2005 NFL season

American football season November 2013 March 2026 the American football season in the United States the Gaelic football season in Ireland 2005 National Football League (Ireland) 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers September 8, 2005 – January 1, 2006 January 7, 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers Denver Broncos Seattle Seahawks Carolina Panthers XL February 5, 2006 Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan February 12, 2006 The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Regular season play was held from September 8, 2005, to January 1, 2006. The regular season also saw the first ever regular season game played outside the United States, as well as the New Orleans Saints being forced to play elsewhere due to damage to the Superdome and the entire New Orleans area by Hurricane Katrina. The playoffs began on January 7. The New England Patriots' streak of 10 consecutive playoff wins and chance at a third straight Super Bowl title was ended in the Divisional Playoff Round by the Denver Broncos, and eventually the NFL title was won by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21–10 in Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on February 5 for their fifth Super Bowl win. This also marked the first time that a sixth-seeded team, who by the nature of their seeding would play every game on the road, would advance to and win the Super Bowl. The season formally concluded with the Pro Bowl, the league's all-star game, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 12. This was also the final full season for Paul Tagliabue as commissioner. Draft The 2005 NFL draft was held from April 23 to 24, 2005, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. With the first pick, the San Francisco 49ers selected quarterback Alex Smith from the University of Utah. Rule changes The "horse-collar tackle", in which a defender grabs inside the back or side of an opponent's shoulder pads and pulls that player down, is prohibited.http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8501364 NFL approves ban on horse-collar tackle NFL.com August 18, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20050527004947/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8501364 May 27, 2005 dead mdy Named the "Roy Williams Rule" after the Dallas Cowboys safety whose horse collar tackles during the 2004 season caused serious injuries to several players. Peel-back blocks (in which an offensive player blocks a defender who is moving back toward the direction of his own end zone) below the waist and from the back are now illegal. Unnecessary roughness would be called for blocks away from the play on punters or kickers, similar to the same protection quarterbacks have after interceptions. When time is stopped by officials prior to the snap for any reason while time is in, the play clock resumes with the same amount of time that remained on it – with a minimum of 10 seconds. Previously, the play-clock would be reset to 25 seconds. During field goal and extra point attempts, the defensive team will be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct if it calls consecutive timeouts in an attempt to "ice" the kicker. Previously, the second timeout request was only denied by officials, and thus could be used to distract the kickers. Players cannot run, dive into, cut, or throw their bodies against or on an opponent who is out of the play or should not have reasonably anticipated such contact. If the defensive team commits a dead ball foul following the end of the half, the offensive team may choose to extend the period for one more play. Previously, the half automatically ended without the defensive team being penalized. The prohibition on offensive players pushing other offensive players was removed, allowing plays such as the "Bush Push" (later renamed the "Tush Push" popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles years later). During a punt, if the kicking team illegally touches the ball inside the 5-yard line, the receiving team has the option of either treating the result as a touchback or replaying the down with a 5-yard penalty against the kicking team. Previously, the receiving team's only options were either the latter or taking over possession at the spot of the foul. This change prevents an ineligible player from keeping a kick from entering the end zone and becoming a touchback. If the kicking team commits a penalty, the receiving team can have the option of adding the penalty yardage to the return or taking a penalty and forcing the kicking team to rekick the ball. Previously they could take the latter or decline the penalty. If a team calls for an instant replay challenge after it has used all its challenges or is out of timeouts, it will be assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The penalty will also be assessed if a team calls for a challenge inside of two minutes of either half or overtime, when only the replay assistant can initiate reviews. Previously, the request was only