The1993 NFL seasonwas the 74thregular seasonof theNational Football League(NFL). It was the only season in league history where all NFL teams were originally scheduled to play their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks and did so (the league again played 16 games over 18 weeks in2001,but this was caused by the postponement of a week of games due to theSeptember 11, 2001 terrorist attacks), where all of the Week 2 scheduled games were moved to an 18th week and the entire postseason was delayed by 7 days before starting). After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in1990,the league hoped this new schedule would generate even more revenue. This was also done to avoid scheduling playoff games onJanuary 1and competing with college football bowl games. The NFL's teams, however, felt that having two weeks off during the regular season was too disruptive for their weekly routines, and thus the regular season reverted to 17 weeks immediately after the season ended. 2021 marked the first season where an 18-week schedule would include 17 regular-season games.
| Regular season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 5, 1993– January 3, 1994 |
| Playoffs | |
| Start date | January 8, 1994 |
| AFC Champions | Buffalo Bills |
| NFC Champions | Dallas Cowboys |
| Super Bowl XXVIII | |
| Date | January 30, 1994 |
| Site | Georgia Dome,Atlanta, Georgia |
| Champions | Dallas Cowboys |
| Pro Bowl | |
| Date | February 6, 1994 |
| Site | Aloha Stadium |
On March 1, 1993, the currentfree agent systemwas introduced to the league, replacing the Plan B system instituted in 1989.[1][2]
The season ended withSuper Bowl XXVIIIwhen theDallas Cowboysdefeated theBuffalo Bills30–13 for the second consecutive season at theGeorgia Dome.This remains the only time both Super Bowl participants have been the same in successive seasons. The Cowboys became the first team to win a Super Bowl after losing their first two regular season games. This game also marked the fourth consecutive Super Bowl loss by the Bills, who remain the only team to reach four straight Super Bowls.
Player movement
editTransactions
edit- On April 6, 1993, Reggie White was signed by theGreen Bay Packersand agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $17 million.[3]
- June 9: The Kansas City Chiefs signed Los Angeles Raiders running backMarcus Allen.[4]
Trades
edit- March 17, 1993: The Cincinnati Bengals traded Boomer Esiason to the New York Jets.[5]
- April 20, 1993: Joe Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a $10 million contract over three years.[6]
- August 17: The Chicago Bears tradeJohn Roperand Markus Paul to the Dallas Cowboys[7]
- August 20: The Minnesota Vikings trade quarterbackRich Gannonto Washington.[7]
- August 24: The Denver Broncos trade wide receiverVance Johnsonto the Minnesota Vikings[7]
- August 26: The Phoenix Cardinals traded wide receiverErnie Jonesto the Los Angeles Rams.[7]
- August 30: The Atlanta Falcons traded punter Tim Kalal to the Green Bay Packers.[7]
- August 30: The Kansas City Chiefs trade running backBarry Wordto the Minnesota Vikings.[7]
- August 30: The Kansas City Chiefs trade guardRich Baldingerto the New England Patriots.[7]
- October 5: The Los Angeles Rams trade tight end Jim Price to the Dallas Cowboys.[8]
- October 12: The Atlanta Falcons trade running backEric Dickersonand cornerbackBruce Pickensto the Green Bay Packers.[8]
- October 13: The Los Angeles Raiders trade special teams playerElvis Pattersonto the Dallas Cowboys,[8]along with a seventh round pick (#216-Toddrick McIntosh), in exchange for a fifth round (#159-Roosevelt Patterson) and a seventh round draft choice (#217-Rob Holmberg).[9]
- October 19: The Pittsburgh Steelers traded running backTim Worleyto the Chicago Bears.[8]
Draft
editThe1993 NFL draftwas held from April 25 to 26, 1993, atNew York City'sMarriott Marquis.With the first pick, theNew England PatriotsselectedquarterbackDrew BledsoefromWashington State University.
