The 2004 season of the National Football League (NFL) was the 85th season for the major professional American football league in the United States. 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 New England repeated as NFL champions when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, the Super Bowl championship game, at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6.
- Due to several incidents during the 2003 NFL season, 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 can be ejected.
- Due to several instances during the 2003-04 playoffs, officials are instructed to strictly enforce illegal contact, pass interference, and defensive holding.
- Timeouts can be called by head coaches.
- In addition to the numbers 80-89, wide receivers will now be allowed to use numbers 10-19.
- 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.
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
Clinched playoff seeds are marked in parentheses and shaded in green
- Tiebreakers
- a Indianapolis clinched the AFC #3 seed instead of San Diego based on better head-to-head record (1-0).
- b N.Y. Jets clinched the AFC #5 seed instead of Denver based on better record in common games (5-0 to 3-2).
- c 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).
- d Minnesota clinched the NFC #6 seed instead of New Orleans based on better head-to-head record (1-0).
- e 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).
- f Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (2-0).
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- Home team in Bold
- Wild-Card playoffs: N.Y. JETS 20, San Diego 17 (OT) INDIANAPOLIS 49, Denver 24
- Divisional playoffs: PITTSBURGH 20, N.Y. Jets 17 (OT); NEW ENGLAND 20, Indianapolis 3
- AFC Championship: NEW ENGLAND 41, Pittsburgh 27 at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 23, 2005
- Wild-Card playoffs: ST. LOUIS 27, Seattle 20; MINNESOTA 31, Green Bay 17
- Divisional playoffs: ATLANTA 47, St. Louis 17; PHILADELPHIA 27, Minnesota 14
- NFC Championship: PHILADELPHIA 27, Atlanta 10 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 23, 2005
- Super Bowl XXXIX: New England (AFC) 24, Philadelphia (NFC) 21 at ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida, February 6, 2005
The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:
| Record |
Player/Team |
Date/Opponent |
Previous Record Holder[1] |
| Longest Interception Return |
Ed Reed, Baltimore (106 yards) |
November 7, at 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 |
October 24, vs. N.Y. Jets |
Chicago, 1933-34 (17) |
| Most Passing Touchdowns by a Team, Season |
Indianapolis (51) |
N/A |
Miami, 1984 (49) |
| 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) |
| Scoring |
Adam Vinatieri, New England (141 points) |
| Touchdowns |
Shaun Alexander, Seattle (20 TDs) |
| Most field goals made |
Adam Vinatieri, New England (31 FGs) |
| Rushing |
Curtis Martin, New York Jets (1,697 yards) |
| Passing |
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (121.1 rating) |
| Passing touchdowns |
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (49 TDs) |
| Pass receiving |
Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City (102 catches) |
| Pass 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) |
| 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, 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 |
- ^ "Records". 2005 NFL Record and Fact Book. NFL. 2005. ISBN 193299436.
