The 2003 NFL season was the 84th regular season of the National Football League .
Regular season play was held from September 4, 2003 to December 28. Due to damage caused by the Cedar Fire , Qualcomm Stadium was used as an emergency shelter, and thus the Miami Dolphins –San Diego Chargers regular season match on October 27 was instead played at Sun Devil Stadium , the home field of the Arizona Cardinals .
The playoffs began on January 3, 2004. The NFL title was eventually won by the New England Patriots when they defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 1.
Major rule changes [ ] If an onside kick inside the final five minutes of the game does not go 10 yards, goes out of bounds, or is touched illegally, the receiving team will have the option of accepting the penalty and getting the ball immediately. Previously, the kicking team was penalized, but had another chance to kick again from five yards back.
League officials encouraged networks to immediately cut to a commercial break if an instant replay challenge review was initiated. Previously networks rarely utilized those stoppages for their prescribed commercial periods. Coaching changes [ ] 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 b c d e f g 2003 Changes [ ] Playoffs [ ] Bracket [ ]
January 3 - Bank of America Stadium
January 10 - Edward Jones Dome
6
Dallas
10
3
Carolina
29**
3
Carolina
29
January 18 - Lincoln Financial Field
2
St. Louis
23
NFC
January 4 - Lambeau Field
3
Carolina
14
January 11 - Lincoln Financial Field
1
Philadelphia
3
5
Seattle
27
NFC Championship
4
Green Bay
17
4
Green Bay
33*
February 1 - Reliant Stadium
1
Philadelphia
20*
Wild Card Playoffs
Divisional Playoffs
January 4 - RCA Dome
N3
Carolina
29
January 11 - Arrowhead Stadium
A1
New England
32
6
Denver
10
Super Bowl XXXVIII
3
Indianapolis
38
3
Indianapolis
41
January 18 - Gillette Stadium
2
Kansas City
31
AFC
January 3 - M&T Bank Stadium
3
Indianapolis
14
January 10 - Gillette Stadium
1
New England
24
5
Tennessee
20
AFC Championship
5
Tennessee
14
4
Baltimore
17
1
New England
17
* Indicates overtime victory ** Indicates double overtime victoryThis box: view · talk · edit
Milestones [ ] The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:
Record
Player/Team
Date/Opponent
Previous Record Holder[1]
Most Touchdowns, Season
Priest Holmes , Kansas City (27)
N/A
Marshall Faulk , St. Louis, 2000 (26)
Most Rushing Yards Gained, Game
Jamal Lewis , Baltimore (295)
September 14, vs. Cleveland
Corey Dillon , Cincinnati vs. Denver, October 22, 2000 (278)
Most Consecutive Field Goals
Mike Vanderjagt , Indianapolis
December 28, at Houston
Gary Anderson , 1997-98 (40)
Most Consecutive Road Games Lost
Detroit Lions
December 21, vs. Carolina
Houston Oilers , 1981-84 (23)
Most Consecutive Games with a Sack
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69)
November 9, 2003
Dallas Cowboys (68)
Statistical leaders [ ] Team [ ]
Points scored Kansas City Chiefs (484)
Total yards gained Minnesota Vikings (6,294)
Yards rushing Baltimore Ravens (2,674)
Yards passing Indianapolis Colts (4,179)
Fewest points allowed New England Patriots (238)
Fewest total yards allowed Dallas Cowboys (4,056)
Fewest rushing yards allowed Tennessee Titans (1,295)
Fewest passing yards allowed Dallas Cowboys (2,631)
Individual [ ]
Scoring Jeff Wilkins , St. Louis (163 points)
Touchdowns Priest Holmes , Kansas City (27 TDs)
Most field goals made Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis (39 FGs)
Rushing Jamal Lewis , Baltimore (2,066 yards)
Passing Steve McNair , Tennessee (100.4 rating)
Passing touchdowns Brett Favre , Green Bay (32 TDs)
Pass receiving Torry Holt , St. Louis (117 catches)
Pass receiving yards Torry Holt, St. Louis (1,696)
Punt returns Dante Hall , Kansas City (16.3 average yards)
Kickoff returns Jerry Azumah , Chicago (29.0 average yards)
Interceptions Brian Russell , Minnesota and Tony Parrish , San Francisco (9)
Punting Shane Lechler , Oakland (46.9 average yards)
Sacks Michael Strahan , New York Giants (18.5)
Awards [ ]
Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning , Quarterback , Indianapolis and Steve McNair , Quarterback, Tennessee Titans
Coach of the Year Bill Belichick , New England
Offensive Player of the Year Jamal Lewis, Running back , Baltimore
Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis, Linebacker , Baltimore
Offensive Rookie of the Year Anquan Boldin , Wide Receiver , Arizona
Defensive Rookie of the Year Terrell Suggs , Linebacker , Baltimore
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Jon Kitna , Quarterback, Cincinnati
External Links [ ] Notes [ ]
↑ "Records". 2005 NFL Record and Fact Book . NFL. 2005. ISBN 193299436 .
References [ ] 