denied by the Referee. This change was made to prevent head coaches from constantly stopping the game for any reason, including to just argue with the Referee. Teams are only able to request an instant replay challenge by tossing their red flag to get the attention of officials. The league decided to do away with the electronic pager/vibrating alert system used by head coaches because practically all of them always used their red flags instead of their pagers anyway. (However, the replay assistant will still use the pagers to notify the officials of a replay request.) Officiating changes Umpire Butch Hannah suffered back to back injuries early in the 2005 season. First in a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets cornerback Ronde Barber got into a heated altercation with Jets center Kevin Mawae. As Hannah stepped in to break up the scuffle, Barber swung his arm and inadvertently punched Hannah directly in the right eye, sending the official sprawling to the turf. Hannah managed to stay in that game, and Barber was later fined $30,000 by the NFL for the accidental hit. The following week during a matchup with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens Hannah suffered a separate, legitimate injury when he sprained a knee ligament, forcing him to miss three to four weeks of action. Eventually sitting out the remainder of the season to recover, a rotation of other NFL umpires from other officiating crews took over Hannah’s spot for Walt Anderson’s crew. Notable retirements Emmitt Smith Jerry Rice Ted Johnson Tim Brown Rich Gannon Derrick Alexander Donnie Abraham Aeneas Williams Garrison Hearst Brock Marion Brian Mitchell Rob Konrad Tyrone Wheatley Doug Pederson Kevin Hardy Otis Smith Morris Lewis Marvin Jones Alex Sulfsted Mikhael Ricks Gary Anderson Richmond Webb Wade Richey Vick King Freddie Jones 2005 deaths Steve Belichick former fullback and father of Patriots and Browns head coach Bill Belichick Wellington Mara Owner of the New York Giants Bob Tisch Owner of the New York Giants Hank Stram former head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs Regular season First regular season game played outside the United States The 2005 season also featured the first ever regular season game played outside the United States when the San Francisco 49ers–Arizona Cardinals game was played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on October 2 (the Cardinals won 31–14). The game drew an NFL regular season record of 103,467 paid fans. It was a home game for the Cardinals, mostly because the team rarely sold out at their then-home field, Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. This season was the last year that the Cardinals played at Sun Devil Stadium; the team then moved to their new Cardinals Stadium in nearby Glendale. Effect of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Effect of Hurricane Katrina right|300px|thumb|The Louisiana Superdome did not host the New Orleans Saints during the 2005 season, due in part to damage seen here. Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans Saints Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the Louisiana Superdome Effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to the Louisiana Superdome and the greater New Orleans area, the New Orleans Saints' entire 2005 home schedule was played at different venues while the Saints set up temporary operations in San Antonio, Texas. The Saints' first home game scheduled for September 18 against New York Giants was moved to September 19 at Giants Stadium. The impromptu "Monday Night doubleheader" with the game already scheduled (Washington at Dallas) was a success, and was made an annual part of the schedule from 2006 through 2020. The NFL designated its second weekend, September 18 and 19, as "Hurricane Relief Weekend', with fund raising collections at all of the league's games. The Saints' remaining home games were split between the Alamodome in San Antonio and Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Being forced to travel to 13 of their 16 games (only three of their games were actually played in the same city where they practiced) and practice in substandard facilities and conditions in San Antonio, the Saints finished 3–13, their worst season since 1999. The last time an NFL franchise had to play at an alternate site was in 2002, when the Chicago Bears played home games in Champaign, Illinois, 120 miles (200 km) away, due to the reconstruction of Soldier Field.http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/2001- NFL History 2001 – NFL.com October 2, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20051013093441/http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/2001- October 13, 2005 live mdy The last NFL team to abandon their home city during a season was the 1952 Dallas Texans, whose franchise was returned to the league after drawing several poor crowds at the Cotton Bowl. They played their final "home" game in Akron, Ohio. Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League 0-06-270174-6 Carroll Bob August 4, 1999 HarperCollins Effect of Hurricane Wilma The October 23 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins at Dolphins Stadium was rescheduled to Friday, October 21 at 7:00 pm EDT to beat Hurricane Wilma's arrival to the Miami, Florida area.http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8986609 Chiefs-Dolphins game moved to Oct. 21 NFL.com October 21, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20051023012517/http://nfl.com/news/story/8986609 October 23, 2005 dead mdy The game remained on CBS, but only aired in the primary and secondary markets of Kansas City and Miami. The Chiefs won the game, 30–20, and became the first visiting team to travel and play on the same day.August 2009 Since the game was planned for Sunday afternoon, it is one of the few times in history that the Dolphins wore their white jerseys in a home game played at night. Regular season standings Division Conference Playoffs 2005–06 NFL playoffs Indianapolis Colts South Denver Broncos West Cincinnati Bengals North New England Patriots East Jacksonville Jaguars Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks West Chicago Bears North Tampa Bay Buccaneers South New York Giants East Carolina Panthers Washington Redskins 2005 Bracket Milestones The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season: RecordPlayer/teamDate/opponentPrevious record holder2005 NFL Record and Fact Book 2005 NFL 1-932994-36-X RecordsLongest return of a missed field goal/longest play in NFL history Nathan Vasher, Chicago (108 yards) November 13, vs. San Francisco Chris McAlister, Baltimore vs. Denver, September 30, 2002 (107 yards) Most consecutive games played, career Jeff Feagles, New York Giants November 27, at Seattle Jim Marshall, 1960–1979 (282) Most touchdowns, season Shaun Alexander, Seattle (28) January 1, at Green Bay Priest Holmes, Kansas City, 2003 (27) Most field goals, season Neil Rackers, Arizona (40) January 1, at Indianapolis Tied by 2 players (39) Most field goals by a team, season Arizona (43) January 1, at Indianapolis Tied by 2 teams (39) Statistical leaders thumb|Atlanta at Detroit on Thanksgiving, November 24, 2005 Team Points scoredSeattle Seahawks (452)Total yards gainedKansas City Chiefs (6,192)Yards rushingAtlanta Falcons (2,546)Yards passingArizona Cardinals (4,437)Fewest points allowedChicago Bears (202)Fewest total yards allowedTampa Bay Buccaneers (4,444)Fewest rushing yards allowedSan Diego Chargers (1,349)Fewest passing yards allowedGreen Bay Packers (2,680) Individual ScoringShaun Alexander, Seattle (168 points)TouchdownsShaun Alexander, Seattle (28 TDs) *Most field goals madeNeil Rackers, Arizona (40 FGs) *Rushing yardsShaun Alexander, Seattle (1,880 yards)Rushing touchdownsShaun Alexander, Seattle (27 TDs) *Passer ratingPeyton Manning, Indianapolis (104.1 rating)Passing touchdownsCarson Palmer, Cincinnati (32 TDs)Passing yardsTom Brady, New England (4,110 yards)ReceptionsLarry Fitzgerald, Arizona and Steve Smith, Carolina (103 catches)Receiving yardsSteve Smith, Carolina (1,563 yards)Receiving touchdownsSteve Smith, Carolina, and Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis (12 TDs)Punt returnsReno Mahe, Philadelphia (12.8 average yards)Kickoff returnsTerrence McGee, Buffalo (30.2 average yards)InterceptionsTy Law, New York Jets and Deltha O'Neal, Cincinnati (10)PuntingBrian Moorman, Buffalo and Shane Lechler, Oakland (45.7 average yards)SacksDerrick Burgess, Oakland (16)* – Denotes new league record. Awards Most Valuable PlayerShaun Alexander, running back, SeattleCoach of the YearLovie Smith, ChicagoOffensive Player of the YearShaun Alexander, running back, SeattleDefensive Player of the YearBrian Urlacher, linebacker, ChicagoOffensive Rookie of the Year Carnell Williams, running back, Tampa BayDefensive Rookie of the YearShawne Merriman, linebacker, San DiegoNFL Comeback Player of the YearTedy Bruschi, linebacker, New EnglandSteve Smith, wide receiver, Carolina (tie)Walter Payton NFL Man of the YearPeyton Manning, quarterback, IndianapolisSuper Bowl Most Valuable PlayerHines Ward, wide receiver, Pittsburgh Team superlatives thumb|Pittsburgh Super Bowl winners Ben Roethlisberger and Jerome Bettis with sportscaster Chris Berman at Super Bowl XL media day Offense Most points scored: Seattle, 452 Fewest points scored: Cleveland, 232 Most total offensive yards: Kansas City, 6,192 Fewest total offensive yards: San Francisco, 3,587 Most total passing yards: Arizona, 4,437 Fewest total passing yards: San Francisco, 1,898 Most rushing yards: Atlanta, 2,546 Fewest rushing yards: Arizona, 1,138 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/ Pro-Football-Reference.com: 2005 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics March 29, 2018 August 4, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120804073454/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/ live Defense Fewest points allowed: Chicago, 202 Most points allowed: Houston, 431 Fewest total yards allowed: Tampa Bay, 4,444 Most total yards allowed: San Francisco, 6,259 Fewest passing yards allowed: Green Bay, 2,680 Most passing yards allowed: San Francisco, 4,427 Fewest rushing yards allowed: San Diego, 1,349 Most rushing yards allowed: Houston, 2,303 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/opp.