3 - 5 yards

The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, a verdict was handed down against the league in the trial brought by the Los Angeles Coliseum and the Oakland Raiders. more...

The jury ruled that the NFL violated antitrust laws when it declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles. Thus, the league was forced to let the team play in the second largest city in the United States.

The league faced another problem when a 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule to 9. Because of the shortened season, the NFL adopted a special 16-team playoff tournament. Division standings were ignored. Eight teams from each conference were seeded 1-8 based on their regular season records.

The season ended with Super Bowl XVII when the Washington Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins.

Major rule changes

• The penalty for incidental grabbing of a facemask that is committed by the defensive team is changed from 5 yards and an automatic first down to just 5 yards.
• The penalties for illegally kicking, batting, or punching the ball are changed from 15 yards to 10 yards.

Final standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

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