December 23, 1999
The Gulf War…Beanie Babies… the Internet.
All are symbolic of life in the 1990s, the last decade of the millennium.
NFL fans will remember the '90s for "Wide right"… "The Triplets"…2,000 yards… and "This one's for John."
The decade will be remembered by players, coaches and fans for great teams… outstanding players… and memorable milestones.
The Dallas Cowboys became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four years. The Denver Broncos made a run at a perfect season in 1998 before winning their second consecutive Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins also won Super Bowls (the 49ers also won the 1989 Super Bowl, which was played in January 1990).
Dan Marino became the all-time passing leader. Jerry Rice became the league's all-time leading receiver and touchdown scorer. Terrell Davis and Barry Sanders each rushed for over 2,000 yards in a single season.
The NFL also experienced an almost annual attendance increase…15 new or renovated stadiums…and a popularity growth that confirmed its status as America's favorite sport.
Following is a look back at the NFL in the 1990s, concentrating on the decade's memorable games and great players.
10 Memorable Games of the '90s
(Listed chronologically)
Showdown: The 10-1 New York Giants travel to San Francisco to face the 10-1 49ers for a Monday- night showdown. San Francisco's Joe Montana completes a 23-yard pass to John Taylor for the game's only touchdown and a 7-3 49ers victory. The game receives a 26.9 rating, still the second-highest (29.6, Chicago at Miami, 12/2/85) in the 30-season history of Monday Night Football. (12/3/90)
Wide Right: Super Bowl XXV provides needed relief from the Persian Gulf War and becomes one of the most suspenseful games in history. Buffalo's Scott Norwood narrowly misses a 47-yard field goal in the final seconds to give the Giants a second Super Bowl title. (1/27/91)
The Comeback: Buffalo trails Houston 35-3 early in the third quarter of an AFC Wild Card game, but scores five unanswered TDs, taking a 38-35 lead. Houston ties the score and forces overtime, but Buffalo's Steve Christie's 32-yard field goal wins the game, completing the greatest comeback in NFL history. (1/3/93)
Shoulder The Burden: With the NFC East crown and home-field advantage through-out the playoffs at stake, Dallas' Emmitt Smith courageously rushes for 168 yards despite a separated shoulder. Smith also adds 61 yards receiving in the Cowboys' 16-13 overtime win over the Giants. (1/2/94)
Monday-Night Magic: Denver's John Elway scores the apparent game-winning touchdown on a draw play with 1:29 remaining, but Kansas City quarterback Joe Montana completes seven of eight attempts while driving the Chiefs 75 yards for the winning five-yard TD pass with eight seconds left. (10/17/94)
Rivalry Of The '90s: In one of the most anticipated games of the decade, Dallas and San Francisco meet for the third consecutive year in the NFC title game. The 49ers jump out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead over the two-time defending Super Bowl champions and survive Dallas' comeback to win 38-28. (1/15/95)
Four's A Charm: In the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXII, Denver's John Elway dives for a first down deep in Packers territory and is dramatically spun in the air like a helicopter when hit. Elway's heroics lead to a TD and propel the Broncos to their first of two consecutive Super Bowl victories. (1/25/98)
Upset Special: With the 13-0 Broncos chasing an undefeated season, the 5-8 New York Giants score on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kent Graham to Amani Toomer with 48 seconds left to defeat Denver 20-16. (12/13/98)
The Catch II: Trailing Green Bay 27-23 in the final seconds of an NFC Wild Card game, 49ers quarterback Steve Young fires a 25-yard TD strike in between five Green Bay defenders to wide receiver Terrell Owens, who is simultaneously hit by two Packers. 49ers 30, Packers 27. (1/3/99)
OT in NFC: Kicker Morten Andersen's 38-yard field goal 11:52 into overtime gives the Atlanta Falcons a 30-27 win over the Minnesota Vikings and their first-ever trip to the Super Bowl. The contest is the first NFC Championship Game to go into overtime since 1958. (1/16/99)
10 MILESTONES OF THE '90s
(Listed chronologically)
Winningest Coach: Don Shula becomes the NFL's all-time winningest coach when Miami defeats Philadelphia 19-14 for Shula's 325th career win. Shula's first victory came when the Baltimore Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers 20-14 on September 22, 1963. (11/14/93)
All-Time TD: With a three-touchdown performance in 1994's opening game, 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice passes Walter Payton (125) and Jim Brown (126) to become the NFL's all-time TD leader with 127. Rice out-leaps two defenders for the record-breaking score. (9/5/94). (In 1995, Rice becomes the NFL's career leader in catches and receiving yards.)
Young Rates Best: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young sets a pair of NFL passing marks in 1994. His 112.8 passer rating is the best in league history. He also becomes the first quarterback in history to lead the NFL in passing in four consecutive seasons, posting ratings of 101.8, 107.0, 101.5 and 112.8 from 1991-94.
