1970 Detroit Lions season

1970 Detroit Lions season
Head coachJoe Schmidt
Home fieldTiger Stadium
Results
Record10–4
Division place2nd NFC Central
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(at Cowboys) 0–5

The 1970 Detroit Lions season was the 41st season in franchise history. With a record of 10–4, their best in eight years, the Lions finished in second place in the NFC Central and qualified for the playoffs as the NFC's first ever Wildcard team. Detroit made the postseason for the first time since their championship season in 1957 (they played in three post-season runner-up games (Playoff Bowl) in 1960, 1961, and 1962 and won all three).

One unusual loss during the regular season was at New Orleans in Week 8. The Lions led by a point with only two seconds left, but Saints kicker Tom Dempsey booted a then-record 63-yard field goal as time expired to give the Saints a 19–17 win.[1][2][3]

In the divisional round of the playoffs at the Cotton Bowl, the Lions fell 5–0 to the Dallas Cowboys in the lowest scoring game in NFL playoff history, and the first without a touchdown in twenty years.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Detroit Lions (1934-Present)". www.sportsecyclopedia.com.
  2. ^ "Saints upset Lions, 19-17 on Dempsey's 63-yard FG". Ludington Daily News. (Michigan). UPI. November 9, 1970. p. 5.
  3. ^ Rappaport, Ken (November 9, 1970). "Still plenty of foot in football". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 22.
  4. ^ "Colts, Cowboys advance in playoffs". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. December 27, 1970. p. 65.
  5. ^ "Detroit looking ahead to 1971". Ludington Daily News. (Michigan). UPI. December 28, 1970.