1991 NFL season

1991 National Football League season

Regular season
Duration	September 1 – December 23, 1991
Playoffs
Start date	December 28, 1991
AFC Champions	Buffalo Bills
NFC Champions	Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXVI
Date	January 26, 1992
Site	Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Champions	Washington Redskins
Pro Bowl
Date	February 2, 1992
Site	Aloha Stadium
← 1990 NFL seasons 1992 →

The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. It was the final season for legendary coach Chuck Noll. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37–24 at the Metrodome in Minnesota. This was the second of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for Buffalo.

Contents

• 
  1 Major rule changes
  


• 
  2 Uniform changes
  


• 
  3 Final regular season standings
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 Tiebreakers
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Playoffs
  


• 
  5 Coaching changes
  
  
  
  • 
    5.1 In-season
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  6 Awards
  


• 
  7 Draft
  


• 
  8 Coaches
  
  
  
  • 
    8.1 American Football Conference
    
  
  
  • 
    8.2 National Football Conference
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  9 External links
  


• 
  10 References
  

Major rule changes

Source: Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
ISBN 0-06-270174-6). pp 1583–1592.

• The definition of a drop kick, field goal, and punt is modified: all three can only be attempted from behind the line of scrimmage.


• If a foul by a player causes an injury to an opponent, a team time out will not be charged to the penalized team anytime during the game instead of only during the last two minutes of a half.


• The game clock will not start until the next snap following any change of possession, even if the player went out of bounds.


• Officials will immediately blow the play dead when a defensive player is offsides before the snap and clearly rushes beyond the offensive line in such a way that he becomes an unabated threat to the quarterback.


• A touchback will be ruled when a player fumbles the ball in the field of play and it goes out of bounds in the opponent’s end zone.


• A touchback, not a safety, will also be ruled when a player fumbles the ball in his own end zone and the opponent is the one that knocks the fumble out of bounds in the end zone.


• An offensive player cannot deliberately bat a backward pass forward.

Uniform changes

• The NFL shield was added to the yoke of the jerseys and the left thigh of the pants. The NFL shield was also added to the right breast of the officiating uniforms.

Final regular season standings

AFC East view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK (1)Buffalo Bills 13 3 0 .813 7–1 10–2 458 318 L1 (6)New York Jets 8 8 0 .500 4–4 6–6 314 293 W1 Miami Dolphins 8 8 0 .500 4–4 5–7 343 349 L2 New England Patriots 6 10 0 .375 4–4 5–9 211 305 L1 Indianapolis Colts 1 15 0 .063 1–7 1–11 143 381 L6 AFC Central view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK (3)Houston Oilers 11 5 0 .688 5–1 10–2 386 251 L1 Pittsburgh Steelers 7 9 0 .438 4–2 7–5 292 344 W2 Cleveland Browns 6 10 0 .375 2–4 6–6 293 298 L3 Cincinnati Bengals 3 13 0 .188 1–5 2–10 263 435 W1 AFC West view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK (2)Denver Broncos 12 4 0 .750 5–3 10–4 304 235 W4 (4)Kansas City Chiefs 10 6 0 .625 6–2 8–4 316 252 W1 (5)Los Angeles Raiders 9 7 0 .563 5–3 7–5 298 297 L3 Seattle Seahawks 7 9 0 .438 2–6 6–6 276 261 W1 San Diego Chargers 4 12 0 .250 2–6 3–9 274 342 L1

NFC East view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK (1)Washington Redskins 14 2 0 .875 6–2 10–2 485 224 L1 (5)Dallas Cowboys 11 5 0 .688 5–3 8–4 342 310 W5 Philadelphia Eagles 10 6 0 .625 5–3 6–6 285 244 W1 New York Giants 8 8 0 .500 3–5 5–7 281 297 W1 Phoenix Cardinals 4 12 0 .250 1–7 3–11 196 344 L8 NFC Central view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK (2)Detroit Lions 12 4 0 .750 6–2 8–4 339 295 W6 (4)Chicago Bears 11 5 0 .688 7–1 9–3 299 269 L1 Minnesota Vikings 8 8 0 .500 3–5 8–6 301 306 L1 Green Bay Packers 4 12 0 .250 3–5 3–9 273 313 W1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 13 0 .188 1–7 2–10 199 365 W1 NFC West view talk edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK (3)New Orleans Saints 11 5 0 .688 4–2 8–4 341 211 W2 (6)Atlanta Falcons 10 6 0 .625 5–1 7–5 361 338 L1 San Francisco 49ers 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 393 239 W6 Los Angeles Rams 3 13 0 .188 0–6 2–10 234 390 L10

Tiebreakers

• N.Y. Jets finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).


• Chicago was the first NFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Dallas (9–3 to Cowboys’ 8–4).


• Atlanta finished ahead of San Francisco in the NFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0), and was the third NFC Wild Card ahead of Philadelphia based on better conference record (7–5 to Eagles’ 6–6).