Six Valuable Passes: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young passes for a Super Bowl-record six touchdowns in the 49ers' 49-26 win over San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX. Young is named MVP of the game. (1/29/95)
Masterful Marino: In Indianapolis, Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino throws his 343rd career TD pass, breaking Fran Tarkenton's all-time record. It is one of four (attempts, completions and yards) Tarkenton career passing records that Marino breaks during the season. (11/26/95)
Year of the Milestone: In 1995, NFL teams break the 100,000-yard mark in passing (105,976) and 10,000-point barrier (10,314) for the first time in league history. NFL records are also set for 1,000-yard receivers (23), 300-yard passing games (80), and 100-yard receiving games (185). In addition, a record 21 contests go into overtime.
NFL's 10,000th game: The 10,000th regular-season game in NFL history is played when the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Tennessee Oilers 16-13 at the Kingdome in Seattle. The game ball and jersey of winning quarterback Warren Moon are sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (10/5/97)
NFL Rookie Rushing -- Down Goes Brown: Running back Corey Dillion, the Cincinnati Bengals' second-round draft choice from Washington, registers the top rushing game of the season when he runs for 246 yards _ surpassing the 237 yards of Jim Brown on November 24, 1957 as the top single-game rushing performance by a rookie in NFL history. Dillon also ties a rookie mark with four rushing scores. (12/4/97)
Beating the Calendar: Running backs Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions and Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos each reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark during the decade. In their final game of successive seasons _ 1997 and 1998 _ Sanders and Davis, respectively, become the third and fourth players in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Sanders rushes for 184 yards to complete the season with 2,053 yards (12/21/97). Sanders' final '97 performance also marks his NFL-record 14th consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Davis gains 178 yards against the Seattle Seahawks to finish with 2,008 yards. (12/27/98)
Tying Tom: With Denver ahead 24-10 on the final play of the first half against Jacksonville, Broncos kicker Jason Elam runs on to the Mile High Stadium field to try a 58-yard field goal. However, a delay-of-game penalty pushes the ball back another five yards. Elam lines it up and swings as hard as he can. The kick goes down the middle, barely clearing the crossbar from 63 yards out, tying Tom Dempsey's 1970 NFL record. (10/25/98)
10 WACKY MOMENTS OF THE '90s
(Listed chronologically)
Watch Out Behind You: In Super Bowl XXVII, Dallas defensive tackle Leon Lett returns a Buffalo fumble 64 yards. As Lett approaches the goal line, Bills wide receiver Don Beebe knocks the ball from his hand after racing the length of the field, catching Lett in a premature celebration. (1/31/93)
Thanks!: Dallas appears to win the Thanksgiving Day game when Dolphins kicker Pete Stoyanovich's kick is blocked by Cowboys defensive end Jimmie Jones. But Dallas defensive tackle Leon Lett muffs the ball while attempting to recover it and Miami center Jeff Dellenbach falls on the ball at the 1-yard line with: 03 remaining in the game. The Dolphins get a second chance and kick the game-winning field goal. (11/25/93)
Fake Spike: Quarterback Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins, down 24-21, are on the Jets' eight-yard line with time running out. Marino motions that he is going to spike the ball in order to stop the clock. His feint fools Jets players, who do not react as Marino passes to wide receiver Mark Ingram for the winning score. (11/27/93)
The QB Punts!: Philadelphia quarterback Randall Cunningham boots an 80-yard punt on a quick-kick against Dallas. The punt is the third longest in club history. (10/6/94)
Play Until The Whistle Blows: With 4:08 remaining, New Orleans punter Tommy Barnhardt punts into the end zone. As players from both teams trot off the field, Rams punt returner Robert Bailey alertly picks up the live ball, which was not downed, and sprints 103 yards for a touchdown. The return goes into the record books as the longest punt return in NFL history. (10/23/94)
Steelers Bailed Out: Trailing 20-16, Indianapolis quarterback Jim Harbaugh's desperation pass to Aaron Bailey on the final play of the AFC Championship Game falls incomplete in the end zone, securing a Super Bowl-berth for Pittsburgh. Bailey could not gain possession of the ball as he fell to the ground. (1/14/96)
Randall McDaniel -- Aspiring Receiver: Minnesota guard Randall McDaniel lines up as a fullback and scores his first professional touchdown on a five-yard pass from Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre in the 1997 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. (2/2/97)
QB Catches Own TD Pass: Against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson becomes the first player in NFL history to complete a touchdown pass to himself when his pass is deflected. Johnson catches the deflection and runs three yards for a touchdown. (10/12/97)
Try For 3 Goes For 7 The Other Way: Indianapolis Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt attempts an NFL record-tying 63-yard field goal. The kick comes up short and New York Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn returns the missed attempt 104 yards for a touchdown. The play is the longest missed FG return touchdown in NFL history. (11/15/98)
Tricky Browns: Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson races four yards for a touchdown on a fake field goal. The score - by a kicker -- is the first rushing touchdown for the expansion Browns franchise. Dawson is the first placekicker to score a touchdown since October 13, 1985 (N.Y. Giants' Jess Atkinson, 14-yard TD run vs. Cincinnati). (10/10/99)
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