1999 NFL season

1999 National Football League season

Regular season
Duration	September 12, 1999 – January 3, 2000
Playoffs
Start date	January 8, 2000
AFC Champions	Tennessee Titans
NFC Champions	St. Louis Rams
Super Bowl XXXIV
Date	January 30, 2000
Site	Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Champions	St. Louis Rams
Pro Bowl
Date	February 6, 2000
Site	Aloha Stadium

Photo of the Green Bay vs. Denver preseason game at Camp Randall Stadium on August 23, 1999

The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season. Also, the Tennessee Oilers changed its name to Tennessee Titans, and the league retired the name "Oilers" – a first in league history.

The return of the Browns increased the number of teams to 31, the first time the league had played with an odd number of clubs since 1966. As a result, the NFL was forced to give at least one team a bye each week; Previously, barring extreme circumstances, a club never received a bye during the first two weeks or last seven weeks of the season. Under a new system, for ten weeks of the season (Week #1 to Week #2, and Week #10 to Week #17), one team was scheduled a bye; for seven weeks of the season (Week #3 to Week #9), three teams sat out. This format would continue for the next two seasons until the Houston Texans joined the NFL in 2002 and returned the league to an even number of teams.

The start of the 1999 NFL Season was pushed back one week and started the weekend after Labor Day, a change from the previous seasons. Due to the Y2K concerns, the NFL did not want to hold the opening round of the playoffs on Saturday January 1, 2000, and did not want teams traveling on that day. Week 17 games were held on January 2, 2000, and the opening round of the playoff would be scheduled for January 8–9. The bye week before the Super Bowl was removed to accommodate the one-week adjustment. The start of the season after Labor Day would become a regular fixture for future seasons, beginning in 2001.

The final spot in the NFC playoffs came down to an exciting final day of the season. With both the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers at 7–8 and tied for the last spot in the playoffs with the Dallas Cowboys, and tied in other tiebreakers, the tie between them would be determined by best net point differential in conference games. Both the Packers and Panthers were playing at 1:00 PM Eastern on January 2, and both teams tried to outscore the other. The Packers beat the Arizona Cardinals 49–24, and the Panthers beat the New Orleans Saints 45–13. The Packers finished ahead of the Panthers by 11 points, but Dallas defeated the New York Giants later that night to claim the final playoff spot.

The St. Louis Rams, who had a losing record for each of the past nine seasons, surprised the entire league by defeating the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome.

Major rule changes

• Clipping is now illegal around the line of scrimmage just as it is on the rest of the field.
• A new instant replay system (different from the one used from 1986 to 1991) is adopted to aid officiating. The system mirrors a method used by the defunct USFL in 1985:
  • In each game, each team has two challenges that will start a review. Each challenge will require the use of a team's timeout. If the challenge is successful, the timeout is restored.
  • Inside of two minutes of each half, and during all overtime periods, all reviews will be initiated by a Replay Assistant. The Replay Assistant has an unlimited number of reviews, regardless of how many timeouts each team has left. And no timeout will be charged for any review by the Replay Assistant.
  • All replay reviews will be conducted by the referee on a field-level monitor. A decision will be reversed only when there is indisputable visual evidence to overturn the call. The referee has 90 seconds to review the play.
  • The officials will be notified of a replay request or challenge via a specialized electronic pager with a vibrating alert. Each head coach would also have a red flag to use as a backup to get the attention of the officials to challenge a play.
  • The replay system will only cover the following situations:
    • Scoring plays
    • Pass complete/incomplete/intercepted
    • Runner/receiver out of bounds
    • Recovery of a loose ball in or out of bounds
    • Touching of a forward pass, either by an ineligible receiver or a defensive player
    • Quarterback pass or fumble
    • Illegal forward pass
    • Forward or backward pass
    • Runner ruled not down by contact
    • Forward progress in regard to a first down
    • Touching of a kick
    • Too many men on the field

The league also added the following then-minor rule change that became significant in the playoffs a few years later:

When a Team A player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his hand starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble.^[1]

This new interpretation of a forward pass would later be commonly known as the "Tuck Rule".

