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The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. It was the only season in league history where all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new schedule would generate even more revenue. This was also done to avoid scheduling playoff games on January 1 and competing with College football Bowl games. However, teams felt that having two weeks off during the regular season was too disruptive for their weekly routines, and thus it reverted to 17 weeks immediately after the season ended.

When new TV contracts were signed in December 1993, CBS lost their rights to broadcasting NFC games to the then-fledgling Fox Network.

The season ended with Super Bowl XXVIII when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills 30-13 for the second consecutive year at the Georgia Dome. This remains the only time both Super Bowl participants have been the same for consecutive years. 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 and final Super Bowl loss by the Bills.

Major rule changes

• 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 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.^[1]

Final regular season standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

Clinched playoff seeds are marked in parentheses and shaded in green. No ties occurred this season.

Tiebreakers

• 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

* Indicates overtime victory

Coaching changes

• 
  Chicago Bears: Dave Wannstedt replaced the fired Mike Ditka.


• 
  Denver Broncos: Wade Phillips replaced the fired Dan Reeves.


• 
  New England Patriots: Bill Parcells replaced the fired Dick MacPherson.


• 
  New York Giants: Dan Reeves replaced the fired Ray Handley.


• 
  Washington Redskins: Richie Petitbon became head coach after Joe Gibbs resigned.

Awards

Draft

The 1993 NFL Draft was held from April 25 to 26, 1993 at New York City's Marriott Marquis. With the first pick, the New England Patriots selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe from Washington State University.

External links

• Football Outsiders 1993 DVOA Ratings and Commentary

References

• 
  NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)


• 
  NFL History 1991–2000 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)


• 
  Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)


• 1993 NFL season at Pro Football Reference