Jump to content

1976 Detroit Lions season

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1976 Detroit Lions season
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford Sr.
General managerRuss Thomas
Head coachRick Forzano and Tommy Hudspeth
Home fieldPontiac Metropolitan Stadium[1]
Results
Record6–8
Division place3rd NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
2
AP All-ProsNone

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]

Offseason

[edit]

1976 Expansion Draft

[edit]
Main article: 1976 NFL expansion draft
Detroit Lions selected during the Expansion Draft
Round Overall Name Position Expansion Team
0 0 Larry Ball Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers
0 0 Gordon Jolley Offensive tackle Seattle Seahawks
0 0 John McMakin Tight end Seattle Seahawks

NFL Draft

[edit]
Main article: 1976 NFL draft
1976 Detroit Lions draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 10 James Hunter  CB Grambling State from Chicago
1 16 Lawrence Gaines  RB Wyoming
2 44 Ken Long  G Purdue
2 46 David Hill *  TE Texas A&I from San Diego
3 68 Russ Bolinger  OT Long Beach State from Chicago
3 76 John Woodcock  DT Hawaii
5 145 Steadman Scavella  LB Miami (FL) from Miami
7 198 Garth TenNapel  LB Texas A&M
8 217 Rich Sorenson  K Chico State from New England
8 225 Charles Braswell  DB West Virginia
9 253 Leanell Jones  TE Long Beach State
10 279 Bill Bowerman  DB New Mexico State
11 307 Gary Shugrue  DE Villanova
12 335 Mike McCabe  C South Carolina
13 363 Mel Jacobs  WR San Diego State
14 391 Leonard Elston  WR Kentucky State
15 419 Trent Smock  WR Indiana
16 447 Craig McCurdy  LB William & Mary
17 475 Jim Meeks  DB Boise State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

  • Detroit were awarded a first-round pick (8th) from Los Angeles as compensation for the Rams signing Lions free agent WR Ron Jessie. During the draft, Detroit traded this 8th pick to Chicago in exchange for the Bears' first- and third-round picks (10th and 68th).
  • Detroit were awarded a second-round pick (46th) from San Diego as compensation for the Chargers signing Lions free agent C Ed Flanagan.
  • Detroit traded its fourth-round pick (108th) to Miami in exchange for LB Larry Ball and the Dolphins' fifth-round pick (145th).
  • Detroit traded its fifth-round pick (140th) to San Francisco in exchange for QB Joe Reed.
  • Detroit traded its sixth-round pick (170th) to New England in exchange for C Jon Morris.
  • Detroit traded FB Leon Crosswhite to New England in exchange for the Patriots' eighth-round pick (217th) and sixth-round pick in 1975.

Roster

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 12 at Chicago Bears L 3–10 0–1 Soldier Field 54,125
2 September 19 Atlanta Falcons W 24–10 1–1 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 50,840
3 September 26 Minnesota Vikings L 9–10 1–2 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 77,292
4 October 3 at Green Bay Packers L 14–24 1–3 Lambeau Field 55,041
5 October 10 New England Patriots W 30–10 2–3 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 60,174
6 October 17 at Washington Redskins L 7–20 2–4 RFK Stadium 45,908
7 October 24 at Seattle Seahawks W 41–14 3–4 Kingdome 61,280
8 October 31 Green Bay Packers W 27–6 4–4 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 74,992
9 November 7 at Minnesota Vikings L 23–31 4–5 Metropolitan Stadium 46,735
10 November 14 at New Orleans Saints L 16–17 4–6 Louisiana Superdome 42,048
11 November 21 Chicago Bears W 14–10 5–6 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 78,042
12 November 25 Buffalo Bills W 27–14 6–6 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 66,875
13 December 5 at New York Giants L 10–24 6–7 Giants Stadium 66,069
14 December 11 Los Angeles Rams L 17–20 6–8 Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium 73,470

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

Season summary

[edit]

Week 1 at Bears

[edit]
See also: 1976 Chicago Bears season and Bears–Lions rivalry
Week One: Detroit Lions (0–0) at Chicago Bears (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 3 003
Bears 0 0 7310

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

[edit]
See also: 1976 Atlanta Falcons season
Week Two: Atlanta Falcons (0–1) at Detroit Lions (0–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 7 3010
Lions 0 0 02424

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

[edit]
Week Four: Detroit Lions (1–2) at Green Bay Packers (0–3)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 14 0014
Packers 10 0 01424

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

[edit]
NFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Minnesota Vikings(1) 11 2 1 .821 5–1 9–2–1 305 176 W2
Chicago Bears 7 7 0 .500 4–2 7–5 253 216 L1
Detroit Lions 6 8 0 .429 2–4 4–8 262 220 L2
Green Bay Packers 5 9 0 .357 1–5 5–8 218 299 W1

References

[edit]
  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.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1976_Detroit_Lions_season&oldid=1248365070"