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1982 Detroit Lions season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Detroit Lions |
| year | 1982 |
| record | 4–5 |
| division_place | 8th NFC (would have been 4th in the NFC Central) |
| coach | Monte Clark |
| stadium | Pontiac Silverdome |
| playoffs | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| (at Redskins) 7–31 | |
| pro bowlers | {{Collapsible list |
| title | 3 |
| AP All-pros | {{Collapsible list |
| title | 1 |
| shortnavlink | Lions seasons |
(at Redskins) 7–31 |T Keith Dorney |RB Billy Sims |DT Doug English | AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list |DT Doug English (1st team) The 1982 Detroit Lions season was the 53rd season in franchise history. An NFL players strike shortened the regular season to nine games.
The NFL changed the playoff format due to the strike to allow the top eight teams in each conference to qualify. Because of this, the Lions qualified for their first postseason appearance since 1970, becoming one of only four teams to ever qualify for the playoffs despite having a losing record. The Lions and the 1982 Cleveland Browns are the only two teams with a losing record to qualify as wildcards.
The Lions lost to the Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium in the first round of the playoffs.
It would not be until 2010 when the Seattle Seahawks became the third team with a losing record to qualify for the playoffs (7–9), the first to do so in a 16-game season and the first to win a division title with a losing record. The Carolina Panthers in 2014 (7–8–1) and Washington in 2020 (7–9) have subsequently won their divisions and made the postseason with losing records.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1982 NFL draft
| Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Round | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Pick | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Player | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Position | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | College | 1 | 15 | 2 | 42 | 3 | 69 | 4 | 96 | 5 | 127 | 6 | 154 | 7 | 175 | 7 | 187 | 8 | 208 | 9 | 231 | 10 | 266 | 11 | 292 | 12 | 319 | 12 | 326 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Williams | LB | Nebraska | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bobby Watkins | CB | Southwest Texas State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Doig | LB | New Hampshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bruce McNorton | CB | Georgetown (KY) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| William Graham | S | Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Machurek | QB | Idaho State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phil Bates | RB | Nebraska | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Victor Simmons | WR | Oregon State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Martin Moss | DE | UCLA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan Wagoner | DB | Kansas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roosevelt Barnes | LB | Purdue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Edward Lee | WR | South Carolina State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ricky Porter | RB | Slippery Rock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rob Rubick | TE | Grand Valley State |
Roster
| Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}};text-align:center;" | Detroit Lions roster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks |
Regular season
Schedule
| Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Week | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Date | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Result | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Record | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Venue | Detroit Lions | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | Player strike cancels seven games | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12 | Chicago Bears | W 17–10 | 1–0 | Pontiac Silverdome | 71,337 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 19 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 19–14 | 2–0 | Anaheim Stadium | 59,470 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 21 | at Chicago Bears | L 17–20 | 2–1 | Soldier Field | 71,337 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 25 | New York Giants | L 6–13 | 2–2 | Pontiac Silverdome | 64,348 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New York Jets | L 13–28 | 2–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 79,361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 12 | at Green Bay Packers | W 30–10 | 3–3 | Lambeau Field | 51,875 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 19 | Minnesota Vikings | L 31–34 | 3–4 | Pontiac Silverdome | 73,058 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 26 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 21–23 | 3–5 | Tampa Stadium | 65,997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 2 | Green Bay Packers | W 27–24 | 4–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | 64,377 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Standings
Season summary
Week 12
First quarter
- DET – Eddie Murray 46-yard field goal. ''Lions 3–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
- DET – Eddie Murray 44-yard field goal. ''Lions 6–0. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
- NYG – Joe Danelo 34-yard field goal. ''Lions 6–3. '''Drive:'''''
- NYG – Joe Danelo 40-yard field goal. ''Tie 6–6. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
- NYG – Lawrence Taylor 97-yard interception return (Joe Danelo kick). Giants 13–7. ;Top passers
- NYG – Scott Brunner – 12/28, 136 yards, 2 INT
- DET – Gary Danielson – 12/19, 125 yards, 3 INT ;Top rushers
- NYG – Butch Woolfolk – 21 rushes, 87 yards
- DET – Billy Sims – 26 rushes, 114 yards ;Top receivers
- NYG – Johnny Perkins – 5 receptions, 80 yards
- DET – Mark Nichols – 3 receptions, 49 yards
Playoffs
The Redskins jumped to a 24–0 lead en route to a 31–7 victory over the Lions.
Records
Regular-season record
- First team with a losing record (4–5, .444) to qualify for the playoffs. Shared with Cleveland Browns
- Worst regular-season record (4–5, .444) to qualify for the playoffs. Shared with Cleveland Browns. Broken by the 2010 Seattle Seahawks and later matched by the 2020 Washington Football Team (7–9, .438).
References
References
- (2001). "NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book". Workman Publishing Co.
- (2 January 2011). "Seahawks defeat Rams 16–6 to win NFC West title".
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