	Miami Dolphins
Pro Bowl
Date	January 20, 1974
Site	Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Simpson pictured in the game where he became the first running back to gain over 2,000 yards in a season on Dec. 16, 1973.

The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in one season. Buffalo moved their home games into Rich Stadium. After playing their first two home games at Yankee Stadium, the New York Giants played the rest of their home games at the Yale Bowl. The season ended with Super Bowl VIII when the Miami Dolphins repeated as league champions by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 24-7 at the Rice Stadium in Houston Texas. The Pro Bowl took place on January 20,1974 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The AFC beat the NFC 15-13.

Major rule changes

Jersey numbering system

A jersey numbering system is adopted (players who played in 1972 are grandfathered):
- 1–19: Quarterbacks and specialists
- 20–49: Running backs and defensive backs
- 50–59: Centers and linebackers
- 60–79: Defensive linemen and offensive linemen other than centers
- 80–89: Wide receivers and tight ends
- Numbers 0, 00, and 90–99 are no longer allowed to be issued, even though these numbers were rarely issued anyway (two players wearing 00 at the time, Jim Otto and Ken Burrough, were grandfathered). Numbers 90–99 would be allowed again in 1984 for defensive linemen and linebackers in addition to the above-mentioned numbers.
Defensive players cannot jump or stand on a teammate while trying to block a kick.
The clock is to start at the snap following a change of possession. Previously, the clock would start on a change of possession when the ball was spotted ready for play by the referee, except if the ball went out of bounds on the change of possession, in which case the clock started on the snap.
If there is a foul by the offensive team, and it is followed by a change of possession, the period can be extended by one play by the other team.
If the receiving team commits a foul after the ball is kicked, possession will be presumed to have changed; the receiving team keeps the ball.

Television Blackout rules

Main article: NFL on television § Blackout policies

Up until the 1972 season, all NFL games (including championship games and Super Bowls) were blacked-out on television in each team's home city. In 1973, the league changed their policy to black out games in the team's home city only if tickets to the game had not sold out. This expanded the league's television presence in teams' home cities on gameday.

The policy was put into effect when, in 1972, the Washington Redskins made the playoffs for only the second time in 27 seasons. Because all home games were blacked-out, politicians — including devout football fan President Richard Nixon — were not able to watch their home team win. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle refused to lift the blackout, despite a plea from United States Attorney General Richard Kleindienst. Kleindienst was to suggest that the United States Congress re-evaluate the NFL's antitrust exemption. Rozelle agreed to lift the blackout for Super Bowl VII on an "experimental basis." But Congress intervened before the 1973 season anyway, passing Public Law 93-107, which eliminated the blackout of games in the home market so long as the game was sold out by 72 hours before game time.^[1]

Division races

Starting in 1970, and until 2002, there were three divisions (Eastern, Central and Western) in each conference. The winners of each division, and a fourth "wild card" team based on the best non-division winner, qualified for the playoffs. The tiebreaker rules were changed to start with head-to-head competition, followed by division records, common opponents records, and conference play.

National Football Conference

Week	Eastern		Central		Western		Wild Card
1	4 teams	1–0–0	2 teams	1–0–0	2 teams	1–0–0	5 teams	1–0–0
2	Dallas, St. Louis (tie)	2–0–0	Minnesota	2–0–0	Los Angeles	2–0–0	Dallas, St. Louis (tie)	2–0–0
3	Dallas	3–0–0	Minnesota	3–0–0	Los Angeles	3–0–0	St. Louis	2–1–0
4	Washington*	3–1–0	Minnesota	4–0–0	Los Angeles	4–0–0	Dallas	3–1–0
5	Washington	4–1–0	Minnesota	5–0–0	Los Angeles	5–0–0	Dallas	3–2–0
6	Washington	5–1–0	Minnesota	6–0–0	Los Angeles	6–0–0	Dallas	4–2–0
7	Washington	5–2–0	Minnesota	7–0–0	Los Angeles	6–1–0	Dallas*	4–3–0
8	Washington*	5–3–0	Minnesota	8–0–0	Los Angeles	6–2–0	Atlanta*	5–3–0
9	Washington*	6–3–0	Minnesota	9–0–0	Los Angeles	7–2–0	Atlanta*	6–3–0
10	Washington*	7–3–0	Minnesota	9–1–0	Los Angeles	8–2–0	Atlanta*	7–3–0
11	Washington	8–3–0	Minnesota	10–1–0	Los Angeles	9–2–0	Atlanta	8–3–0
12	Washington*	9–3–0	Minnesota	10–2–0	Los Angeles	10–2–0	Atlanta*	8–4–0
13	Dallas*	9–4–0	Minnesota	11–2–0	Los Angeles	11–2–0	Washington	9–4–0
14	Dallas	10–4–0	Minnesota	12–2–0	Los Angeles	12–2–0	Washington	10–4–0

For the last time until 1997, the last two unbeaten teams in the league met in Week 7,^[2] with the Vikings tipping the Rams 10–9.

