All Topics  
1998 NFL season

 

   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link






 

1998 NFL season



 
 
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season
Regular season (NFL)

The National Football League season begins the weekend after Labor Day . Each team plays 16 games during a 17-week period. Traditionally, the majority of each week's games are played on Sunday afternoon....
 of the National Football League
National Football League

The National Football League is the Major North American professional sports leagues American football Sports league in the United States. It is an unincorporated 501#501.28c.29.286.29 association controlled by its members....
.

The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team....
 in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee. Memphis rises above the Mississippi River on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff just south of the mouth of the Wolf River ....
 to Vanderbilt Stadium
Vanderbilt Stadium

Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field is a American football stadium located in Nashville, Tennessee, Tennessee. Completed in 1922 as the first stadium in the American South to be used exclusively for college football, it is the home of the Vanderbilt University football team....
 in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the Capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County, Tennessee. It is the second most populous city in the state after Memphis, Tennessee....
, still awaiting construction on a new stadium (Adelphia Coliseum
LP Field

LP Field is a American football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, used primarily as the home stadium of the National Football League's Tennessee Titans, but also used as the home football field for the Tennessee State University Tigers....
) in Nashville.

This was the first season that CBS
CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
 held the rights to televise American Football Conference
American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The AFC was created after the NFL AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in early 1970....
 games, taking over the package from NBC. Meanwhile, this was the first time that ESPN
ESPN

ESPN is a United States cable television Television network dedicated to Broadcasting of sports events and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day....
 broadcasted all of the Sunday night games throughout the season.

The season ended with Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII

Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1998 NFL season....
 when the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado, Colorado. They are currently a member of the American Football Conference AFC West in the National Football League ....
 defeated the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are an American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia . They are currently a member of the NFC South division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.





= 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





Home team in capitals


le cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1">
Points scoredMinnesota Vikings (556)
Total yards gainedSan Francisco 49ers (6,800)
Yards rushingSan Francisco 49ers (2,544)
Yards passingMinnesota Vikings (4,328)
Fewest points allowedMiami Dolphins (265)
Fewest total yards allowedSan Diego Chargers (4,208)
Fewest rushing yards allowedSan Diego Chargers (1,140)
Fewest passing yards allowedPhiladelphia Eagles (2,720)


le cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1">
ScoringGary Anderson
Gary Anderson

Gary Allan Anderson is a former American football placekicker. He was the first National Football League kicker to have a "perfect season," successfully making every field goal and every Point after touchdown during regular season play....
, Minnesota (164 points)
TouchdownsTerrell Davis
Terrell Davis

Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 NFL season to 2001 NFL season....
, Denver (23 TDs)
Most field goals madeAl Del Greco
Al Del Greco

Albert Louis Del Greco is a former American football placekicker and a current sports radio personality and high school coach in Birmingham, Alabama....
, Tennessee (36 FGs)
RushingTerrell Davis, Denver (2,008 yards)
PassingRandall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham

Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 NFL season....
, Minnesota, (106.0 rating)
Passing touchdownsSteve Young
Steve Young (athlete)

Steve Young , is a former quarterback for the Los Angeles Express of the short-lived United States Football League, the National Football League Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the NFL's San Francisco 49ers....
, San Francisco (36 TDs)
Pass receivingO.J.






Discussion
Ask a question about '1998 NFL season'
Start a new discussion about '1998 NFL season'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season
Regular season (NFL)

The National Football League season begins the weekend after Labor Day . Each team plays 16 games during a 17-week period. Traditionally, the majority of each week's games are played on Sunday afternoon....
 of the National Football League
National Football League

The National Football League is the Major North American professional sports leagues American football Sports league in the United States. It is an unincorporated 501#501.28c.29.286.29 association controlled by its members....
.