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com: 2005 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics March 29, 2018 June 22, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170622210808/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/opp.htm live All-Pro Team 48% OffenseQuarterbackPeyton Manning, IndianapolisRunning backShaun Alexander, SeattleTiki Barber, N.Y. GiantsFullbackMack Strong, SeattleWide receiverSteve Smith, CarolinaChad Johnson, CincinnatiTight endAntonio Gates, San DiegoOffensive tackleWalter Jones, SeattleWillie Anderson, CincinnatiOffensive guardSteve Hutchinson, SeattleBrian Waters, Kansas CityAlan Faneca, PittsburghCenterJeff Saturday, Indianapolis 48% DefenseDefensive endDwight Freeney, IndianapolisOsi Umenyiora, N.Y. GiantsDefensive tackleJamal Williams, San DiegoRichard Seymour, New EnglandOutside linebackerLance Briggs, ChicagoDerrick Brooks, Tampa BayInside linebackerBrian Urlacher, ChicagoAl Wilson, DenverCornerbackChamp Bailey, DenverRonde Barber, Tampa BaySafetyBob Sanders, IndianapolisTroy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Special teamsKickerNeil Rackers, ArizonaPunterBrian Moorman, BuffaloKick returnerJerome Mathis, Houston Head coach/front office changes Head coach Team Departing coach Interim coach Incoming coach Reason for leaving Notes Cleveland Browns Butch Davis Terry Robiskie Romeo Crennel Resigned Butch Davis resigned on November 30th, 2004, after a 3–8 start. Then-offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie led the team to a 1–4 record during his interim stint. Although Cleveland hired Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel as their new head coach, Robiskie was retained, as the wide receivers coach. Miami Dolphins Dave Wannstedt Jim Bates Jim Bates (American football) Nick Saban Wannstedt resigned as head coach midway through the 2004 season, with the Dolphins' record standing at 1–8. Bates took the underachieving Dolphins and went 3-4 (including a Monday Night victory over the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots). Saban accepted the Dolphins head coaching job on December 25, 2004, just before week 16. San Francisco 49ers Dennis Erickson Mike Nolan Fired Erickson was fired with three years remaining on his contract. Nolan also serves as his own general manager. Front office Team 2004 office holder 2005 replacement Reason for leaving Notes Cleveland Browns Butch Davis Phil Savage Fired Former Head Coach Butch Davis also had de facto general manager duties. The team hired Savage, the Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel, to replace him. Miami Dolphins Rick Spielman Randy Mueller New head coach Nick Saban has the final say on all roster moves. Spielman resigned on June 4, 2005, due to conflicts with Saban. San Francisco 49ers Terry Donahue Mike Nolan Donahue was fired along with head coach Dennis Erickson. New head coach Mike Nolan also serves as his own general manager. Seattle Seahawks Bob Ferguson Bob Ferguson (American football executive) Tim Ruskell Resigned Ferguson resigned on February 22, 2005, as part of an executive house-cleaning following the dismissal of team president Bob Whitsitt. Green Bay Packers Mike Sherman Ted Thompson Replaced The Packers hired Seahawks vice president of football operations Ted Thompson to take over Mike Sherman's general manager duties. Sherman remains the Packers' head coach. Stadiums The New Orleans Saints played in Baton Rouge's Tiger Stadium for four games and in San Antonio's Alamodome for three games due to Louisiana Superdome damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Tiger Stadium's goalposts did not conform to NFL standards due to (a) two supports instead of one and (b) white paint instead of gold. The NFL granted the Saints dispensation to keep LSU's goalposts in place for their games. In addition, with the RCA and Edward Jones domes both removing their AstroTurf surfaces in favor of the newer next-generation FieldTurf surface, the old first-generation AstroTurf surface ceased to be used in the NFL. Pro Player Stadium was renamed Dolphins Stadium. Pro Player's parent Fruit of the Loom had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in 1999, and the Pro Player label was discontinued, but that stadium name was kept for several more years. New uniforms thumb|250px|Defending champions the New England Patriots at the eventual Super Bowl winners the Pittsburgh Steelers, September 25 The Arizona Cardinals unveiled a new uniform design featuring trim lines to the outside shoulders, sleeves, and sides of the jerseys and pants. The cardinal helmet logo was also redesigned to be more aggressive. The Buffalo Bills added a third alternative uniform: their 1960s throwbacks with the white helmets and red standing bison logo. The Detroit Lions added black third