2004 NFL season

This article is about the American football season in the United States. For the Gaelic football season in Ireland, see 2004 National Football League (Ireland).

2004 NFL season

Regular season
Duration	September 9, 2004 – January 2, 2005
Playoffs
Start date	January 8, 2005
AFC Champions	New England Patriots
NFC Champions	Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl XXXIX
Date	February 6, 2005
Site	ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Champions	New England Patriots
Pro Bowl
Date	February 13, 2005
Site	Aloha Stadium

Patriots

Bills

Dolphins

Jets

Bengals

Ravens

Steelers

Browns

Colts

Titans

Jaguars

Texans

Broncos

Chiefs

Raiders

Chargers

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AFC teams: West, North, South, East

Cowboys

Giants

Eagles

Redskins

Bears

Lions

Packers

Vikings

Falcons

Panthers

Saints

Buccaneers

Cardinals

Rams

Seahawks

49ers

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NFC teams: West, North, South, East

The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League (NFL).

With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004, to January 2, 2005. Hurricanes forced the rescheduling of two Miami Dolphins home games: the game against the Tennessee Titans was moved up one day to Saturday, September 11 to avoid oncoming Hurricane Ivan, while the game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 26 was moved back 7½ hours to miss the eye of Hurricane Jeanne.

The playoffs began on January 8, and eventually the New England Patriots repeated as NFL champions when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6. It would mark the last time a team won back-to-back Super Bowls until 2023 (that team being the Kansas City Chiefs).

Transactions

• February 24, 2004, The Washington Redskins released Bruce Smith, the NFL's all-time sack leader, saving $6.5 million in salary cap space.

Draft

The 2004 NFL Draft was held from April 24 to 25, 2004 at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden. With the first pick, the San Diego Chargers selected quarterback Eli Manning from the University of Mississippi.

Referee changes

Ron Blum returned to line judge (where he officiated Super Bowl XXIV and Super Bowl XXVI), and Bill Vinovich was promoted to take his place as referee.

Midway through the season, Johnny Grier, the NFL's first African-American referee, suffered a leg injury that forced him to retire. He was permanently replaced by the back judge on his crew, Scott Green, who had previous experience as a referee in NFL Europe.

Rule changes

• Due to several incidents during the previous year, 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(s) are ejected.
• Timeouts can be called by head coaches.
• The league's jersey numbering system was modified to allow wide receivers wear numbers 10–19, in addition to 80–89.
• 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.
• The one-bar facemask was outlawed. The few remaining players who still used the one-bar facemask at the time were allowed to continue to use the style for the remainder of their career under a grandfather clause. (Scott Player was the last player to wear the one-bar facemask in 2007).

2004 deaths

• Pat Tillman former safety for the Arizona Cardinals was killed during a friendly fire incident during the war in Afghanistan.
• Reggie White former defensive end for the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers unexpectedly died on December 26, 2004, just seven days after his 43rd birthday from complications of sleep apnea.

Final regular season standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(2) New England Patriots	14	2	0	.875	5–1	10–2	437	260	W2
(5) New York Jets	10	6	0	.625	3–3	7–5	333	261	L2
Buffalo Bills	9	7	0	.563	3–3	5–7	395	284	L1
Miami Dolphins	4	12	0	.250	1–5	2–10	275	354	L1

AFC North
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers	15	1	0	.938	5–1	11–1	372	251	W14
Baltimore Ravens	9	7	0	.563	3–3	6–6	317	268	W1
Cincinnati Bengals	8	8	0	.500	2–4	4–8	374	372	W2
Cleveland Browns	4	12	0	.250	2–4	3–9	276	390	W1

AFC South
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(3) Indianapolis Colts	12	4	0	.750	5–1	8–4	522	351	L1
Jacksonville Jaguars	9	7	0	.563	2–4	6–6	261	280	W1
Houston Texans	7	9	0	.438	4–2	6–6	309	339	L1
Tennessee Titans	5	11	0	.313	1–5	3–9	344	439	W1

AFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(4) San Diego Chargers	12	4	0	.750	5–1	9–3	446	313	W1
(6) Denver Broncos	10	6	0	.625	3–3	7–5	381	304	W2
Kansas City Chiefs	7	9	0	.438	3–3	6–6	483	435	L1
Oakland Raiders	5	11	0	.313	1–5	3–9	320	422	L2

NFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(1) Philadelphia Eagles	13	3	0	.813	6–0	11–1	386	260	L2
New York Giants	6	10	0	.375	3–3	5–7	303	347	W1
Dallas Cowboys	6	10	0	.375	2–4	5–7	293	405	L1
Washington Redskins	6	10	0	.375	1–5	6–6	240	265	W1

NFC North
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(3) Green Bay Packers	10	6	0	.625	5–1	9–3	424	380	W2
(6) Minnesota Vikings	8	8	0	.500	3–3	5–7	405	395	L2
Detroit Lions	6	10	0	.375	2–4	5–7	296	350	L1
Chicago Bears	5	11	0	.313	2–4	4–8	231	331	L4

NFC South
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(2) Atlanta Falcons	11	5	0	.688	4–2	8–4	340	337	L2
New Orleans Saints	8	8	0	.500	3–3	6–6	348	405	W4
Carolina Panthers	7	9	0	.438	3–3	6–6	355	339	L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	11	0	.313	2–4	4–8	301	304	L4

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(4) Seattle Seahawks	9	7	0	.563	3–3	8–4	371	373	W2
(5) St. Louis Rams	8	8	0	.500	5–1	7–5	319	392	W2
Arizona Cardinals	6	10	0	.375	2–4	5–7	284	322	W1
San Francisco 49ers	2	14	0	.125	2–4	2–10	259	452	L3

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

Main article: 2004–05 NFL playoffs

Within each conference, the four division winners and the top two non-division winners with the best overall regular season records) qualified for the playoffs. The four division winners are seeded 1–4 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams are seeded 5–6. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket playoff system, and there are no restrictions regarding teams from the same division matching up in any round. In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth-seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each conference received a first-round bye. In the second round, the divisional playoffs, the number 1 seed hosts the worst-surviving seed from the first round (seed 4, 5, or 6), while the number 2 seed will play the other team (seed 3, 4, or 5). The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games met in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the championship round of the playoffs, is played at a neutral site, the designated home team is based on an annual rotation by conference.

Playoff seeds
Seed	AFC	NFC
1	Pittsburgh Steelers (North winner)	Philadelphia Eagles (East winner)
2	New England Patriots (East winner)	Atlanta Falcons (South winner)
3	Indianapolis Colts (South winner)	Green Bay Packers (North winner)
4	San Diego Chargers (West winner)	Seattle Seahawks (West winner)
5	New York Jets (wild card)	St. Louis Rams (wild card)
6	Denver Broncos (wild card)	Minnesota Vikings (wild card)

The Miami Dolphins were the first team to be eliminated from the playoff race, having reached a 1–9 record by week 11.

Bracket

	Jan 9 – RCA Dome					Jan 16 – Gillette Stadium
	6	Denver	24
						3	Indianapolis	3
	3	Indianapolis	49								Jan 23 – Heinz Field
						2	New England	20
						AFC
	Jan 8 – Qualcomm Stadium										2	New England	41
						Jan 15 – Heinz Field
											1	Pittsburgh	27
	5	NY Jets	20*								AFC Championship
						5	NY Jets	17
	4	San Diego	17													Feb 6 – Alltel Stadium
						1	Pittsburgh	20*
	Wild Card playoffs
						Divisional playoffs
	Jan 8 – Qwest Field															A2	New England	24
						Jan 15 – Georgia Dome
																N1	Philadelphia	21
	5	St. Louis	27													Super Bowl XXXIX
						5	St. Louis	17
	4	Seattle	20								Jan 23 – Lincoln Financial Field
						2	Atlanta	47
						NFC
	Jan 9 – Lambeau Field										2	Atlanta	10
						Jan 16 – Lincoln Financial Field
											1	Philadelphia	27
	6	Minnesota	31								NFC Championship
						6	Minnesota	14
	3	Green Bay	17
						1	Philadelphia	27

* Indicates OT victory

Milestones

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

Record	Player/team	Date/opponent	Previous record holder
Longest interception return	Ed Reed, Baltimore (106 yards)	November 7, vs Cleveland	Tied by 2 players (103)
Most touchdown passes, season	Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (49)	N/A	Dan Marino, Miami, 1984 (48)
Highest passer rating, season	Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (121.1)		Steve Young, San Francisco, 1994 (112.8)
Most interception return yards gained, season	Ed Reed, Baltimore (358)		Charlie McNeil, San Diego, 1961 (349)
Most first downs by a team, season	Kansas City (398)		Miami, 1994 (387)
Most consecutive games won	New England (21)	October 24, vs. N.Y. Jets	Chicago, 1933–34 (17)
Most passing touchdowns by a team, season	Indianapolis (51)	N/A	Miami, 1984 (49)

The Colts led the NFL with 522 points scored. The Colts tallied more points in the first half of each of their games of the 2004 NFL season (277 points) than seven other NFL teams managed in the entire season. Despite throwing for 49 touchdown passes, Peyton Manning attempted fewer than 500 passes for the first time in his NFL career. The San Francisco 49ers' record 420 consecutive scoring games that had started in Week 5 of the 1977 season ended in Week 2 of the season.