The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team....
 in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee. Memphis rises above the Mississippi River on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff just south of the mouth of the Wolf River ....
 to Vanderbilt Stadium
Vanderbilt Stadium

Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field is a American football stadium located in Nashville, Tennessee, Tennessee. Completed in 1922 as the first stadium in the American South to be used exclusively for college football, it is the home of the Vanderbilt University football team....
 in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the Capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County, Tennessee. It is the second most populous city in the state after Memphis, Tennessee....
, still awaiting construction on a new stadium (Adelphia Coliseum
LP Field

LP Field is a American football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, used primarily as the home stadium of the National Football League's Tennessee Titans, but also used as the home football field for the Tennessee State University Tigers....
) in Nashville.

This was the first season that CBS
CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
 held the rights to televise American Football Conference
American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The AFC was created after the NFL AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in early 1970....
 games, taking over the package from NBC. Meanwhile, this was the first time that ESPN
ESPN

ESPN is a United States cable television Television network dedicated to Broadcasting of sports events and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day....
 broadcasted all of the Sunday night games throughout the season.

The season ended with Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII

Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1998 NFL season....
 when the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado, Colorado. They are currently a member of the American Football Conference AFC West in the National Football League ....
 defeated the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are an American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia . They are currently a member of the NFC South division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.

Major rule changes

  • Tinted visors on players' facemasks are banned except for medical need.
  • A defensive player can no longer flinch before the snap in an attempt to draw movement from an offensive linemen.
  • A team will be penalized immediately for having 12 players in a huddle even if the 12th player goes straight to the sideline as the huddle breaks.
  • The coin toss will be called before the coin itself is tossed, not while the coin is in the air.
    • This is a mid-season change resulting from a controversy during the Detroit Lions
      Detroit Lions

      The Detroit Lions are an American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in downtown Detroit....
      Pittsburgh Steelers
      Pittsburgh Steelers

      The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League) ....
       game on Thanksgiving Day
      Thanksgiving Classic

      The National Football League's Thanksgiving Classic is a series of games played during the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. It has been a regular occurrence since the league's inception in 1920....
      , where conflicting calls were heard during the toss. The toss was made prior to a Sudden Death overtime period. The official making the call judged Detroit the winner while Pittsburgh argued they made the right call. If the Steelers were to be believed, the game could have had a different outcome.


1998 NFL Season Changes


Stadium changes

  • Tennessee Titans - Moved to the Liberty Bowl Stadium at Vanderbilt.
  • Baltimore Ravens
    Baltimore Ravens

    The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They compete in the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Departed from Memorial Stadium
    Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)

    Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street. It stood on an oversized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road ....
     to PSINet Stadium
    M&T Bank Stadium

    M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose American football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League....
    .


Uniform changes

  • Baltimore Ravens
    Baltimore Ravens

    The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They compete in the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Removed black pants from road uniforms.
  • New York Jets
    New York Jets

    The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. They are members of the AFC East of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - New logo and uniforms. Return to their old 1960s uniforms in a newer version.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
    Jacksonville Jaguars

    The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team located in Jacksonville, Florida. They are currently members of the American Football Conference South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Removed black side panels on uniforms.
  • San Diego Chargers
    San Diego Chargers

    The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. They are currently members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Returned Navy Pants on road uniforms.
  • San Francisco 49ers
    San Francisco 49ers

    The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team. The team plays its home games in , while the club's headquarters and practice facility are located in Santa Clara, California....
     - New gold pants.
  • Detroit Lions
    Detroit Lions

    The Detroit Lions are an American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in downtown Detroit....
     - New Honolulu Blue numbers on road uniforms and honolulu blue road pants.
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are aprofessional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the NFC South of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Departed from Tampa Stadium to Raymond James Stadium.


