1975 NFL season
| Regular season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 21 – December 21, 1975 |
| Playoffs | |
| Start date | December 27, 1975 |
| AFC Champions | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| NFC Champions | Dallas Cowboys |
| Super Bowl X | |
| Date | January 18, 1976 |
| Site | Orange Bowl,Miami,Florida |
| Champions | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Pro Bowl | |
| Date | January 26, 1976 |
| Site | Louisiana Superdome,New Orleans |
The1975 NFL seasonwas the 56thregular seasonof theNational Football League.
Instead of a traditionalThanksgivingDay game hosted by theDallas Cowboys,the league scheduled aBuffalo BillsatSt. Louis Cardinalscontest. This was the first season since1966that the Cowboys did not play on that holiday.
The playoff format was changed so that the division champions with the best regular season records were made the home teams for the divisional round, with the division champion advancing to the conference championship game with the best record hosting the title game. Previously, game sites rotated by division. The caveat stipulating that a wild card team cannot face its own division champion in the divisional round was kept in force.[1][2][3][4]
The season ended withSuper Bowl Xwhenthe Pittsburgh Steelersrepeated as champions by defeatingthe Dallas Cowboys21–17at theOrange BowlinMiami.
Draft
[edit]The1975 NFL draftwas held from January 28 to 29, 1975, atNew York City'sHilton at Rockefeller Center.With the first pick, theAtlanta Falconsselected quarterbackSteve Bartkowskifrom theUniversity of California.
New officials
[edit]Jerry Seeman,who would go on to serve as referee forSuper Bowl XXIIIandSuper Bowl XXVbefore a 10-year tenure as the NFL's Director of Officiating from 1991 to 2001, was hired as a line judge.Fred Swearingen,the referee in the 1972 Raiders-Steelers playoff game which produced theImmaculate Reception,was demoted to his former position, field judge (now back judge).Gene Barth,the line judge onJim Tunney's crew the previous four seasons, was promoted.
Major rule changes
[edit]- After a fourth down incomplete pass goes in or through the end zone, the other team will take possession at the previous line of scrimmage. Previously, it resulted in a touchback.
- The penalty for pass interference on the offensive team is reduced from 15 yards to 10.
- If there are fouls by both teams on the same play but one results in a player ejection, the penalties will offset but the player will still be ejected.
- Referees were equipped with wireless microphones to announce penalties and clarify complex or unusual rulings to both fans and the media. The NFL thus became the first professional league in North America to adopt this technology.
Division races
[edit]Starting in1970,through2001,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 records, and records in conference play.
National Football Conference