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)

Playoff chasers the New York Jets against Miami in 2004, week 8 MNF

Individual

Scoring	Adam Vinatieri, New England (141 points)
Touchdowns	Shaun Alexander, Seattle (20 TDs)
Most field goals made	Adam Vinatieri, New England (31 FGs)
Passing	Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota (4717 yards)
Passing Touchdowns	Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (49 TDs)
Passer Rating	Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (121.1 rating)
Rushing	Curtis Martin, New York Jets (1,697 yards)
Rushing Touchdowns	LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego (17 TDs)
Receptions	Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City (102)
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, Strong 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
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year	Warrick Dunn, running back, Atlanta
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player	Deion Branch, wide receiver, New England

Coaching changes

• Arizona Cardinals – Dennis Green replaced Dave McGinnis who was fired after the 2003 season
• Atlanta Falcons – Jim L. Mora replaced Wade Phillips who replaced Dan Reeves who was fired during the 2003 season
• Buffalo Bills – Mike Mularkey replaced Gregg Williams who was fired after the 2003 season
• Chicago Bears – Lovie Smith replaced Dick Jauron who was fired after the 2003 season
• Oakland Raiders – Norv Turner replaced Bill Callahan who was fired after the 2003 season
• New York Giants – Tom Coughlin replaced Jim Fassel who was fired after the 2003 season
• Washington Redskins – Joe Gibbs replaced Steve Spurrier who resigned after the 2003 season

Stadium changes

• Carolina Panthers: Ericsson Stadium was renamed Bank of America Stadium after Bank of America acquired the naming rights.
• Minnesota Vikings: The AstroTurf at the Metrodome was replaced with a new FieldTurf field.
• Oakland Raiders: Network Associates Coliseum was renamed McAfee Coliseum to reflect naming right holder, Network Associates, changing its name to McAfee.
• San Francisco 49ers: Monster Cable acquired the naming rights to Candlestick Park, renaming it merely to "Monster Park" without any qualifier. This eventually results in confusion among fans who erroneously think the name instead refers to Monster.com or Monster Energy.
• Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks Stadium was renamed Qwest Field after telecommunications carrier Qwest acquired the naming rights.

New uniforms

• The Atlanta Falcons switched the primary and alternate jerseys, making the red ones the primary and the black ones the alternate.
• The Baltimore Ravens added black third alternative uniforms.
• The Cincinnati Bengals introduced new uniforms, featuring black jerseys with orange tiger-striped sleeves, white jerseys with black tiger-striped sleeves, and orange third alternate uniforms. A new logo featuring an orange "B" with black tiger stripes was also unveiled.
• The Chicago Bears added orange third alternate uniforms.
• The Indianapolis Colts switched from blue face masks and white shoes to gray face masks and black shoes
• The Jacksonville Jaguars made modification to their white uniforms, changing the teal number with black and gold trim to black numbers with gold and teal trim. Also introduced were new black pants with the Jaguars logo on hip.
• The New York Giants added red third alternate uniforms.
• The San Diego Chargers returned to navy pants with their white jerseys.

Television

This was the seventh year under the league's eight-year broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN to televise Monday Night Football, the AFC package, the NFC package, and Sunday Night Football, respectively.

At CBS, Jim Nantz and Greg Gumbel swapped roles. Nantz replaced Gumbel as the network's lead play-by-play announcer while Gumbel took Nantz's hosting duties on The NFL Today. Shannon Sharpe also joined The NFL Today as an analyst, replacing Deion Sanders.

ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Patrick missed the first few broadcasts to recover from heart bypass surgery. Pat Summerall filled in those weeks for Patrick.

Starting this season CBS, Fox, ABC, and ESPN started broadcasting regular season games in High Definition. CBS would do select games weekly, while Fox, ABC, and ESPN broadcast every game weekly.

External links

• Football Outsiders 2004 Team Efficiency Ratings

References

• NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
• NFL History 2001– (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
• Celebration penalty among rules changes (Last accessed October 17, 2005)