2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.
Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000. It would be the last NFL season to date to start Labor Day weekend.
Major rule changes
- In order to cut down on group celebrations, unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and fines will be assessed for celebrations by two or more players.
- Anyone wearing an eligible number (1–49 and 80–89) can play at quarterback without having to first report to the referee before a play.
- This rule change resulted in the increase of trick plays teams can employ on offense.
- The "Bert Emanuel" rule was implemented. A receiver has to have possession of the ball and control of the ball. If when making a catch and falling to the ground, the ball is allowed to touch the ground and still be considered a catch if the player maintains clear control of the ball.
Uniform and logo changes
Coaching changes
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 year.
Tiebreakers
- Green Bay finished ahead of Detroit in the NFC Central based on better division record (5–3 to Lions' 3–5).
- New Orleans finished ahead of St. Louis in the NFC West based on better division record (7–1 to Rams' 5–3).
- Tampa Bay was the second NFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over St. Louis (1–0).
Playoffs
- * Indicates overtime victory
- Home team in capitals
AFC
- Wild-Card playoffs: MIAMI 23, Indianapolis 17 (OT); BALTIMORE 21, Denver 3
- Divisional playoffs: OAKLAND 27, Miami 0; BALTIMORE 24, Tennessee 10
- AFC Championship: BALTIMORE 16, Oakland 3 at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California, January 14, 2001
NFC
- Wild-Card playoffs: NEW ORLEANS 31, St. Louis 28; PHILADELPHIA 21, Tampa Bay 3
- Divisional playoffs: MINNESOTA 34, New Orleans 16; N.Y. GIANTS 20, Philadelphia 10
- NFC Championship: N.Y. GIANTS 41, Minnesota 0 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, January 14, 2001
Super Bowl
Milestones
The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:
| Record |
Player/Team |
Date/Opponent |
Previous Record Holder[1] |
| Most Rushing Yards Gained, Game |
Corey Dillon, Cincinnati (278) |
October 22, vs. Denver |
Walter Payton, Chicago vs. Minnesota, November 20, 1977 (275) |
| Most Pass Receptions, Game |
Terrell Owens, San Francisco (20) |
December 17, vs. Chicago |
Tom Fears, L.A. Rams vs. Green Bay, December 3, 1950 (18) |
| Most Points, Career |
Gary Anderson, Minnesota |
October 22, vs. Buffalo |
George Blanda 1949–1975 (2,002) |
| Most Two-Point Conversions by a Team, Game |
St. Louis (4) |
October 15, vs. Atlanta |
Tied by 2 teams (3) |
| Most Yards Gained by a Team, Season |
St. Louis (7,075) |
N/A |
Miami, 1984 (6,936) |
| Most Passing Yards Gained by a Team, Season |
St. Louis (5,232) |
N/A |
Miami, 1984 (5,018) |
Statistical leaders
Team
| Points scored |
St. Louis Rams (540) |
| Total yards gained |
St. Louis Rams (7,075) |
| Yards rushing |
Baltimore Ravens (2,470) |
| Yards passing |
St. Louis Rams (5,232) |
| Fewest points allowed |
Baltimore Ravens (165) |
| Fewest total yards allowed |
Tennessee Titans (3,813) |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed |
Baltimore Ravens (970) |
| Fewest passing yards allowed |
Tennessee Titans (2,423) |
Individual
| Scoring |
Marshall Faulk, St. Louis (160 points) |
| Touchdowns |
Marshall Faulk, St. Louis (26 TDs) |
| Most field goals made |
Matt Stover, Baltimore (35 FGs) |
| Rushing |
Edgerrin James, Indianapolis (1,709 yards) |
| Passing |
Brian Griese, Denver (102.9 rating) |
| Passing touchdowns |
Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota and Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (33 TDs) |
| Pass receiving |
Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis and Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina (102 catches) |
| Pass receiving yards |
Torry Holt, St. Louis (1,635) |
| Punt returns |
Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore (16.1 average yards) |
| Kickoff returns |
Darrick Vaughn, Atlanta (27.7 average yards) |
| Interceptions |
Darren Sharper, Green Bay (9) |
| Punting |
Darren Bennett, San Diego (46.2 average yards) |
| Sacks |
La'Roi Glover, New Orleans (17) |
Awards
| Most Valuable Player |
Marshall Faulk, Running back, St. Louis |
| Coach of the Year |
Jim Haslett, New Orleans |
| Offensive Player of the Year |
Marshall Faulk, Running back, St. Louis |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
Ray Lewis, Linebacker, Baltimore |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year |
Mike Anderson, Running Back, Denver |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year |
Brian Urlacher, Linebacker, Chicago |
| NFL Comeback Player of the Year |
Joe Johnson, Defensive End, New Orleans |
External Links
Notes
- ^ "Records". 2005 NFL Record and Fact Book. NFL. 2005. ISBN 193299436.
References
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Early era
(1920–1969) |
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Modern era
(1970–present) |
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