[edit]| Week | Eastern | Central | Western | Wild Card | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 teams | 1–0–0 | Detroit, Minnesota | 1–0–0 | 4 teams | 0–1–0 | 4 teams | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | Dallas, Washington | 2–0–0 | Detroit, Minnesota | 2–0–0 | Los Angeles | 1–1–0 | 2 teams | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | Dallas | 3–0–0 | Minnesota | 3–0–0 | Los Angeles | 2–1–0 | 3 teams | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | Dallas | 4–0–0 | Minnesota | 4–0–0 | Los Angeles | 3–1–0 | Washington, Detroit | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | Dallas | 4–1–0 | Minnesota | 5–0–0 | Los Angeles | 4–1–0 | St. Louis, Detroit | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | Dallas | 5–1–0 | Minnesota | 6–0–0 | Los Angeles | 5–1–0 | Washington* | 4–2–0 |
| 7 | Dallas* | 5–2–0 | Minnesota | 7–0–0 | Los Angeles | 6–1–0 | Washington* | 5–2–0 |
| 8 | Washington* | 6–2–0 | Minnesota | 8–0–0 | Los Angeles | 6–2–0 | St. Louis | 6–2–0 |
| 9 | St. Louis | 7–2–0 | Minnesota | 9–0–0 | Los Angeles | 7–2–0 | Dallas, Detroit, Washington | 6–3–0 |
| 10 | St. Louis | 8–2–0 | Minnesota | 10–0–0 | Los Angeles | 8–2–0 | Dallas | 7–3–0 |
| 11 | Dallas* | 8–3–0 | Minnesota | 10–1–0 | Los Angeles | 9–2–0 | St. Louis | 8–3–0 |
| 12 | St. Louis | 9–3–0 | Minnesota | 11–1–0 | Los Angeles | 10–2–0 | Dallas | 8–4–0 |
| 13 | St. Louis | 10–3–0 | Minnesota | 11–2–0 | Los Angeles | 11–2–0 | Dallas | 9–4–0 |
| 14 | St. Louis | 11–3–0 | Minnesota | 12–2–0 | Los Angeles | 12–2–0 | Dallas | 10–4–0 |
American Football Conference
[edit]| Week | Eastern | Central | Western | Wild Card | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, Buffalo | 1–0–0 | 3 teams | 1–0–0 | Denver, Oakland | 1–0–0 | 4 teams | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | Buffalo | 2–0–0 | Cincinnati, Houston | 2–0–0 | Denver, Oakland | 2–0–0 | 2 teams | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | Buffalo | 3–0–0 | Cincinnati | 3–0–0 | Oakland | 3–0–0 | 5 teams | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | Buffalo | 4–0–0 | Cincinnati | 4–0–0 | Oakland | 3–1–0 | Pittsburgh* | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | Buffalo* | 4–1–0 | Cincinnati | 5–0–0 | Denver* | 3–2–0 | Pittsburgh* | 4–1–0 |
| 6 | Miami | 5–1–0 | Cincinnati | 6–0–0 | Oakland | 4–2–0 | Houston | 5–1–0 |
| 7 | Miami | 6–1–0 | Pittsburgh* | 6–1–0 | Oakland | 5–2–0 | Cincinnati* | 6–1–0 |
| 8 | Miami | 7–1–0 | Pittsburgh* | 7–1–0 | Oakland | 5–2–0 | Cincinnati* | 7–1–0 |
| 9 | Miami | 7–2–0 | Pittsburgh* | 8–1–0 | Oakland | 7–2–0 | Cincinnati* | 8–1–0 |
| 10 | Miami | 7–3–0 | Pittsburgh | 9–1–0 | Oakland | 8–2–0 | Cincinnati | 8–2–0 |
| 11 | Miami | 8–3–0 | Pittsburgh | 10–1–0 | Oakland | 9–2–0 | Cincinnati | 9–2–0 |
| 12 | Miami | 9–3–0 | Pittsburgh | 11–1–0 | Oakland | 10–2–0 | Cincinnati | 10–2–0 |
| 13 | Baltimore* | 9–4–0 | Pittsburgh | 12–1–0 | Oakland | 10–3–0 | Cincinnati | 10–3–0 |
| 14 | Baltimore | 10–4–0 | Pittsburgh | 12–2–0 | Oakland | 11–3–0 | Cincinnati | 11–3–0 |
Final standings
[edit]
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Tiebreakers
[edit]- Baltimore finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
- N.Y. Jets finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
- Minnesota was the top NFC playoff seed based on point rating system (Vikings were 1st in NFC in points scored and 2nd in NFC in points allowed for a combined rating of 3 while Rams were 5th in NFC in points scored and 1st in NFC in points allowed for a combined rating of 6).
- Chicago finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on better division record (2–4 to Packers' 1–5).