New referee
editRon Blum,a line judge from 1985 to 1992 who officiatedSuper Bowl XXIVandSuper Bowl XXVIat that position, was promoted to referee to replacePat Haggerty,who retired after the 1992 season. In 28 seasons in the NFL, Haggerty was selected as the refereeSuper Bowl XIIIin 1979,XVIin 1982, andXIXin 1985.
Major rule changes
edit- The Play Clock (the time limit the offensive team has to snap the ball between plays) was reduced from 45 seconds to 40 seconds (the time interval after time outs and other administrative stoppages remained 25 seconds).
- Ineligible receiver down field prior to a forward pass foul was added.
- The passer could now legally throw a pass away, without any offensive player having a chance to catch the ball, as long as they are out of the pocket and the ball lands beyond the line of scrimmage.
- The player taking a snap from the center, upon receiving the ball, can immediately throw the football directly into the ground (i.e.spike) to stop the game clock.
- The NFL added an extra (second) bye week into the season for each team. The extra bye week was removed in 1994.[10]
Preseason
editAmerican Bowl
editA series of NFLpre-season exhibition gameswere held at four varying sites outside the United States, with three in Europe and one in Japan.
| Date | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Score | Stadium | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1 | New Orleans Saints | 28 | Philadelphia Eagles | 16 | Tokyo Dome |  Tokyo
|
| August 1 | San Francisco 49ers | 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 14 | Estadi Olímpic |  Barcelona
|
| August 7 | Minnesota Vikings | 20 | Buffalo Bills | 6 | Olympiastadion |  Berlin
|
| August 8 | Dallas Cowboys | 13 | Detroit Lions | 13 | Wembley Stadium |  London
|
Regular season
editScheduling formula
edit|
Inter-conference |
Highlights of the 1993 season included:
- Thanksgiving:Two games were played on Thursday, November 25, featuring Chicago atDetroitand Miami atDallas,with Chicago and Miami winning.
Final standings
edit
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Tiebreakers
edit- Buffalo was the top AFC playoff seed based on head-to-head victory over Houston (1–0).
- Denver was the second AFC Wild Card ahead of Pittsburgh and Miami, based on better conference record (8–4 to Steelers' 7–5 to Dolphins' 6–6).
- Pittsburgh was the third AFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over Miami (1–0).
- San Francisco was the second NFC playoff seed based on head-to-head victory over Detroit (1–0).
- Minnesota finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
Playoffs
edit| Jan 9 –Giants Stadium | Jan 15 –Candlestick Park | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Minnesota | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | NY Giants | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | NY Giants | 17 | Jan 23 – Texas Stadium | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | San Francisco | 44 | ||||||||||||||||
| NFC | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jan 8 –Pontiac Silverdome | 2 | San Francisco | 21 | |||||||||||||||
| Jan 16 –Texas Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Dallas | 38 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Green Bay | 28 | NFC Championship | |||||||||||||||
| 6 | Green Bay | 17 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Detroit | 24 | Jan 30 –Georgia Dome | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Dallas | 27 | ||||||||||||||||
| Wild Card playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||
| Divisional playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jan 8 –Arrowhead Stadium | N1 | Dallas | 30 | |||||||||||||||
| Jan 16 –Astrodome | ||||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Buffalo | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Pittsburgh | 24 | Super Bowl XXVIII | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | Kansas City | 28 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Kansas City | 27* | Jan 23 – Rich Stadium | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | Houston | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
| AFC | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jan 9 –Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 3 | Kansas City | 13 | |||||||||||||||
| Jan 15 –Rich Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Buffalo | 30 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Denver | 24 | AFC Championship | |||||||||||||||
| 4 | LA Raiders | 23 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | LA Raiders | 42 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Buffalo | 29 | ||||||||||||||||
* Indicatesovertimevictory
Awards
edit| Most Valuable Player | Emmitt Smith,running back,Dallas |
| Coach of the Year | Dan Reeves,NY Giants |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Jerry Rice,wide receiver,San Francisco |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Rod Woodson,cornerback,Pittsburgh |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | Jerome Bettis,running back,LA Rams |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | Dana Stubblefield,defensive tackle,San Francisco |
| NFL Comeback Player of the Year | Marcus Allen,running back,Kansas City |
| NFL Man of the Year | Derrick Thomas,linebacker,Kansas City |
| Super Bowl Most Valuable Player | Emmitt Smith,running back,Dallas |
Coaching changes
edit- Chicago Bears:Dave Wannstedtreplaced the firedMike Ditka.
