The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, 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. 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 the then-fledgling FOX Network.
The season ended with Super Bowl XXVIII when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills for the second consecutive year. 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.
The Play Clock (the time limit the offensive team has to snap the ball between plays) has been reduced from 45 seconds to 40 seconds (the time interval after time outs and other administrative stoppages remains the same at 25 seconds).
Ineligible receiver down field prior to a forward pass foul is added.
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
Buffalo was the top AFC playoff seed based on head-to-head victory over Houston (1-0).
Denver was the second AFC Wild Card, and Pittsburgh was the third AFC Wild Card ahead of Miami, based on better conference record (8-4 to Steelers' 7-5 to Dolphins' 6-6).
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).
