1973 NFL SEASON

The '1973 NFL season' was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VIII when the Miami Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings.

Contents

Major rule changes

Final standings

Tiebreakers

Playoffs

References

Major rule changes

★ A jersey numbering system is adopted (players who played in the 1972 NFL season are grandfathered in):

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★ 1-19: Quarterbacks and specialists

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★ 20-49: Running backs and defensive backs

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★ 50-59: Centers and linebackers

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★ 60-79: Defensive linemen and offensive linemen other than centers

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★ 80-89: Wide receivers and tight ends

★ 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.

★ 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.

Final standings

''W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against''
''Note: Teams current name is included within the () if its name/location has been changed''

'Qualified for playoffs'

'AFC East'
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
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 (Indianapolis Colts)	4	10	0	.286	226	341
'AFC Central'
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Cincinnati Bengals	10	4	0	.714	286	231
Pittsburgh Steelers	10	4	0	.714	347	210
Cleveland Browns	7	5	2	.571	234	255
Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans)	1	13	0	.071	199	447
'AFC West'
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
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

'NFC East'
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Dallas Cowboys	10	4	0	.714	382	203
Washington Redskins	10	4	0	.714	325	198
Philadelphia Eagles	5	8	1	.393	310	393
St. Louis Cardinals (Arizona 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
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
Los Angeles Rams (St. Louis 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).

Playoffs

Main articles: NFL playoffs, 1973-74

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

References

★ ''NFL Record and Fact Book'' (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)

★ NFL History 1971-1980 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)

★ 1973 season in details

★ ''Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League'' (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)