- Denver Broncos:Wade Phillipsreplaced the firedDan Reeves.
- New England Patriots:Bill Parcellsreplaced the firedDick MacPherson.
- New York Giants:Dan Reevesreplaced the firedRay Handley.
- Washington Redskins:Richie Petitbonbecame head coach afterJoe Gibbsretired.
Uniform changes
edit- TheNew England Patriotsintroduced new uniforms, changing their primary color from red to royal blue, and their white helmets and pants to silver. They also replaced the "Pat Patriot"helmet logo with the later-coined" Flying Elvis ", a gray face of a minuteman that fans felt resembled the profile of a youngElvis Presley.
Television
editThis was the fourth and final year under the NFL's broadcast contracts withABC,CBS,NBC,TNT,andESPN.ABC, CBS, and NBC continued to televiseMonday Night Football,the NFC package, the AFC package, respectively. Sunday night games aired on TNT during the first half of the season, and ESPN during the second half of the season. When new four-year contracts were signed in December 1993,CBSlost their rights to broadcasting NFC games to the then-seven-year oldFoxNetwork, which had just started its own sports division. This ended a 37-year association with the NFL for CBS, although it would be restarted in 1998.
Jim Lampleybecame the new host of NBC'sNFL Live!,replacingBob Costaswho would still contribute in a limited role.Mike Ditkaalso joinedNFL Live!as an analyst, whileO. J. Simpsonbecame a regular on-site reporter. This would be Simpson's last season as an NFL broadcaster beforebeing charged with murderin Summer 1994.[11]
External links
editReferences
edit- ^"Jury rules in favor of NFL players: 'Plan B is dead'".UPI.com.September 10, 1992.Archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2020.RetrievedMarch 25,2020.
- ^Springer, Steve (March 2, 1993)."Freedom Comes to NFL: Pro football: On first day of free agency, 484 players become eligible to sign with new teams".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedSeptember 2,2018.
- ^"April 6, 1993: 17 million reasons convince Reggie White".archive.jsonline.com.RetrievedMay 18,2017.
- ^Teicher, Adam (April 20, 2018)."Three things you might not know about Joe Montana trade".ESPN.com.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
- ^"1993 NFL Transactions: Trades - March".nfl.com.RetrievedNovember 30,2020.
- ^Grathoff, Pete (January 5, 2019)."Joe Montana likes the Chiefs' chances of winning the Super Bowl".The Kansas City Star.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
- ^abcdefg"1993 NFL Transactions. Trades - August".National Football League.RetrievedDecember 3,2020.
- ^abcd"1993 NFL Transactions. Trades - October".National Football League.RetrievedDecember 3,2020.
- ^"SPORTS PEOPLE: FOOTBALL; Raiders Deal Patterson".The New York Times.October 14, 1993.
- ^"Bill Simmons: Bye week Q&A; - ESPN".Archivedfrom the original on October 27, 2017.RetrievedApril 30,2018.
- ^Brulia, Tim."A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: Part 4"(PDF).Pro Football Researchers.
- NFL Record and Fact Book(ISBN1-932994-36-X)
- NFL History 1991–2000ArchivedAugust 23, 2006, at theWayback Machine(Last accessed December 4, 2005)
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League(ISBN0-06-270174-6)
- 1993 NFL season at Pro Football Reference