The 2005 season of the National Football League (NFL) was the 86th season playe by the major professional American football league in the United States. With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8 2005 to January 1 2006. The regular season also saw the first ever regular season game played outside the United States, as well as the New Orleans Saints being forced to play elsewhere due to damage to the Superdome and the entire New Orleans area by Hurricane Katrina.