2002 NFL season

2002 National Football League season
Regular season
Duration	September 5 – December 30, 2002
Playoffs
Start date	January 4, 2003
AFC Champions	Oakland Raiders
NFC Champions	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVII
Date	January 26, 2003
Site	Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
Champions	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pro Bowl
Date	February 2, 2003
Site	Aloha Stadium
National Football League seasons  < 2001 2003 >

The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.

The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each. Also, the Chicago Bears played the 2002 season in Champaign, Illinois at Memorial Stadium because of the reconstruction of their home stadium Soldier Field.

The NFL title was eventually won by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California on January 26, 2003.

Expansion and realignment

With the Houston Texans joining the NFL, the league's teams were realigned into eight divisions: four teams in each division and four divisions in each conference. In creating the new divisions, the league tried to maintain the historical rivalries from the old alignment, while at the same time attempting to organize the teams geographically. Legally, three teams from the AFC Central (Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh) were required to be in the same division as part of any realignment proposals; this was part of the NFL's settlement with the city of Cleveland in the wake of the 1995 Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.^[1]

The major changes were: ^[2]

• The Seattle Seahawks became the only team to switch conferences twice; moving from the AFC West to the NFC West (where they originally were in their inaugural season).
• The Arizona Cardinals moved from the NFC East to the NFC West. They had originally played in Chicago and then St. Louis before moving to Phoenix in 1988.
• The Indianapolis Colts, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tennessee Titans and the inaugural Houston Texans were placed into the newly formed AFC South.
• The Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were placed into the newly formed NFC South.
• Both the AFC Central and the NFC Central were renamed AFC North and NFC North, respectively. They retained their team placement, minus the Titans, Jaguars and Buccaneers of their respective conferences.

Additionally, the arrival of the Texans meant that the league could return to its pre-1999 scheduling format in which no team got a bye during the first two weeks or last seven weeks of the season. From 1999 to 2001, at least one team sat out each week (including the preseason) because of an odd number of teams in the league (this also happened in 1960, 1966, and other years wherein the league had an odd number of teams). It nearly became problematic during the previous season due to the September 11 attacks, since the San Diego Chargers had their bye week during the week following 9/11 and the league nearly outright canceled that week's slate of games.

The league also introduced a new eight-year scheduling rotation designed so that all teams will play each other at least twice during those eight years, and will play in every other team's stadium at least once. Under the new scheduling formula, only two of a team's games each season are based on the previous year's record, down from four under the previous system. All teams play four interconference games. An analysis of win percentages in 2008 showed a statistical trend upwards for top teams since this change; the top team each year then averaged 14.2 wins, versus 13.4 previously.^[3]

The playoff format was also modified: four division winners and two wild cards from each conference now advance to the playoffs, instead of three division winners and three wild cards. In each conference, the division winners are now seeded 1 through 4, and the wild cards are seeded 5 and 6. In the current system, the only way a wild card team can host a playoff game is if both teams in the conference's championship game are wild cards. Since 1990, the number of playoff teams is still 12.

Major rule changes

• A player who touches a pylon remains in-bounds until any part of his body touches the ground out-of-bounds.
• Continuing-action fouls now become dead-ball fouls and will result in the loss of down and distance.
• Any dead-ball penalties by the offense after they have made the line to gain will result in a loss of 15 yards and a new first down. Previously, the 15 yard penalty was enforced but the down was replayed.

• The act of batting and stripping the ball from a player is officially legal.
• Chop-blocks are illegal on kicking plays.
• Hitting a quarterback helmet-to-helmet anytime after a change of possession is illegal.
• After a kickoff, the game clock will start when the ball is touched legally in the field of play. Previously, the clock started immediately when the ball was kicked.
• Inside the final two minutes of a half/overtime, the game clock will not stop when the player who originally takes the snap is tackled behind the line of scrimmage (i.e. sacked).

Also, with the opening of the NFL's first stadium with a retractable roof, Reliant Stadium, the following rules were enacted:

• The home team must determine whether their retractable roof is to be opened or closed 90 minutes before kickoff.
• If it is closed at kickoff, it cannot be reopened during the game.
• If it is open at kickoff, it cannot be closed during the game unless the weather conditions become severe.

Uniform changes

In addition, Reebok took over the contract to be the official athletic supplier to the NFL for all 32 teams's uniforms. Previously, teams had individual contracts with athletic suppliers. American Needle, which had a contract with a few teams before the Reebok deal, challenged the NFL in court over Reebok's exclusive deal, with the NFL effectively stating that it was a "single-entity league" instead of a group consisting of 32 owners. The case eventually went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2009, the Supreme Court agreed to hear American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League. In 2010, the court ruled that the NFL is not a single entity.^[4] The legality of the NFL's exclusive contract with Reebok is still in question by the lower courts as of October 2010. Reebok remained the league's athletic supplier through the 2011 NFL season, when Nike took over the contract for the 2012 NFL season.^[5]

