1997 National Football League season
Regular season
Duration	August 31, 1997 - December 22, 1997
Playoffs
Start date	December 27, 1997
AFC Champions	Denver Broncos
NFC Champions	Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXII
Date	January 25, 1998
Site	Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
Champions	Denver Broncos
Pro Bowl
Date	February 1, 1998
National Football League seasons  < 1996 1998 >

The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The NFL playoffs following the 1997 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXII. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The American Football Conference Championship Game, otherwise known as AFC Championship Game, is one of the two Semi-final matches of the National Football League The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. The NFC Championship Game is one of the two Semi-final matches of the National Football League the largest professional American football league in the United The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay Wisconsin. Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego California to decide the National Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Qualcomm Stadium (aka " The Q " " The Murph " formerly known as San Diego Stadium and Jack Murphy Stadium The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. The 1998 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 1, 1998 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu Hawaii. Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) This is a list of seasons of the National Football League. 1920s 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 The 1996 NFL season was the 77th Regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League. In an organised Sports league, a season is the portion of one Year in which regulated Games of the sport are in session The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee. The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville Tennessee. The newly-renamed Tennessee Oilers played their home games during this season at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee while a new stadium in Nashville began construction. Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds in Memphis Tennessee, United States. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County.

This was the last season that both NBC and the TNT network held rights to broadcast NFL games. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Turner Network Television, usually referred to as TNT, is an American cable TV network created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned When the TV contracts were renewed near the end of the season, CBS took over the American Football Conference package and ESPN won the right to televise all of the Sunday night games. The American Football Conference ( AFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to

Due to Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, the Chicago Bears - Miami Dolphins game at Pro Player Stadium was moved back one day to Monday, October 27. The 1997 World Series featured the Cleveland Indians, who were playing in their second World Series in three years The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami Florida Metropolitan Area. Dolphin Stadium (previously known as Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, and Dolphins Stadium) is a football Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.

The Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both changed their uniforms, and the new uniforms for both teams were introduced during this season.

The season ended with Super Bowl XXXII when the Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers. Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego California to decide the National The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay Wisconsin.

Contents 1 Major rule changes 2 Final standings 2.1 Tiebreakers 3 Playoffs 3.1 AFC 3.2 NFC 3.3 Super Bowl 4 Statistical leaders 4.1 Team 4.2 Individual 5 Awards 6 References

Major rule changes

• When a team fakes a punt and throws the ball downfield, pass interference will not be called on the two outside defenders who are actually trying to block a coverage man from getting downfield and might not even know the ball has been thrown.
• In order to reduce taunting and excessive celebrations, no player may remove his helmet while on the playing field except during timeouts and between quarters. This is known as the "Emmitt Smith rule" after the Dallas Cowboys' Running Back's habit of taking his helmet off every time he scored a touchdown. Emmitt James Smith III (born May 15 1969 in Pensacola Florida) is a former American football player who played for the Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National A running back ( RB) is the position of a player on an American or Canadian football team who usually lines up in the offensive backfield.

Final standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

Qualified for playoffs

Tiebreakers

• Miami finished ahead of N. Y. Jets in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).
• Pittsburgh finished ahead of Jacksonville in the AFC Central based on better net division points (78 to Jaguars' 23).
• Oakland finished ahead of San Diego in the AFC West based on better division record (2-6 to Chargers' 1-7).
• San Francisco was the top NFC playoff seed based on better conference record than Green Bay (11-1 to Packers' 10-2).
• Detroit finished ahead of Minnesota in the NFC Central based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).
• Carolina finished ahead of Atlanta in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).

Playoffs

Main article: NFL playoffs, 1997-98

Home team in capitals

AFC

• Wild-Card playoffs: DENVER 42, Jacksonville 17; NEW ENGLAND 17, Miami 3
• Divisional playoffs: PITTSBURGH 7, New England 6; Denver 14, KANSAS CITY 10
• AFC Championship: Denver 24, PITTSBURGH 21 at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1998

NFC

• Wild-Card playoffs: Minnesota 23, N. The NFL playoffs following the 1997 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXII. Three Rivers Stadium was a Multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000 The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Y. GIANTS 22; TAMPA BAY 20, Detroit 10
• Divisional playoffs: SAN FRANCISCO 38, Minnesota 22; GREEN BAY 21, Tampa Bay 7
• NFC Championship: Green Bay 23, SAN FRANCISCO 10 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California, January 11,1998

Super Bowl

• Super Bowl XXXII: Denver (AFC) 31, Green Bay (NFC) 24, at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California, January 25, 1998

