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Canadian Football League team locations: West, East

The 1973 CFL season is considered to be the 20th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 16th Canadian Football League season.

CFL News in 1973

Both the Western and Eastern Conferences adopt the same playoff procedure, consisting of the second place teams in each conference hosting the third place teams in the conference semifinal games and the first place teams hosting the semi-finals' winners in the conference finals. All rounds now consisted of single-game playoffs, as opposed to a two-game total point series (although this format would return in use by what was by then the East Division in 1986 only); the West adopted this format the previous year. Other than the addition of the crossover rule in 1997, this playoff format is in still in use in the CFL.

This was the final season where the conferences would play seasons of different lengths. The Eastern Conference would expand its schedule to sixteen games for 1974. Somewhat ironically, this was also the most recent season (as of 2017) where a fourth-placed Eastern team would earn more points (despite playing fewer games) than the third placed Western team - the scenario which triggers a "crossover" under the current playoff format.

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

• Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
• Edmonton and Ottawa have first round byes.

Grey Cup playoffs

The Ottawa Rough Riders are the 1973 Grey Cup champions, defeating the Edmonton Eskimos, 22–18, at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. Ottawa's Charlie Brandon (DE) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player, while Edmonton's Garry Lefebvre (DB) was named Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket

*-Team won in Overtime.

CFL Leaders

• CFL Passing Leaders
• CFL Rushing Leaders
• CFL Receiving Leaders^[1]

1973 CFL All-Stars

1973 Eastern All-Stars

1973 Western All-Stars

1973 CFL Awards

• CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – George McGowan (WR), Edmonton Eskimos
• CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Gerry Organ (K), Ottawa Rough Riders
• CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award – Ray Nettles (LB), BC Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Johnny Rodgers (WR), Montreal Alouettes
• CFL's Coach of the Year – Jack Gotta, Ottawa Rough Riders
• Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Western Rookie of the Year) - Lorne Richardson (DB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy (Western Outstanding Lineman) - Ray Nettles (LB), BC Lions