The was the 85th one played by the major professional American Football league in the United States . With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9 2004 to January 2 2005. Due to Hurricanes , two of the Miami Dolphins ' regular season home games were rescheduled. The game against the Tennessee Titans was moved up one day to Saturday, September 11 to avoid oncoming Hurricane Ivan . And the game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 26 was moved back 7 1/2 hours to miss the eye of Hurricane Jeanne .
The Playoffs began on January 8 , and eventually New England repeated as NFL champions when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX , the Super Bowl championship game, at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6 .
- Due to several incidents during the 2003 NFL Season , officials are authorized to penalize excessive celebration. The 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be marked off from the spot at the end of the previous play or, after a score, on the ensuing kickoff. If the infraction is ruled flagrant by the officials, the player can be ejected.
- Due to several instances during the 2003-04 Playoffs , officials are instructed to strictly enforce illegal contact, pass interference, and defensive holding.
- Timeouts can be called by head coaches.
- In addition to the numbers 80-89, Wide Receiver s will now be allowed to use numbers 10-19.
- A punt or missed field goal that is untouched by the receiving team is immediately dead once it touches either the end zone or any member of the kicking team in the end zone. Previously, a punt or missed field goal that lands in the end zone before being controlled by the kicking team could be picked up by a member of the receiving team and immediately run the other way.
- Teams will be awarded a third instant replay challenge if their first two are successful. Previously, teams were only limited to two regardless of what occurred during the game.
''W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against''
- Indianapolis clinched the AFC 3 seed instead of San Diego based on better head-to-head record (1-0).
- N.Y. Jets clinched the AFC 5 seed instead of Denver based on better record in common games (5-0 to 3-2).
- St. Louis clinched the NFC 5 seed instead of Minnesota or New Orleans based on better conference record (7-5 to Minnesota's 5-7 to New Orleans' 6-6).
- Minnesota clinched the NFC 6 seed instead of New Orleans based on better head-to-head record (1-0).
- N.Y. Giants finished ahead of Dallas and Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (3-1 to Dallas' 2-2 to Washington's 1-3).
- Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on better head-to-head record (2-0).
See Also: NFL playoffs, 2004-05
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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North
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New England Patriots
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East
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Indianapolis Colts
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South
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San Diego Chargers
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West
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New York Jets
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Denver Broncos
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Philadelphia Eagles
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East
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Atlanta Falcons
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South
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Green Bay Packers
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North
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Seattle Seahawks
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West
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St Louis Rams
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Minnesota Vikings
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- Wild-Card playoffs: N.Y. Jets 20, 17 (OT); '''Indianapolis''' 49, Denver 24
- Divisional playoffs: 20, N.Y. Jets 17 (OT); '''New England''' 20, Indianapolis 3
- AFC Championship: New England 41, 27 at Heinz Field , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , January 23 , 2005
- Wild-Card playoffs: St. Louis 27, 20; Minnesota 31, '''Green Bay''' 17
- Divisional playoffs: 47, St. Louis 17; '''Philadelphia''' 27, Minnesota 14
- NFC Championship: 27, Atlanta 10 at Lincoln Financial Field , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, January 23, 2005
- New England (AFC) 24, Philadelphia (NFC) 21 at ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida, February 6 , 2005
The following players set all-time NFL records during the season:
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