alternate uniforms at the urging of president Matt Millen, a former Raider. The New York Giants changed their white jerseys to mimic the team's design used in the 1950s. When they last made major changes in 2000, the Giants only modified their blue jerseys to the 1950s look while keeping many of the 1980s elements on their white jerseys, such as the 1980s blue collars instead of the 1950s white collars and red shoulder stripe design. The St. Louis Rams began wearing navy pants with their white jerseys for selected games. Television This was the eighth and final year under the league's broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN to televise Monday Night Football, the AFC package, the NFC package, and Sunday Night Football, respectively. While CBS and Fox renewed their television contracts to the AFC and the NFC packages, respectively,http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7868621 NFL to remain on broadcast TV NFL.com December 13, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20051204051301/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7868621 December 4, 2005 dead mdy 2005 marked the final season that ABC held the exclusive rights to televise Monday Night Football. When the television contracts were renewed, the rights to broadcast MNF were awarded to Disney-owned corporate sibling ESPN. NBC then won the rights to televise Sunday Night Football, marking the first time that NBC broadcast NFL games since Super Bowl XXXII in 1998.http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8397476 NFL announces new prime-time TV packages NFL.com December 13, 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20051130041612/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8397476 November 30, 2005 dead mdy While the NFL had indicated that it wanted SNF to become the new night for its marquee game, ABC declined to renew, citing that it had lost millions of dollars on the MNF despite generating high ratings, and ABC wanted to continue airing the television series Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights.Miller James Andrew Shales Tom Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN 668192506 9780316043007 Back Bay Books 2011 547'Monday Night Football' Changes the Channel https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A63538-2005Apr18?language=printer https://web.archive.org/web/20180922122957/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A63538-2005Apr18/?language=printer dead September 22, 2018 Leonard Shapiro Mark Maske The Washington Post A1 April 19, 2005 ABC would not air an NFL game again until they began simulcasting ESPN's Wild Card playoff game in January 2016. Cris Collinsworth left Fox to sit out the 2005 season before joining NBC as a studio analyst the following year, leaving Fox's lead broadcasting team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in a two-man booth.Marchand Andrew July 13, 2005 Collinsworth Jumping To NBC https://nypost.com/2005/07/13/collinsworth-jumping-to-nbc/ August 29, 2022 New York Post August 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220829153448/https://nypost.com/2005/07/13/collinsworth-jumping-to-nbc/ live It would also be Curt Menefee’s last season as a full time play by play announcer at FOX, before he became apart of the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show team, and occasionally would do play by play for games late in the season. Former MVP Quarterback Rich Gannon joined the NFL on CBS as a color commentator following his retirement from the Oakland Raiders after a severe neck injury being on the #7 broadcast team. CBS also saw color commentator broadcasting changes in season as former 49ers tight end Brent Jones left the network following week 3 to pursue his business career after working with Gus Johnson since 1999, and Steve Tasker became Johnson’s partner again for the first time since 1998. With Tasker leaving Don Criqui to replace Jones after week 3, Steve Beuerlein became Criqui’s partner by week 6 as well as Criqui’s last season having a full time play by play role before being reduced to a part time role the following year. Verne Lundquist would call his final NFL game at CBS week 1 doing the Broncos Dolphins matchup. Footnotes 2 References NFL Record and Fact Book July 26, 2005 Time Home Entertainment, Incorporated 1-932994-36-X http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8501364 NFL turns down proposal on 'down by contact' NFL.com May 24, 2005 March 29, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060215062244/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8501364 February 15, 2006 dead mdy 2006 NFL Record and Fact Book July 25, 2006 1-933405-32-5 421 Time Home Entertainment, Incorporated registration https://archive.org/details/2006nflrecordfac00edit/page/421 External links Football Outsiders 2005 DVOA Ratings https://web.archive.org/web/20110711020204/http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2006/final-2005-dvoa-ratings July 11, 2011 Category:NFL seasons National Football League