1998 Coaching Changes

  • Oakland Raiders
    Oakland Raiders

    The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in the city of Oakland, California. They currently play in the AFC West of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Jon Gruden
    Jon Gruden

    Jon David Gruden is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Prior to taking over as coach of Tampa Bay, he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders for 4 years....
    ; replaced Joe Bugel
    Joe Bugel

    Joe 'Buges' Bugel , is the Offensive line coach for the Washington Redskins. This is his second tour of duty with the team. He served as offensive line coach or assistant for the Detroit Lions 1975–76, the Houston Oilers 1977–80, Washington Redskins 1981–89, Oakland Raiders 1995–96, San Diego Chargers 1998–2001,...
     who was fired after the '97 season.
  • Indianapolis Colts
    Indianapolis Colts

    The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team is part of the American Football Conference South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Jim Mora
    Jim E. Mora

    James Earnest Mora is the former head coach of the USFL's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars and the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts....
    ; replaced Lindy Infante
    Lindy Infante

    Lindy Infante was head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1988 to December 22, 1991 and of the Indianapolis Colts from 1996 to 1997. He received his Bachelors degree from the University of Florida....
     who was fired after the '97 season.
  • Dallas Cowboys
    Dallas Cowboys

    The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the National Football Conference East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     - Chan Gailey
    Chan Gailey

    Thomas Chandler Gailey, Jr. is a National Football League offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was formerly head coach of the Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets American football team and the Dallas Cowboys....
    ; replaced Barry Switzer
    Barry Switzer

    Barry Switzer is a former American football coach, in the college football and NFL ranks, between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a NCAA Division I-A national football champions and a Super Bowl ...
     who resigned after the '97 season.
  • Buffalo Bills
    Buffalo Bills

    The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the metropolitan area of Buffalo, New York. They sold out every game in 2008....
     - Wade Phillips
    Wade Phillips

    Wade Allen Phillips is the head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys. He is also a former head coach of the New Orleans Saints, where his record was 1?3, the Denver Broncos, where his record was 16?17, the Buffalo Bills, where he was 29-21 and led the Bills to the playoffs in two of three seasons, and the Atlanta Falcons...
    ; replaced Marv Levy
    Marv Levy

    Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American Football coach and front office executive.He is a former professional American football coach, in the Canadian Football League as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills to four consecutive American Foot...
     who retired after the '97 season.


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




Tiebreakers

  • Miami finished ahead of Buffalo in the AFC East based on better net division points (6 to Bills' 0).
  • Oakland finished ahead of Seattle in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).
  • Carolina finished ahead of St. Louis in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).


Playoffs

Home team in capitals

AFC

  • Wild-Card playoffs: MIAMI 24, Buffalo 17; JACKSONVILLE 25, New England 10
  • Divisional playoffs: DENVER 38, Miami 3; N.Y. JETS 34, Jacksonville 24
  • AFC Championship: DENVER 23, N.Y. Jets 10 at Mile High Stadium
    Mile High Stadium

    Mile High Stadium was a baseball, soccer and American football stadium that stood in Denver, Colorado from 1948 in sports until 2001 in sports....
    , Denver, Colorado
    Colorado

    The State of Colorado is a U.S. state located in the Mountain States of the United States of America. Colorado may also be considered to be a part of the Western United States and Southwestern United States regions of the United States....
    , January 17, 1999

NFC

  • Wild-Card playoffs: Arizona 20, DALLAS 7; SAN FRANCISCO 30, Green Bay 27
  • Divisional playoffs: ATLANTA 20, San Francisco 18; MINNESOTA 41, Arizona 21
  • NFC Championship: Atlanta 30, MINNESOTA 27 (OT) at Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Minnesota

    Minnesota is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States of the United States. The twelfth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with just over five million residents....
    , January 17, 1999

Super Bowl

  • Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver (AFC) 34, Atlanta (NFC) 19, at Pro Player Stadium
    Dolphin Stadium

    Dolphin Stadium is a American football, lacrosse, football , and baseball stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The stadium serves as host to the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, and the Miami Hurricanes football....
    , Miami, Florida
    Miami, Florida

    Miami is a global city in southeastern Florida, in the United States. Miami is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, the most populous county in Florida....
    , January 31, 1999