Changes

Coaching

• Baltimore Ravens – Brian Billick; replaced Ted Marchibroda who was fired after the '98 season.
• Carolina Panthers – George Seifert; replaced Dom Capers who was fired after the '98 season.
• Chicago Bears – Dick Jauron; replaced Dave Wannstedt who was fired after the '98 season.
• Cleveland Browns – Chris Palmer; hired before the season, first coach of New Browns.
• Green Bay Packers – Ray Rhodes; replaced Mike Holmgren who resigned to become Head Coach and General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks.
• Kansas City Chiefs – Gunther Cunningham; replaced Marty Schottenheimer who resigned at the end of the '98 season.
• Philadelphia Eagles – Andy Reid; replaced Ray Rhodes who was fired after the '98 season.
• San Diego Chargers – Mike Riley; replaced interim head coach June Jones who replaced Kevin Gilbride during the 1998 season.
• Seattle Seahawks – Mike Holmgren; replaced Dennis Erickson who was fired after the '98 season.

Stadium

• Cleveland Browns – Team returns as an expansion team after 3 years of absence from the league. Moved into brand new Cleveland Browns Stadium.
• Tennessee Titans – Moved to brand new stadium in Nashville, TN called Adelphia Coliseum.

Uniform

• Baltimore Ravens – New Raven head logo on helmets.
• Detroit Lions – Altered sleeve striping. Pants color for road uniforms changed from Honolulu blue to gray.
• New Orleans Saints – Black numbers on road uniforms and added black pants with a wide gold stripe to road uniforms.
• Tennessee Titans – New nickname (from "Oilers" to "Titans"), new logo, new uniforms.

Final regular season standings

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

Clinched playoff seeds are marked in parentheses and shaded in green. No ties occurred this year.

AFC East
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA
^(2) Indianapolis Colts	13	3	.813	423	333
^(5) Buffalo Bills	11	5	.688	320	229
^(6) Miami Dolphins	9	7	.563	326	336
New York Jets	8	8	.500	308	309
New England Patriots	8	8	.500	299	284
AFC Central
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA
^(1) Jacksonville Jaguars	14	2	.875	396	217
^(4) Tennessee Titans	13	3	.813	392	324
Baltimore Ravens	8	8	.500	324	277
Pittsburgh Steelers	6	10	.375	317	320
Cincinnati Bengals	4	12	.250	283	460
Cleveland Browns	2	14	.125	217	437
AFC West
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA
^(3) Seattle Seahawks	9	7	.563	338	298
Kansas City Chiefs	9	7	.563	390	322
San Diego Chargers	8	8	.500	269	316
Oakland Raiders	8	8	.500	390	329
Denver Broncos	6	10	.375	314	318

NFC East
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA
^(3) Washington Redskins	10	6	.625	443	377
^(5) Dallas Cowboys	8	8	.500	352	276
New York Giants	7	9	.438	299	358
Arizona Cardinals	6	10	.375	245	382
Philadelphia Eagles	5	11	.313	272	357
NFC Central
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA
^(2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers	11	5	.688	270	235
^(4) Minnesota Vikings	10	6	.625	399	335
^(6) Detroit Lions	8	8	.500	322	323
Green Bay Packers	8	8	.500	357	341
Chicago Bears	6	10	.375	272	341
NFC West
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA
^(1) St. Louis Rams	13	3	.813	526	242
Carolina Panthers	8	8	.500	421	381
Atlanta Falcons	5	11	.313	285	380
San Francisco 49ers	4	12	.250	295	453
New Orleans Saints	3	13	.188	260	434

Tiebreakers

• Miami was the third AFC Wild Card ahead of Kansas City based on better record against common opponents (6–1 to Chiefs' 5–3).
• N.Y. Jets finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on better division record (4–4 to Patriots' 2–6).
• Seattle finished ahead of Kansas City in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
• San Diego finished ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on better division record (5–3 to Raiders' 3–5).
• Dallas was the second NFC Wild Card based on better record against common opponents (3–2 to Lions' 3–3) and better conference record than Carolina (7–5 to Panthers' 6–6).
• Detroit was the third NFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Green Bay (7–5 to Packers' 6–6) and better conference record than Carolina (7–5 to Panthers' 6–6).

