1973 NFL season

Infobox NFL
year = 1973
NFLchampion = Miami Dolphins
regular_season = September 16 1973 - December 16 1973
playoffs_start = December 22 1973
AFCchampion = Miami Dolphins
NFCchampion = Minnesota Vikings
sb_name = VIII
sb_date = January 13 1974
sb_site = Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
pb_date = January 20 1974

The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VIII when the Miami Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings.

Major rule changes

*A jersey numbering system is adopted (players who played in the 1972 NFL season are grandfathered in):
**1-19: Quarterbacks and specialists
**20-49: Running backs and defensive backs
**50-59: Centers and linebackers
**60-79: Defensive linemen and offensive linemen other than centers
**80-89: Wide receivers and tight ends
**Numbers 0, 00, and 90-99 are no longer allowed to be issued, even though these numbers were rarely issued anyways. Numbers 90-99 would be allowed again in 1984 for defensive lineman and linebackers in addition to the above mentioned numbers.
*Defensive players cannot jump or stand on a teammate while trying to block a kick.
*The clock is to start at the snap following a change of possession.
*If there is a foul by the offensive team, and it is followed by a change of possession, the period can be extended by one play by the other team.
*If the receiving team commits a foul after the ball is kicked, possession will be presumed to have changed; the receiving team keeps the ball.

Division races

Starting in 1970, and until 2002, there were three divisions (Eastern, Central and Western) in each conference. The winners of each division, and a fourth "wild card" team based on the best non-division winner, qualified for the playoffs. The tiebraker rules were changed to start with head-to-head competition, followed by division records, common opponents records, and conference play.

National Football Conference