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
← 2003 NFL seasons 2005 →

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. ^[1]

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 view talk edit 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 view talk edit 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 view talk edit 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 view talk edit 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 view talk edit 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 view talk edit 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 view talk edit 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 view talk edit 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

Conference standings

AFC [2] view talk edit # Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK Division leaders 1 Pittsburgh Steelers North 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 .484 .479 W14 2 New England Patriots East 14 2 0 .875 5–1 10–2 .492 .478 W2 3 [a] Indianapolis Colts South 12 4 0 .750 5–1 8–4 .500 .458 L1 4 [a] San Diego Chargers West 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 .477 .411 W1 Wild cards 5 [b] New York Jets East 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .523 .406 L2 6 [b] Denver Broncos West 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .484 .450 W2 Did not qualify for the postseason 7 [c] [d] Jacksonville Jaguars South 9 7 0 .563 2–4 6–6 .527 .479 W1 8 [c] [d] Baltimore Ravens North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 .551 .472 W1 9 [c] Buffalo Bills East 9 7 0 .563 3–3 5–7 .512 .382 L1 10 Cincinnati Bengals North 8 8 0 .500 2–4 4–8 .543 .453 W2 11 [e] Houston Texans South 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 .504 .402 L1 12 [e] Kansas City Chiefs West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .551 .509 L1 13 [f] Oakland Raiders West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .570 .450 L2 14 [f] Tennessee Titans South 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .512 .463 W1 15 [g] Miami Dolphins East 4 12 0 .250 1–5 2–10 .555 .438 L1 16 [g] Cleveland Browns North 4 12 0 .250 1–5 3–9 .590 .469 W1 Tiebreakers [h] Indianapolis clinched the AFC #3 seed instead of San Diego based upon head-to-head victory. New York Jets clinched the AFC #5 seed instead of Denver based upon better record against common opponents (New York Jets were 5–0 to Denver’s 3–2 against San Diego, Cincinnati, Houston, and Miami). Jacksonville and Baltimore finished ahead of Buffalo because they each defeated Buffalo head-to-head. Jacksonville finished ahead of Baltimore based upon better record against common opponents (Jacksonville were 3–2 against Baltimore’s 2–3 versus Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Kansas City). Houston finished ahead of Kansas City based upon head-to-head victory. Oakland finished ahead of Tennessee based upon head-to-head victory. Miami finished ahead of Cleveland based upon head-to-head victory. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

NFC [2] view talk edit # Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK Division leaders 1 Philadelphia Eagles East 13 3 0 .813 6–0 11–1 .453 .409 L2 2 Atlanta Falcons South 11 5 0 .688 4–2 8–4 .420 .432 L2 3 Green Bay Packers North 10 6 0 .625 5–1 9–3 .457 .419 W2 4 Seattle Seahawks West 9 7 0 .563 3–3 8–4 .445 .368 W2 Wild cards 5 [a] St. Louis Rams West 8 8 0 .500 5–1 7–5 .488 .438 W2 6 [a] [b] Minnesota Vikings North 8 8 0 .500 3–3 5–7 .480 .406 L2 Did not qualify for the postseason 7 [a] [b] New Orleans Saints South 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 .465 .427 W4 8 Carolina Panthers South 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .496 .366 L1 9 [c] Detroit Lions North 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .496 .417 L2 10 [c] Arizona Cardinals West 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .461 .417 W1 11 [c] [d] New York Giants East 6 10 0 .375 3–3 5–7 .516 .417 W1 12 [c] [d] [e] Dallas Cowboys East 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .516 .375 L1 13 [c] [d] [e] Washington Redskins East 6 10 0 .375 1–5 6–6 .477 .333 W1 14 [f] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 .477 .413 L4 15 [f] Chicago Bears North 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 .465 .388 L4 16 San Francisco 49ers West 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 .488 .375 L3 Tiebreakers [g] 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 head-to-head victory. Detroit finished ahead of Arizona and New York Giants based upon head-to-head record (2–0 versus Arizona’s 1–1 and New York Giants’ 0–2). Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Dallas and Washington. New York 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 head-to-head sweep. Tampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based upon head-to-head victory. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

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. ^[3]

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. ^[4]

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

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Milestones

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

Record	Player/team	Date/opponent	Previous record holder [5]
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. ^[6] Despite throwing for 49 touchdown passes, Peyton Manning attempted fewer than 500 passes for the first time in his NFL career. ^[7] 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

Head coach/front office changes

Head coach

• 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

Front office

• Atlanta Falcons – Rich McKay replaced Harold Richardson who resigned on May 9, 2002. This is McKay's first full season with the Falcons after being hired in December 2003.
• Miami Dolphins – Rick Spielman replaced Eddie Jones who retired after the 2003 season
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bruce Allen replaced Rich McKay who had left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to become president and general manager of the Atlanta Falcons on December 15th, 2003.

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. ^[8]
• 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.

Notes

1. "Redskins cut four, including Smith". ESPN Sports. February 24, 2004. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
2. "2004 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
3. "NFL Playoff Procedures and Tiebreakers". Yahoo! Sports. December 31, 2006. Archived from the original on January 1, 2010.
4. Strauss, Chris (November 16, 2014). "The Oakland Raiders are officially eliminated from playoff contention". USA Today. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
5. "Records". 2005 NFL Record and Fact Book. NFL. 2005. ISBN   978-1-932994-36-0.
6. Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 35. ISBN   978-1-57243-990-0.
7. Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 146. ISBN   978-1-57243-990-0.
8. Gardner, Jim (November 28, 2005). "Fans unclear on main Monster in 49ers lineup". San Francisco Business Times .

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)