Reebok had initially announced when the deal was signed in 2000 that aside from the expansion Texans, all NFL teams would be wearing new uniforms for the 2002 season. However, after protests from several owners—most vocally Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney^[6]—Reebok later rescinded the proposal. Reebok did, however (by player request to reduce holding calls), shorten the sleeves on the jerseys for teams that hadn't done so already (players had been for the previous decade tying the sleeves tight around their arms to prevent holding) and made the jerseys tighter-fitting. This is perhaps most noticeable on the Indianapolis Colts jerseys, where the shoulder stripes, which initially went from the top of the shoulders all the way underneath the arms, were truncated to just the top portion of the shoulders. This did not affect jerseys sold for retail, though, although special "authentic, gameday-worn" jerseys with the shorter sleeves are available at a much higher premium. Reebok later had more success convincing teams to change uniforms with the NHL when Reebok introduced the Rbk Edge uniforms for the 2007–08 NHL season.

Although Reebok rescinded the idea of all NFL teams wearing new uniforms for the 2002 season, the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks did redesign their uniforms, with the Seahawks also unveiling an updated logo in honor of their move to Qwest Field and the NFC.

2002 NFL Changes

• Houston Texans – New expansion team
• Buffalo Bills – New Uniforms that would be worn through the 2010 season.
• Washington Redskins – Added an alternative home Uniforms. Burgundy helmets with bow and arrow logo. Burgundy uniforms with white numbers with gold pants. 70th season logo on uniform.
• New England Patriots – New stadium; Gillette Stadium
• Detroit Lions – New stadium; Ford Field, new tweaked logo and uniforms.
• Seattle Seahawks – New Logo. New Uniforms. New Stadium; Seahawks Stadium. And in a new conference the NFC (see above).
• Chicago Bears – Played in Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL while Soldier Field was being remodeled for the season.
• San Diego Chargers – Navy pants with road uniforms.
• St. Louis Rams – Removed side panels on uniforms.
• Cleveland Browns – Added third alternative uniforms. Orange uniforms with white number with brown shadow in the back.
• Carolina Panthers – Added third alternative uniforms. Panther blue with white number and black trim.
• New Orleans Saints – Added third alternative uniforms. Old gold uniforms with black numbers and white trim. Brought back old gold pants.
• Denver Broncos – Added third alternative uniforms. Orange.

Coaching changes

• Carolina Panthers – John Fox; replaced George Seifert who was fired following the 2001 season
• Houston Texans – Dom Capers became first head coach in Texans history.
• Indianapolis Colts – Tony Dungy; replaced Jim Mora who was fired following the 2001 season
• Oakland Raiders – Bill Callahan; replaced Jon Gruden who was traded to Tampa for two 1st round draft picks, two 2nd round draft picks and cash.
• San Diego Chargers – Marty Schottenheimer; replaced Mike Riley who was fired following the 2001 season
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jon Gruden; replaced Tony Dungy who was fired following the 2001 season
• Washington Redskins – Steve Spurrier; replaced Marty Schottenheimer who was fired following the 2001 season

Final regular season standings

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 N.Y. Jets finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on better record in common games (8–4 to 7–5) and Miami based on better division record (4–2 to 2–4).
• ^b New England finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on better division record (4–2 to 2–4).
• ^c Cleveland clinched the AFC 6 seed instead of Denver or New England based on better conference record (7–5 to Denver's 5–7 and New England's 6–6).
• ^d Oakland clinched the AFC 1 seed instead of Tennessee based on a head-to-head victory.
• ^e San Diego finished ahead of Kansas City in the AFC West based on better division record (3–3 to 2–4).
• ^f Philadelphia clinched the NFC 1 seed instead of Green Bay or Tampa Bay based on better conference record (11–1 to Green Bay's 9–3 and Tampa Bay's 9–3).
• ^g Tampa Bay clinched the NFC 2 seed instead of Green Bay on a head-to-head victory.
• ^h St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle in the NFC West based on better division record (4–2 to 2–4).

Playoffs

Playoff seeds
Seed	AFC	NFC
1	Oakland Raiders (West winner)	Philadelphia Eagles (East winner)
2	Tennessee Titans (South winner)	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (South winner)
3	Pittsburgh Steelers (North winner)	Green Bay Packers (North winner)
4	New York Jets (East winner)	San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
5	Indianapolis Colts (wild card)	New York Giants (wild card)
6	Cleveland Browns (wild card)	Atlanta Falcons (wild card)
For details on the NFL playoff format, see National Football League playoffs#Current playoff system.

