2003 NFL season

Infobox NFL
year = 2003
NFLchampion = New England Patriots
regular_season = September 4 2003 to December 28 2003
playoffs_start = January 3 2004
AFCchampion = New England Patriots
NFCchampion = Carolina Panthers
sb_name = XXXVIII
sb_date = February 1 2004
sb_site = Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
pb_date = February 8 2004

The 2003 season of the National Football League (NFL) was the 84th one played by the major professional American football league in the United States. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the defending league champions, 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 Buccaneers failed to qualify for the playoffs, which 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, the Super Bowl championship game, 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.

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"

tatistical leaders

Team

Notes

References

* "NFL Record and Fact Book" (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
* [http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/2001- NFL History 2001-] (Last accessed October 17, 2005)
* "Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League" (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
* [http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6278896 NFL owners reject OT proposal] (Last accessed October 17, 2005)