Statistical leaders

Team

Points scored	Denver Broncos (472)
Total yards gained	Denver Broncos (5,872)
Yards rushing	Pittsburgh Steelers (2,479)
Yards passing	Seattle Seahawks (3,959)
Fewest points allowed	Kansas City Chiefs (232)
Fewest total yards allowed	San Francisco 49ers (4,013)
Fewest rushing yards allowed	Pittsburgh Steelers (1,318)
Fewest passing yards allowed	Dallas Cowboys (2,522)

Individual

Scoring	Mike Hollis, Jacksonville (134 points)
Touchdowns	Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Miami (16 TDs)
Most field goals made	Richie Cunningham, Dallas (34 FGs)
Rushing	Barry Sanders, Detroit, (2,053 yards)
Passing	Steve Young, San Francisco (104. Candlestick Park (also commonly referred to as Candlestick or The Stick) is an outdoor sports and entertainment stadium located in San Francisco California The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego California to decide the National Qualcomm Stadium (aka " The Q " " The Murph " formerly known as San Diego Stadium and Jack Murphy Stadium Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Michael Shane Hollis (born May 22, 1972 in Kellogg Idaho) is a former professional American football Placekicker. Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar, formerly known as Sharmon Shah and famously Karim Abdul-Jabbar (born June 28 1974, in Los Angeles California Richard Anthony "Richie" Cunningham (born August 18, 1970 in Houma Louisiana) is a former All-Pro National Football League Barry David Sanders (born) is a former American football Running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL Steve Young (born Jon Steven Young on October 11, 1961 in Salt Lake City Utah) is a former Quarterback for the NFL's 7 rating)
Passing touchdowns	Brett Favre, Green Bay (35 TDs)
Pass receiving	Tim Brown, Oakland and Herman Moore, Detroit (104 catches)
Pass receiving yards	Rob Moore, Arizona (1,584)
Punt returns	Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore (15. Brett Lorenzo Favre (ˈfɑrv (born October 10 1969 is an American football Quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League Herman Joseph Moore (born October 20, 1969 in Danville Virginia, USA is a former American National Football League Wide Rob Moore may refer to any of the following Rob Moore (politician (born 1973 Canadian lawyer and politician Rob Moore (football player Jermaine Lewis (born October 16, 1974 in Lanham Maryland) is an American football Wide receiver in the NFL. 6 average yards)
Kickoff returns	Michael Bates, Carolina (27. Michael Dion Bates (born December 19 1969 in Victoria, Texas) is an former two-sport athlete who gained renown both as a sprinter 3 average yards)
Interceptions	Ryan McNeil, St. Ryan McNeil is a fictional character in the American Soap opera The Young and the Restless. Louis (9)
Punting	Mark Royals, New Orleans (45. Mark Alan Royals (born June 22, 1965 in Hampton Virginia) was an American football punter in the National Football League 9 average yards)
Sacks	John Randle, Minnesota (15. John Randle (born December 12, 1967 in Hearne Texas) is a former NFL Defensive tackle who played for the Minnesota Vikings 5)

Awards

Most Valuable Players	Brett Favre, Quarterback, Green Bay and Barry Sanders, Running Back, Detroit
Coach of the Year	Jim Fassel, New York Giants
Offensive Player of the Year	Barry Sanders, Running Back, Detroit
Defensive Player of the Year	Dana Stubblefield, Defensive Tackle, San Francisco
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Warrick Dunn, Running Back, Tampa Bay
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Peter Boulware, Linebacker, Baltimore

References

• NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
• NFL History 1991-2000 (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
• 1997 season in details
• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
• Steelers Fever - History of NFL Rules (Last accessed October 17, 2005)

The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities most notably the Associated Press, to the player who is considered most valuable Brett Lorenzo Favre (ˈfɑrv (born October 10 1969 is an American football Quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. Barry David Sanders (born) is a former American football Running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL A running back ( RB) is the position of a player on an American or Canadian football team who usually lines up in the offensive backfield. The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job Jim Fassel (born August 31, 1949 in Anaheim California) is an American football broadcaster and former NFL coach The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Associated Press to the offensive player of the National Football League believed to The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since Dana William Stubblefield (born November 14, 1970 in Cleves, Ohio) is a former American football Defensive tackle in the Defensive tackle ( DT) is a position on the defensive line in American and Canadian football. Since 1967 The Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to NFL American football players one for an offensive Warrick De'Mon Dunn (born January 5, 1975 in Baton Rouge Louisiana) is an American football Running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Since 1967 The Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to NFL American football players one for an offensive Peter Nicholas Boulware (born December 18, 1974) is a former American football Linebacker who played for the Baltimore Ravens. This article relates to Sports. For the Vietnam War bombing raids see Operation Linebacker and Operation Linebacker II.

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