1973 NFL season

The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season was highlighted by O. J. Simpson becoming the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in one 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
← 1972 NFL seasons 1974 →

Colts

Patriots

Bills

Dolphins

Jets

Bengals

Browns

Oilers

Steelers

Broncos

Chiefs

Raiders

Chargers

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AFC teams: West, Central, East

Cowboys

Giants

Eagles

Cardinals

Redskins

Bears

Lions

Packers

Vikings

Falcons

Rams

Saints

49ers

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NFC teams: West, Central, East

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 season ended with Super Bowl VIII when the Miami Dolphins repeated as league champions by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 24–7 at 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.

Draft

The 1973 NFL Draft was held from January 30 to 31, 1973 at New York City's Americana Hotel. With the first pick, the Houston Oilers selected defensive end John Matuszak from the University of Tampa.

Major rule changes

Jersey numbering system

• The league's jersey numbering system is adopted (players who played in 1972 are grandfathered):
  • 1–19: Quarterbacks and specialists
  • 20–49: Running backs, fullbacks and defensive backs
  • 50–59: Centers and linebackers
  • 60–79: Defensive linemen, guards, and offensive tackles
  • 80–89: Wide receivers and tight ends
  • Numbers 0, 00, and 90 to 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).

The system would later be modified throughout the years to increase the available numbers to different positions due to increasing team rosters and teams retiring numbers (see also National Football League uniform numbers § Post-1973 changes ).

Other new rules

• Defensive players cannot jump or stand on a teammate while trying to block a kick (leverage).
• The clock is to start at the snap following all changes of possession. Previously, the clock started 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, there was an incomplete pass on fourth down, the change of possession occurred on the final play of the first or third quarter, or either team took a timeout immediately; in those cases, 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.

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, records against common opponents, and records in 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,^[1] 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

AFC East view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK Miami Dolphins 12 2 0 .857 7–1 9–2 343 150 W1 Buffalo Bills 9 5 0 .643 6–2 7–4 259 230 W4 New England Patriots 5 9 0 .357 1–7 3–8 258 300 L2 New York Jets 4 10 0 .286 4–4 4–7 240 306 L2 Baltimore Colts 4 10 0 .286 2–6 2–9 226 341 W2 AFC Central view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK Cincinnati Bengals 10 4 0 .714 4–2 8–3 286 231 W6 Pittsburgh Steelers 10 4 0 .714 4–2 7–4 347 210 W2 Cleveland Browns 7 5 2 .571 4–2 6–3–2 234 255 L2 Houston Oilers 1 13 0 .071 0–6 1–10 199 447 L6 AFC West view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK Oakland Raiders 9 4 1 .679 4–1–1 7–3–1 292 175 W4 Kansas City Chiefs 7 5 2 .571 4–2 6–4–1 231 192 W1 Denver Broncos 7 5 2 .571 3–2–1 7–2–1 354 296 L1 San Diego Chargers 2 11 1 .179 0–6 1–9–1 188 386 L4

NFC East view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK Dallas Cowboys 10 4 0 .714 6–2 8–3 382 203 W3 Washington Redskins 10 4 0 .714 6–2 8–3 325 198 W1 Philadelphia Eagles 5 8 1 .393 3–4–1 3–7–1 310 393 L1 St. Louis Cardinals 4 9 1 .321 3–5 4–7 286 365 L1 New York Giants 2 11 1 .179 1–6–1 1–9–1 226 362 L4 NFC Central view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK Minnesota Vikings 12 2 0 .857 6–0 10–1 296 168 W2 Detroit Lions 6 7 1 .464 3–2–1 6–4–1 271 247 L1 Green Bay Packers 5 7 2 .429 1–4–1 4–6–1 202 259 W1 Chicago Bears 3 11 0 .214 1–5 1–9 195 334 L6 NFC West view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK Los Angeles Rams 12 2 0 .857 5–1 9–2 388 178 W6 Atlanta Falcons 9 5 0 .643 4–2 7–4 318 224 W1 San Francisco 49ers 5 9 0 .357 2–4 4–7 262 319 L2 New Orleans Saints 5 9 0 .357 1–5 4–7 163 312 L1

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 article: 1973–74 NFL playoffs

Note: Prior to the 1975 season, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation. Had the 1973 playoffs been seeded, the AFC divisional matchups would have been #3 Oakland at #2 Cincinnati and #4 wild card Pittsburgh at #1 Miami; the NFC matchups would not have changed, although #3 Dallas would have had to travel to #2 Los Angeles, and #1 Minnesota would have had home field for the NFC championship game.