American Football Conference

Week	Eastern		Central		Western		Wild Card
1	Buffalo, Miami (tie)	1–0–0	Cleveland, Pittsburgh (tie)	1–0–0	Denver	1–0–0	2 teams	1–0–0
2	NY Jets	1–1–0	Pittsburgh	2–0–0	4 teams	1–1–0	7 teams	1–1–0
3	Buffalo	2–1–0	Pittsburgh	3–0–0	Kansas City	2–1–0	3 teams	2–1–0
4	Buffalo, Miami (tie)	3–1–0	Pittsburgh	4–0–0	Kansas City	3–1–0	Buffalo, Miami (tie)	3–1–0
5	Buffalo, Miami (tie)	4–1–0	Pittsburgh	4–1–0	Kansas City	3–1–1	Buffalo, Miami (tie)	4–1–0
6	Miami	5–1–0	Pittsburgh	5–1–0	Kansas City	3–2–1	Cincinnati*	4–2–0
7	Miami	6–1–0	Pittsburgh	6–1–0	Oakland	4–2–1	Buffalo	5–2–0
8	Miami	7–1–0	Pittsburgh	7–1–0	Oakland	5–2–1	Buffalo	5–3–0
9	Miami	8–1–0	Pittsburgh	8–1–0	Oakland*	5–3–1	Kansas City*	5–3–1
10	Miami	9–1–0	Pittsburgh	8–2–0	Kansas City	6–3–1	Cleveland	6–3–1
11	Miami	10–1–0	Pittsburgh	8–3–0	Denver	6–3–2	Cleveland	7–3–1
12	Miami	11–1–0	Cincinnati*	8–4–0	Oakland	7–4–1	Pittsburgh	8–4–0
13	Miami	11–2–0	Cincinnati*	9–4–0	Oakland	8–3–1	Pittsburgh	9–4–0
14	Miami	12–2–0	Cincinnati*	10–4–0	Oakland	9–4–1	Pittsburgh	10–4–0

Final standings

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

x – clinched wild card berth, y – clinched division title

Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
AFC East
y-Miami Dolphins	12	2	0	.857	343	150
Buffalo Bills	9	5	0	.643	259	230
New England Patriots	5	9	0	.357	258	300
New York Jets	4	10	0	.286	240	306
Baltimore Colts	4	10	0	.286	226	341
AFC Central
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
y-Cincinnati Bengals	10	4	0	.714	286	231
x-Pittsburgh Steelers	10	4	0	.714	347	210
Cleveland Browns	7	5	2	.571	234	255
Houston Oilers	1	13	0	.071	199	447
AFC West
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
y-Oakland Raiders	9	4	1	.679	292	175
Kansas City Chiefs	7	5	2	.571	231	192
Denver Broncos	7	5	2	.571	354	296
San Diego Chargers	2	11	1	.179	188	386

Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
NFC East
y-Dallas Cowboys	10	4	0	.714	382	203
x-Washington Redskins	10	4	0	.714	325	198
Philadelphia Eagles	5	8	1	.393	310	393
St. Louis Cardinals	4	9	1	.321	286	365
New York Giants	2	11	1	.179	226	362
NFC Central
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
y-Minnesota Vikings	12	2	0	.857	296	168
Detroit Lions	6	7	1	.464	271	247
Green Bay Packers	5	7	2	.429	202	259
Chicago Bears	3	11	0	.214	195	334
NFC West
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
y-Los Angeles Rams	12	2	0	.857	388	178
Atlanta Falcons	9	5	0	.643	318	224
San Francisco 49ers	5	9	0	.357	262	319
New Orleans Saints	5	9	0	.357	163	312

Tiebreakers

N.Y. Jets finished ahead of Baltimore in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
Cincinnati finished ahead of Pittsburgh in the AFC Central based on better conference record (8–3 to Steelers' 7–4).
Kansas City finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on better division record (4–2 to Broncos' 3–2–1).
Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on better point differential in head-to-head games (13 points).
San Francisco finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC West based on better division record (2–4 to Saints' 1–5).

Coaching Changes

After 11 years as head coach of the New York Jets, Weeb Ewbank decided to retire.

Playoffs

Main article: 1973–74 NFL playoffs

Note: Prior to the 1975 season, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation.

Divisional Playoffs		Conf. Championship Games		Super Bowl VIII

December 22 – Metropolitan Stadium

Washington	20
		December 30 – Texas Stadium
Minnesota	27
		Minnesota	27
December 23 – Texas Stadium
		Dallas	10
Los Angeles	16
				January 13 – Rice Stadium
Dallas	27
				Minnesota	7
December 22 – Oakland Coliseum
				Miami	24
Pittsburgh	14
		December 30 – Miami Orange Bowl
Oakland	33
		Oakland	10
December 23 – Miami Orange Bowl
		Miami	27
Cincinnati	16

Miami	34

Awards

Most Valuable Player	O.J. Simpson, Running Back, Buffalo
Coach of the Year	Chuck Knox, Los Angeles
Offensive Player of the Year	O.J. Simpson, Running Back, Buffalo
Defensive Player of the Year	Dick Anderson, Safety, Miami
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Chuck Foreman, Running Back, Minnesota
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Wally Chambers, Defensive Tackle, Chicago

References

NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
NFL History 1971–1980 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)

1973 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Baltimore	Cincinnati	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta
Buffalo	Cleveland	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	Los Angeles
Miami	Houston	Oakland	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Pittsburgh	San Diego	St. Louis	Minnesota	San Francisco
NY Jets			Washington

National Football League seasons

Early era
(1920–1969)

Modern era
(1970–present)

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