Statistical leaders


Team

Points scoredMinnesota Vikings (556)
Total yards gainedSan Francisco 49ers (6,800)
Yards rushingSan Francisco 49ers (2,544)
Yards passingMinnesota Vikings (4,328)
Fewest points allowedMiami Dolphins (265)
Fewest total yards allowedSan Diego Chargers (4,208)
Fewest rushing yards allowedSan Diego Chargers (1,140)
Fewest passing yards allowedPhiladelphia Eagles (2,720)


Individual

ScoringGary Anderson
Gary Anderson

Gary Allan Anderson is a former American football placekicker. He was the first National Football League kicker to have a "perfect season," successfully making every field goal and every Point after touchdown during regular season play....
, Minnesota (164 points)
TouchdownsTerrell Davis
Terrell Davis

Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 NFL season to 2001 NFL season....
, Denver (23 TDs)
Most field goals madeAl Del Greco
Al Del Greco

Albert Louis Del Greco is a former American football placekicker and a current sports radio personality and high school coach in Birmingham, Alabama....
, Tennessee (36 FGs)
RushingTerrell Davis, Denver (2,008 yards)
PassingRandall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham

Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 NFL season....
, Minnesota, (106.0 rating)
Passing touchdownsSteve Young
Steve Young (athlete)

Steve Young , is a former quarterback for the Los Angeles Express of the short-lived United States Football League, the National Football League Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the NFL's San Francisco 49ers....
, San Francisco (36 TDs)
Pass receivingO.J. McDuffie, Miami (90 catches)
Pass receiving yardsAntonio Freeman
Antonio Freeman

Antonio Michael Freeman is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League, most notably for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, dominating his high school conference....
, Green Bay (1,424)
Punt returnsDeion Sanders
Deion Sanders

Deion Luwynn Sanders is a former National Football League cornerback, Major League Baseball outfielder, and is currently an NFL Network Sportscaster....
, Dallas (15.6 average yards)
Kickoff returnsTerry Fair, Detroit (28.0 average yards)
InterceptionsTy Law
Ty Law

Tajuan "Ty" Law is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft....
, New England (8)
PuntingCraig Hentrich
Craig Hentrich

Craig Hentrich is an American football Punter for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
, Tennessee (47.2 average yards)
SacksMichael Sinclair, Seattle (16.5)


Awards

Most Valuable PlayerTerrell Davis, Running Back
Running back

A running back is the position of a player on an American football or Canadian football team who usually lines up in the History of American football positions#Offensive Backfield....
, Denver
Coach of the Year
NFL Coach of the Year Award

The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the National Football League head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal....
Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves

Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He coached in four Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXI , Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXIV as the Denver Broncos' head coach, and Super Bowl XXXIII as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons....
, Atlanta
Offensive Player of the Year
NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award

The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Associated Press to the offense player of the National Football League believed to have had the most outstanding season....
Terrell Davis, Running Back, Denver
Defensive Player of the Year
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award

The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since 1971....
Reggie White
Reggie White

Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player who played defensive end for 17 seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history....
, Defensive End
Defensive end

Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years....
, Green Bay
Offensive Rookie of the Year
NFL Rookie of the Year Award

Since 1967 The Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to NFL American football players: one for an offensive player and one for a defensive player....
Randy Moss
Randy Moss

Randall Gene Moss is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings 21st overall in the 1998 NFL Draft....
, Wide Receiver
Wide receiver

A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible receiver to catch a forward pass....
, Minnesota
Defensive Rookie of the YearCharles Woodson
Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines....
, Cornerback
Cornerback

A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American football and Canadian football football. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers....
, Oakland
NFL Comeback Player of the Year
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award

The National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award has been given out after every season since 1972 by Pro Football Weekly and since 1998 by the Associated Press....
Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie

Douglas Richard Flutie is a retired American football and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League....
, Quarterback, Buffalo