Dec 22 – Metropolitan Stadium

WC

Washington

20

Dec 30 – Texas Stadium

Cent.

Minnesota

27

NFC

Cent.

Minnesota

27

Dec 23 – Texas Stadium

East

Dallas

10

NFC Championship

West

Los Angeles

16

Jan 13 – Rice Stadium

East

Dallas

27

Divisional playoffs

NFC

Minnesota

7

Dec 22 – Oakland Coliseum

AFC

Miami

24

Super Bowl VIII

WC

Pittsburgh

14

Dec 30 – Miami Orange Bowl

West

Oakland

33

AFC

West

Oakland

10

Dec 23 – Miami Orange Bowl

East

Miami

27

AFC Championship

Cent.

Cincinnati

16

East

Miami

34

This bracket

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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
Man of the Year	Len Dawson, quarterback, Kansas City
Comeback Player of the Year	Roman Gabriel, quarterback, Eagles
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player	Larry Csonka, running back, Miami

Coaching changes

Offseason

• Baltimore Colts: Howard Schnellenberger was hired as head coach. Don McCafferty was fired after going 1-4 to start the 1972 season. John Sandusky replaced McCafferty, getting the Colts to finish 1972 with a 5–9 record.
• Detroit Lions: Joe Schmidt resigned. Don McCafferty was named as Schmidt's replacement.
• Los Angeles Rams: Tommy Prothro was fired and replaced by Chuck Knox.
• New England Patriots: Chuck Fairbanks joined the team as both head coach and general manager. John Mazur resigned after going 2-7 to start the 1972 season, and Phil Bengtson then served as interim.
• New Orleans Saints: J. D. Roberts was fired midway through the 1973 preseason. John North served as head coach for the rest of the preseason and the 1973 regular season onward.
• Philadelphia Eagles: Ed Khayat was replaced by Mike McCormack.
• St. Louis Cardinals: Bob Hollway was fired and replaced by Don Coryell.

In-season

• Houston Oilers: Bill Peterson was fired after the Oilers lost their first five games. Sid Gillman finished out the rest of the season.
• San Diego Chargers: Harland Svare left the team after going 1–6–1. Ron Waller served for the last six games.

Stadium changes

The Buffalo Bills moved from their original home at War Memorial Stadium and played their first season at Rich Stadium.

From October 7, the New York Giants moved from Yankee Stadium to the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, where they would play the rest of 1973 and all of 1974. The Giants were forced out of Yankee Stadium after it closed to be renovated to a baseball-only venue. Also, a new Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey was already under construction by 1973, but it would not open until 1976.

Uniform changes

• The Buffalo Bills added blue pants to be worn with their white jerseys.
• The Chicago Bears changed their "C" helmet logo from white to orange with white trim
• The Los Angeles Rams introduced new uniforms, reverting their white-and-blue helmets back to the gold-and-blue helmets last used in 1963. The new design included gold pants, blue jerseys with white numbers and white jerseys with blue numbers. Both jerseys included curling rams horns on the sleeves: yellow horns on the blue jerseys and blue horns against yellow sleeves on the white jerseys.
• The Miami Dolphins added stripes to their aqua jerseys, while standardizing their white jerseys to include stripes. During their undefeated season, most Dolphins wore white jerseys with stripes, but some did not, including Bob Griese and Larry Csonka. Also, the Dolphins added orange-topped socks with aqua and white stripes.
• The New England Patriots added blue outlines to the numbers of both their red and white jerseys. Stripes were also added to the sleeve ends: blue and white for the red jerseys, and blue and red for the white jerseys.

Television

This was the fourth and final year under the league's broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. All three networks renewed their deals for another four years.^[2]

New television blackout rules

Main article: NFL on television § Blackout policies

Through December 1972, all NFL home games (including championship games and Super Bowls) were blacked-out on television in each team's respective city. The first exception was Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles in January 1973; the league changed their policy to black out home games only if tickets 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 Attorney General Richard Kleindienst, who then suggested that the U.S. 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; it eliminated the blackout of games in the home market so long as the game was sold out by 72 hours before kickoff.^[3]

With the new rule, the NFL recorded over one million no-shows by ticketholders to regular season games in 1973.^[4]

References

1. . Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
2. Brulia, Tim. "A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: Part 2" (PDF). Pro Football Researchers.
3. Pro-Football-Reference.com blog: Rubin, Rozelle, the Redskins, and Super Bowl Blackouts
4. "1 million no-shows recorded by NFL". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). Associated Press. December 17, 1973. p. 32.

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