1976 Detroit Lions season

Last updated

1976 Detroit Lions season
Owner William Clay Ford Sr.
General manager Russ Thomas
Head coach Rick Forzano and Tommy Hudspeth
Home field Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium [1]
Results
Record6–8
Division place3rd NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
2
AP All-Pros None

The 1976 Detroit Lions season was the 47th season in franchise history. After the first four games of the season, Rick Forzano resigned under pressure of owner William Clay Ford, and was replaced by one time Brigham Young University head coach and Lions assistant Tommy Hudspeth. [2] In spite of a stellar season by quarterback Greg Landry, that year's NFL Comeback Player Of The Year, the team was still mired in mediocrity, finishing 6–8.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Offseason

1976 Expansion Draft

Detroit Lions selected during the Expansion Draft
RoundOverallNamePositionExpansion Team
00 Larry Ball Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers
00 Gordon Jolley Offensive tackle Seattle Seahawks
00 John McMakin Tight endSeattle Seahawks

NFL Draft

1976 Detroit Lions draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
110 James Hunter   CB Grambling State from Chicago
116 Lawrence Gaines   RB Wyoming
244 Ken Long   G Purdue
246 David Hill  *  TE Texas A&I from San Diego
368 Russ Bolinger   OT Long Beach State from Chicago
376 John Woodcock   DT Hawaii
5145Steadman Scavella  LB Miami (FL) from Miami
7198 Garth TenNapel  LB Texas A&M
8217Rich Sorenson  K Chico State from New England
8225Charles Braswell  DB West Virginia
9253Leanell Jones TE Long Beach State
10279Bill Bowerman DB New Mexico State
11307Gary Shugrue  DE Villanova
12335Mike McCabe  C South Carolina
13363Mel Jacobs  WR San Diego State
14391Leonard Elston WR Kentucky State
15419 Trent Smock  WR Indiana
16447Craig McCurdy LB William & Mary
17475Jim Meeks DB Boise State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

Roster

Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • currently vacant

rookies in italics

Regular season

On November 25, O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills set a record with the most rushing yards in a Thanksgiving Day game, by rushing for 273 yards against the Lions. [3]

In spite of their poor overall record the Lions offense set a statistical record for Passer Rating Differential (40.9, 14th best 1960 to 2011). Such a high rating is usually reserved for playoff teams or Super Bowl winners. [4]

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 12at Chicago Bears L 3–100–1 Soldier Field 54,125
2September 19 Atlanta Falcons W 24–101–1 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 50,840
3September 26 Minnesota Vikings L 9–101–2Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium77,292
4October 3at Green Bay Packers L 14–241–3 Lambeau Field 55,041
5October 10 New England Patriots W 30–102–3Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium60,174
6October 17at Washington Redskins L 7–202–4 RFK Stadium 45,908
7October 24at Seattle Seahawks W 41–143–4 Kingdome 61,280
8October 31 Green Bay Packers W 27–64–4Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium74,992
9November 7at Minnesota Vikings L 23–314–5 Metropolitan Stadium 46,735
10November 14at New Orleans Saints L 16–174–6 Louisiana Superdome 42,048
11November 21 Chicago Bears W 14–105–6Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium78,042
12November 25 Buffalo Bills W 27–146–6Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium66,875
13December 5at New York Giants L 10–246–7 Giants Stadium 66,069
14December 11 Los Angeles Rams L 17–206–8Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium73,470

!Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1 at Bears

Week One: Detroit Lions (0–0) at Chicago Bears (0–0)
Quarter1234Total
Lions 03003
Bears 007310

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: September 12, 1976
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 69 °F or 20.6 °C • Wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
  • Game attendance: 54,125
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information

Week 2 vs Falcons

Week Two: Atlanta Falcons (0–1) at Detroit Lions (0–1)
Quarter1234Total
Falcons 073010
Lions 0002424

at Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: September 19, 1976
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 50,840
  • Box Score
Game information

Week 4 at Packers

Week Four: Detroit Lions (1–2) at Green Bay Packers (0–3)
Quarter1234Total
Lions0140014
Packers 10001424

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: October 3
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 60 °F or 15.6 °C
  • Game attendance: 55,041
  • Box Score
Game information

Standings

NFC Central
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Minnesota Vikings (1)1121.8215–19–2–1305176W2
Chicago Bears 770.5004–27–5253216L1
Detroit Lions 680.4292–44–8262220L2
Green Bay Packers 590.3571–55–8218299W1

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References

  1. ↑ "The Argus-Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  2. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing, New York, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 114.
  3. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 377
  4. ↑ "Aaron Rodgers shows Passer Rating Differential is important stat - Kerry J. Byrne - SI.com". Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
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