Bracket

	Jan. 5 – Heinz Field					Jan. 11 – The Coliseum
	6	Cleveland	33
						3	Pittsburgh	31
	3	Pittsburgh	36								Jan. 19 – Network Assoc. Coliseum
						2	Tennessee	34*
						AFC
	Jan. 4 – Giants Stadium										2	Tennessee	24
						Jan. 12 – Network Assoc. Coliseum
											1	Oakland	41
	5	Indianapolis	0								AFC Championship
						4	N.Y. Jets	10
	4	N.Y. Jets	41													Jan. 26 – Qualcomm Stadium
						1	Oakland	30
	Wild Card Playoffs
						Divisional Playoffs
	Jan. 5 – Candlestick Park															A1	Oakland	21
						Jan. 12 – Raymond James Stadium
																N2	Tampa Bay	48
	5	N.Y. Giants	38													Super Bowl XXXVII
						4	San Francisco	6
	4	San Francisco	39								Jan. 19 – Veterans Stadium
						2	Tampa Bay	31
						NFC
	Jan. 4 – Lambeau Field										2	Tampa Bay	27
						Jan. 11 – Veterans Stadium
											1	Philadelphia	10
	6	Atlanta	27								NFC Championship
						6	Atlanta	6
	3	Green Bay	7
						1	Philadelphia	20

* Indicates overtime victory

Milestones

The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:

Record	Player/Team	Date/Opponent	Previous Record Holder[7]
Most Pass Receptions, Season	Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis (143)	N/A	Herman Moore, Detroit, 1995 (123)
Longest Return of a Missed Field Goal	Chris McAlister, Baltimore (107 yards)	September 30, vs. Denver	Aaron Glenn, N.Y. Jets vs. Indianapolis, November 15, 1998 (104)
Yards From Scrimmage, Career	Jerry Rice, Oakland (21,284)	September 29, vs. Tennessee	Walter Payton, 1975–1987 (21,264)
Most Rushing Yards Gained, Career	Emmitt Smith, Dallas	October 27, vs. Seattle	Walter Payton, 1975–1987 (16,726)
Most Rushing Yards by a Quarterback, Game	Michael Vick, Atlanta (173)	December 1 vs. Minnesota	Tobin Rote, Green Bay vs. Chicago, November 18, 1951 (150)
Most First Downs by Both Teams, Game	Seattle (32) vs. Kansas City (32) [64 total]	November 24	Tied by 2 games (62 total)
Fewest Fumbles by a Team, Season	Kansas City (7)	N/A	Cleveland, 1959 (8)
Fewest Fumbles Lost by a Team, Season	Kansas City (2)	N/A	Tied by 2 teams (3)
Most Punts by a Team, Season	Houston (116)	N/A	Chicago, 1981 (114)

Statistical leaders

Team

Points scored	Kansas City Chiefs (467)
Total yards gained	Oakland Raiders (6,237)
Yards rushing	Minnesota Vikings (2,507)
Yards passing	Oakland Raiders (4,475)
Fewest points allowed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (196)
Fewest total yards allowed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4,044)
Fewest rushing yards allowed	Pittsburgh Steelers (1,375)
Fewest passing yards allowed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2,490)

Individual

Scoring	Priest Holmes, Kansas City (144 points)
Touchdowns	Priest Holmes, Kansas City (24 TDs)
Most field goals made	Martin Gramatica, Tampa Bay (32 FGs)
Rushing	Ricky Williams, Miami (1,853 yards)
Passing	Chad Pennington, New York Jets (104.2 rating)
Passing touchdowns	Tom Brady, New England (28 TDs)
Pass receiving	Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis (143 catches)
Pass receiving yards	Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis (1,722)
Punt returns	Jimmy Williams, San Francisco (16.8 average yards)
Kickoff returns	MarTay Jenkins, Arizona (28.0 average yards)
Interceptions	Charles Woodson, Oakland and Brian Kelly, Tampa Bay (8)
Punting	Todd Sauerbrun, Carolina (45.5 average yards)
Sacks	Jason Taylor, Miami (18.5)

Awards

Most Valuable Player	Rich Gannon, Quarterback, Oakland
Coach of the Year	Andy Reid, Philadelphia
Offensive Player of the Year	Priest Holmes, Running back, Kansas City
Defensive Player of the Year	Derrick Brooks, Linebacker, Tampa Bay
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Clinton Portis, Running Back, Denver
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Julius Peppers, Defensive End, Carolina
NFL Comeback Player of the Year	Tommy Maddox, Quarterback, Pittsburgh

External links

• Football Outsiders 2002 Team Efficiency Ratings
• 2002 OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
• 2002 DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
• Pro Football Reference.com – 2002

Notes

References

• NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
• NFL History 2001– (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
• NFL adopts changes to rules (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
• New alignment takes effect in 2002 from ESPN.com, May 22, 2001 (Last accessed March 11, 2009)
• NFL Announces 2002–2009 Schedule Rotation (Last accessed January 19, 2008)
• Seattle moved to NFC in approved realignment plan from CNNSI.com, May 22, 2001 (Last accessed December 9, 2005)

2002 NFL season AFC East North South West East North South West NFC Buffalo Baltimore Houston Denver Dallas Chicago Atlanta Arizona Miami Cincinnati Indianapolis Kansas City NY Giants Detroit Carolina St. Louis New England Cleveland Jacksonville Oakland Philadelphia Green Bay New Orleans San Francisco NY Jets Pittsburgh Tennessee San Diego Washington Minnesota Tampa Bay Seattle 2002 NFL Draft NFL playoffs Pro Bowl Super Bowl XXXVII

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