Playoffs
[edit]
| Dec 28 –Metropolitan Stadium | |||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas | 17 | |||||||||||
| Jan 4 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Minnesota | 14 | |||||||||||
| NFC | |||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas | 37 | |||||||||||
| Dec 27 –Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Los Angeles | 7 | |||||||||||
| NFC Championship | |||||||||||||
| 3 | St. Louis | 23 | |||||||||||
| Jan 18 –Miami Orange Bowl | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Los Angeles | 35 | |||||||||||
| Divisional playoffs | |||||||||||||
| N4 | Dallas | 17 | |||||||||||
| Dec 28 –Oakland Coliseum | |||||||||||||
| A1 | Pittsburgh | 21 | |||||||||||
| Super Bowl X | |||||||||||||
| 4 | Cincinnati | 28 | |||||||||||
| Jan 4 – Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Oakland | 31 | |||||||||||
| AFC | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Oakland | 10 | |||||||||||
| Dec 27 –Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Pittsburgh | 16 | |||||||||||
| AFC Championship | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Baltimore | 10 | |||||||||||
| 1 | Pittsburgh | 28 | |||||||||||
Awards
[edit]Coaching changes
[edit]Offseason
[edit]- Atlanta Falcons:Marion Campbellbegan his first full season as head coach. He replacedNorm Van Brocklin,who was fired after starting the 1974 season at 2–6.
- Baltimore Colts:Ted Marchibrodajoined the Colts as head coach.Howard Schnellenbergerwas fired after three games into the 1974 season, and General ManagerJoe Thomasthen served for the remainder of the season.
- Chicago Bears:Abe Gibronwas fired and replaced byJack Pardee.
- Cleveland Browns:Forrest Greggreplaced the firedNick Skorich.
- Green Bay Packers:Dan Devineleft to join theNotre Dame Fighting Irish.Former Packers quarterbackBart Starrwas named to replace Devine.
- Houston Oilers:Bum PhillipsreplacedSid Gillman.
- Kansas City Chiefs:Hank Stram,the team's only head coach in franchise history, was relieved of his duties.Paul Wigginwas named as the team's new head coach.
In-season
[edit]- New Orleans Saints:John Northwas fired after a 1–5 start to the season.Ernie Hefferlethen served as interim.
- New York Jets:Charley Winnerwas fired nine games into the season after only posting two wins. Offensive coordinatorKen Shippserved as interim for the last five games.
Stadium changes
[edit]- The home of theAtlanta Falcons,Atlanta Stadium, was renamedAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium,reflectingFulton Countyas a co-owner of the stadium
- TheDetroit Lionsmoved fromTiger Stadiumto theSilverdomeinPontiac, Michigan
- TheNew Orleans Saintsmoved fromTulane Stadiumto theLouisiana Superdome
- WhileGiants StadiuminEast Rutherford, New Jersey,remained under construction, theNew York Giantsmove from theYale BowlinNew Haven, Connecticut,toShea Stadium,temporarily sharing it with theJets
Uniform changes
[edit]- TheHouston Oilersswitched from blue to white helmets.
- TheNew Orleans Saintsswitched from gold to white pants.
- TheNew York Giantsintroduced new uniforms that featured blue jerseys, red trim, and white pants; and white jerseys, red trim, and blue pants. This new design emphasized a widen striping pattern with the accent color white. The lowercase "ny" helmet logo was replaced by a striped uppercase "NY", while the face masks were changed from gray to white.
- TheCleveland Brownsswitched from white to orange pants (stripe to match helmet). The face masks were changed from gray to white.
Television
[edit]This was the second year under the league's four-year broadcast contracts withABC,CBS,andNBCto televiseMonday Night Football,the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively. CBS restoredThe NFL Todaytitle for its pregame show.Brent Musburgerwas named as its new host, former playerIrv Crossas an analyst, and former Miss AmericaPhyllis Georgeas one of its reporters.
NBC's pregame showGrandStandmade its debut, hosted byJack Buck(who had left CBS afterthe previous season) andBryant Gumbel.[5]
References
[edit]- ^"Top Seeds | Pro Football Hall of Fame".pfhof.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^"Teams without a bye have a tough road to the Super Bowl".USA TODAY.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^"Graphic: Which NFL playoff seeds succeed?".ESPN.com.January 3, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^"1975 | Pro Football Hall of Fame".pfhof.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
- ^Brulia, Tim."A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: Part 2"(PDF).Pro Football Researchers.
- NFL Record and Fact Book(ISBN1-932994-36-X)
- NFL History 1971–1980(Last accessed December 4, 2005)
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League(ISBN0-06-270174-6)