Playoffs

	Jan. 8 – FedEx Field					Jan. 15 – Raymond James Stadium
	6	Detroit	13
						3	Washington	13
	3	Washington	27								Jan. 23 – Trans World Dome
						2	Tampa Bay	14
						NFC
	Jan. 9 – Humphrey Metrodome										2	Tampa Bay	6
						Jan. 16 – Trans World Dome
											1	St. Louis	11
	5	Dallas	17								NFC Championship
						4	Minnesota	37
	4	Minnesota	27													Jan. 30 – Georgia Dome
						1	St. Louis	49
	Wild Card Playoffs
						Divisional Playoffs
	Jan. 8 – Adelphia Coliseum															N1	St. Louis	23
						Jan. 16 – RCA Dome
																A4	Tennessee	16
	5	Buffalo	16													Super Bowl XXXIV
						4	Tennessee	19
	4	Tennessee	22								Jan. 23 – Alltel Stadium
						2	Indianapolis	16
						AFC
	Jan. 9 – Kingdome										4	Tennessee	33
						Jan. 15 – Alltel Stadium
											1	Jacksonville	14
	6	Miami	20								AFC Championship
						6	Miami	7
	3	Seattle	17
						1	Jacksonville	62

Statistical leaders

Team

Points scored	St. Louis Rams (526)
Total yards gained	St. Louis Rams (6,412)
Yards rushing	San Francisco 49ers (2,095)
Yards passing	St. Louis Rams (4,353)
Fewest points allowed	Jacksonville Jaguars (217)
Fewest total yards allowed	Buffalo Bills (4,045)
Fewest rushing yards allowed	St. Louis Rams (1,189)
Fewest passing yards allowed	Buffalo Bills (2,675)

Individual

Scoring	Mike Vanderjagt, Indianapolis (145 points)
Touchdowns	Stephen Davis, Washington and Edgerrin James, Indianapolis (17 TDs)
Most field goals made	Olindo Mare, Miami (39 FGs)
Rushing	Edgerrin James, Indianapolis (1,553 yards)
Passing	Kurt Warner, St. Louis (109.2 rating)
Passing touchdowns	Kurt Warner, St. Louis (41 TDs)
Pass receiving	Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville (116 catches)
Pass receiving yards	Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis (1,663)
Punt returns	Charlie Rogers, Seattle (14.5 average yards)
Kickoff returns	Tony Horne, St. Louis (29.7 average yards)
Interceptions	Rod Woodson, Baltimore; Sam Madison, Miami; James Hasty, Kansas City; Donnie Abraham, Tampa Bay; and Troy Vincent, Philadelphia (7)
Punting	Tom Rouen, Denver (46.5 average yards)
Sacks	Kevin Carter, St. Louis (17)

Awards

Most Valuable Player	Kurt Warner, Quarterback, St. Louis
Coach of the Year	Dick Vermeil, St. Louis
Offensive Player of the Year	Marshall Faulk, Running back, St. Louis
Defensive Player of the Year	Warren Sapp, Defensive Tackle, Tampa Bay
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Edgerrin James, Running Back, Indianapolis
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Jevon Kearse, Defensive End, Tennessee
NFL Comeback Player of the Year	Bryant Young, Defensive Tackle, San Francisco

External links

• Football Outsiders 1999 DVOA Ratings and Commentary

References

1. Official Rules of the NFL, Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2, Note 2

• NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
• NFL History 1991–2000 (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
• 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)
• NFL introduces Instant Replay technology (Last accessed November 4, 2005)
• Tuck Rule Hard to Grasp by Mark Maske, Washington Post, October 15, 2005 (Last accessed November 4, 2005)