A jersey numbering system is adopted (players who played in the 1972 NFL season are grandfathered in):
1-19: Quarterbacks and specialists
20-49: Running backs and defensive backs
50-59: Centers and linebackers
60-79: Defensive linemen and offensive linemen other than centers
80-89: Wide receivers and tight ends
Numbers 0, 00, and 90-99 are no longer allowed to be issued, even though these numbers were rarely issued anyways. Numbers 90-99 would be allowed again in 1984 for defensive linemen and linebackers in addition to the above mentioned numbers.
Defensive players cannot jump or stand on a teammate while trying to block a kick.
The clock is to start at the snap following a change of possession. Previoulsy, the clock would start on a change of possession when the ball was spotted ready for play by the referee.
If there is a foul by the offensive team, and it is followed by a change of possession, the period can be extended by one play by the other team.
If the receiving team commits a foul after the ball is kicked, possession will be presumed to have changed; the receiving team keeps the ball.
Division races[]
Starting in 1970, and until 2002, 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, common opponents records, and conference play.
National Football Conference
Week
Eastern
Central
Western
Wild Card
1
4 teams
1-0-0
2 teams
1-0-0
2 teams
1-0-0
5 teams
1-0-0
2
Tie (Dal, StL)
2-0-0
MINNESOTA
2-0-0
LOS ANGELES
2-0-0
Tie (Dal, StL)
2-0-0
3
DALLAS
3-0-0
MINNESOTA
3-0-0
LOS ANGELES
3-0-0
ST. LOUIS
2-1-0
4
WASHINGTON*
3-1-0
MINNESOTA
5-0-0
LOS ANGELES
4-0-0
DALLAS
3-1-0
5
WASHINGTON
4-1-0
MINNESOTA
5-0-0
LOS ANGELES
5-0-0
DALLAS
3-2-0
6
WASHINGTON
5-1-0
MINNESOTA
6-0-0
LOS ANGELES
6-0-0
DALLAS
4-2-0
7
WASHINGTON
5-2-0
MINNESOTA
7-0-0
LOS ANGELES
6-1-0
DALLAS*
4-3-0
8
WASHINGTON*
5-3-0
MINNESOTA
8-0-0
LOS ANGELES
6-2-0
ATLANTA*
5-3-0
9
WASHINGTON*
6-3-0
MINNESOTA
9-0-0
LOS ANGELES
7-2-0
ATLANTA*
6-3-0
10
WASHINGTON*
7-3-0
MINNESOTA
9-1-0
LOS ANGELES
8-2-0
ATLANTA*
7-3-0
11
WASHINGTON
8-3-0
MINNESOTA
10-1-0
LOS ANGELES
9-2-0
ATLANTA
8-3-0
12
WASHINGTON*
9-3-0
MINNESOTA
10-2-0
LOS ANGELES
10-2-0
ATLANTA*
8-4-0
13
DALLAS*
9-4-0
MINNESOTA
11-2-0
LOS ANGELES
11-2-0
WASHINGTON
9-4-0
14
DALLAS
10-4-0
MINNESOTA
12-2-0
LOS ANGELES
12-2-0
WASHINGTON
10-4-0
American Football Conference
Week
Eastern
Central
Western
Wild Card
1
(Buf, Mia)
1-0-0
(Cle, Pit)
1-0-0
DENVER
1-0-0
2 teams
1-0-0
2
N.Y. JETS
1-1-0
PITTSBURGH
2-0-0
4 teams
1-1-0
7 teams
1-1-0
3
BUFFALO
2-1-0
PITTSBURGH
3-0-0
KANSAS CITY
2-1-0
3 teams
2-1-0
4
Tie (Buf, Mia)
3-1-0
PITTSBURGH
4-0-0
KANSAS CITY
3-1-0
Tie (Buf, Mia)
3-1-0
5
Tie (Buf, Mia)
4-1-0
PITTSBURGH
4-1-0
KANSAS CITY
3-1-1
Tie (Buf, Mia)
4-1-0
6
MIAMI
5-1-0
PITTSBURGH
5-1-0
KANSAS CITY
3-2-1
CINCINNATI*
4-2-0
7
MIAMI
6-1-0
PITTSBURGH
6-1-0
OAKLAND
4-2-1
BUFFALO
5-2-0
8
MIAMI
7-1-0
PITTSBURGH
7-1-0
OAKLAND
5-2-1
BUFFALO
5-3-0
9
MIAMI
8-1-0
PITTSBURGH
8-1-0
OAKLAND*
5-3-1
KANSAS CITY*
5-3-1
10
MIAMI
9-1-0
PITTSBURGH
8-2-0
KANSAS CITY
6-3-1
CLEVELAND
6-3-1
11
MIAMI
10-1-0
PITTSBURGH
8-3-0
DENVER
6-3-2
CLEVELAND
7-3-1
12
MIAMI
11-1-0
CINCINNATI*
8-4-0
OAKLAND
7-4-1
PITTSBURGH
8-4-0
13
MIAMI
11-2-0
CINCINNATI*
9-4-0
OAKLAND
8-3-1
PITTSBURGH
9-4-0
14
MIAMI
12-2-0
CINCINNATI*
10-4-0
OAKLAND
9-4-1
PITTSBURGH
10-4-0
Final standings[]
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
x - clinched wild card berth, y - clinched division title