Playoffs

Main article: 1991–92 NFL playoffs

	Dec. 29 – Astrodome					Jan. 4 – Mile High Stadium
	6	NY Jets	10
						3	Houston	24
	3	Houston	17								Jan. 12 – Rich Stadium
						2	Denver	26
						AFC
	Dec. 28 – Arrowhead Stadium										2	Denver	7
						Jan. 5 – Rich Stadium
											1	Buffalo	10
	5	LA Raiders	6								AFC Championship
						4	Kansas City	14
	4	Kansas City	10													Jan. 26 – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
						1	Buffalo	37
	Wild card playoffs
						Divisional playoffs
	Dec. 29 – Soldier Field															A1	Buffalo	24
						Jan. 5 – Pontiac Silverdome
																N1	Washington	37
	5	Dallas	17													Super Bowl XXVI
						5	Dallas	6
	4	Chicago	13								Jan. 12 – Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
						2	Detroit	38
						NFC
	Dec. 28 – Louisiana Superdome										2	Detroit	10
						Jan. 4 – Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
											1	Washington	41
	6	Atlanta	27								NFC Championship
						6	Atlanta	7
	3	New Orleans	20
						1	Washington	24

This box:

• view


• talk


• edit

Coaching changes

• 
  Cleveland Browns: Bill Belichick was named the permanent replacement, after Bud Carson was fired after the first nine games of 1990, and Jim Shofner served as interim for the final seven games.


• 
  New England Patriots: Dick MacPherson replaced the fired Rod Rust.


• 
  New York Giants: Bill Parcells resigned following the team's Super Bowl XXV victory, and was replaced by Ray Handley.


• 
  Philadelphia Eagles: Rich Kotite was hired after the team opted to not renew Buddy Ryan's contract.


• 
  Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Richard Williamson became the permanent head coach, after serving as interim for the final three games of 1990 following the firing of Ray Perkins.

In-season

• 
  Indianapolis Colts: Ron Meyer was fired after five games, and Rick Venturi then served as interim for the final 11 games.

Awards

Most Valuable Player	Thurman Thomas, Running Back, Buffalo
Coach of the Year	Wayne Fontes, Detroit
Offensive Player of the Year	Thurman Thomas, Running Back, Buffalo
Defensive Player of the Year	Pat Swilling, Linebacker, New Orleans
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Leonard Russell, Running Back, New England
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Mike Croel, Linebacker, Denver
NFL Comeback Player of the Year	Jim McMahon, Quarterback, Philadelphia
NFL Man of the Year	Anthony Munoz, Offensive Tackle, Cincinnati
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player	Mark Rypien, Quarterback, Washington

Draft

The 1991 NFL Draft was held from April 21 to 22, 1991 at New York City's Marriott Marquis. With the first pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected defensive tackle Russell Maryland from the University of Miami.

Coaches

American Football Conference

• 
  Buffalo Bills: Marv Levy
  


• 
  Cincinnati Bengals: Sam Wyche
  


• 
  Cleveland Browns: Bill Belichick
  


• 
  Denver Broncos: Dan Reeves
  


• 
  Houston Oilers: Jack Pardee
  


• 
  Indianapolis Colts: Ron Meyer (5 games) and Rick Venturi (11 games)


• 
  Kansas City Chiefs: Marty Schottenheimer
  


• 
  Los Angeles Raiders: Art Shell
  


• 
  Miami Dolphins: Don Shula
  


• 
  New England Patriots: Dick MacPherson
  


• 
  New York Jets: Bruce Coslet
  


• 
  Pittsburgh Steelers: Chuck Noll
  


• 
  San Diego Chargers: Dan Henning
  


• 
  Seattle Seahawks: Chuck Knox
  

National Football Conference

• 
  Atlanta Falcons: Jerry Glanville
  


• 
  Chicago Bears: Mike Ditka
  


• 
  Dallas Cowboys: Jimmy Johnson
  


• 
  Detroit Lions: Wayne Fontes
  


• 
  Green Bay Packers: Lindy Infante
  


• 
  Los Angeles Rams: John Robinson
  


• 
  Minnesota Vikings: Jerry Burns
  


• 
  New Orleans Saints: Jim Mora
  


• 
  New York Giants: Ray Handley
  


• 
  Philadelphia Eagles: Rich Kotite
  


• 
  Phoenix Cardinals: Joe Bugel
  


• 
  San Francisco 49ers: George Seifert
  


• 
  Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Richard Williamson
  


• 
  Washington Redskins: Joe Gibbs
  

External links

• Football Outsiders: DVOA 1991

References

• 
  NFL Record and Fact Book (
  ISBN 1-932994-36-X)


• NFL History 1991–2000


• 
  Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (
  ISBN 0-06-270174-6)


• 1991 NFL season at Pro Football Reference

v t e 1991 NFL season
AFC East Central West East Central West NFC Buffalo Cincinnati Denver Dallas Chicago Atlanta Indianapolis Cleveland Kansas City NY Giants Detroit LA Rams Miami Houston LA Raiders Philadelphia Green Bay New Orleans New England Pittsburgh San Diego Phoenix Minnesota San Francisco NY Jets Seattle Washington Tampa Bay
1991 NFL Draft NFL Playoffs Pro Bowl Super Bowl XXVI

v t e National Football League seasons
Early era (1920–1969)	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Modern era (1970–present)	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

This page is only for reference, If you need detailed information, please check here