The 2001 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 72nd season in the National Football League (NFL). Marty Mornhinweg was named the 21st head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001,[1] after owner William Clay Ford Sr. controversially fired 2000 interim coach Gary Moeller.[2]
The season began with much optimism, with the Lions hoping to improve on their 9–7 record from 2000; however, the Lions were extremely disappointing and had the worst start to an NFL season since the 1986 Indianapolis Colts began 0–13. They were widely believed to be likely to suffer the NFL’s first 0–16 season[3] before they defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to that, they had lost an NFL record nine consecutive games by eight points or less.[3]
Seven seasons later, the Lions went 0–16 after a week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.[4]
This was the final season that the Lions played at the Pontiac Silverdome before moving to Ford Field the following season, as well as the final season for the NFC Central Division, which would dissolve following the NFL's realignment in 2002, although all NFC Central teams except the Tampa Bay Buccaneers formed the new NFC North Division.
The Lions closed the Silverdome by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 15–10 in the regular season finale. Coincidentally, the Cowboys defeated the Lions 36–10 in the first regular season game at the Silverdome (then known as Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium) in 1975.
This would also be the first season under new general manager Matt Millen, as he would be the team's general manager for the next six seasons and first 3 games of the 2008 season. This would start a stage of futility for the Lions, as they would fail to post a winning record with Millen as general manager.
Offseason
NFL draft
[5]
Undrafted free agents
Staff
2001 Detroit Lions staff
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
- Defensive coordinator – Vince Tobin
- Defensive line – Bill Young
- Assistant defensive line/pass rush specialist – Charles Haley
- Linebackers – Glenn Pires
- Defensive backs – Richard Selcer
- Defensive assistant/quality control – Don Clemons
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Strength and conditioning – Jason Arapoff
- Assistant strength and conditioning – Malcolm Blacken
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[6]
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
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First quarter
- GB – Ahman Green 31-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 12:27. Packers 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:36.
- GB – Bill Schroeder 23-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 6:08. Packers 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:46.
- GB – Ahman Green 83-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 4:29. Packers 21–0. Drive: 1 play, 83 yards, 0:14.
- DET – Jason Hanson 49-yard field goal, 2:12. Packers 21–3. Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 2:17.
Second quarter
- DET – Jason Hanson 39-yard field goal, 4:06. Packers 21–6. Drive: 10 plays, 31 yards, 4:49.
Third quarter
- GB – Bubba Franks 1-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 3:54. Packers 28–6. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:47.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 2: at Cleveland Browns
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First quarter
Second quarter
- CLE – Shaun O'Hara 2-yard pass from Tim Couch (Phil Dawson kick), 13:21. Browns 14–0. Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 3:36.
Third quarter
- CLE – Phil Dawson 33-yard field goal, 11:36. Browns 17–0. Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 0:49.
- DET – Terry Fair 26-yard interception return (Jason Hanson kick), 7:26. Browns 17–7.
- CLE – Quincy Morgan 34-yard pass from Tim Couch (Phil Dawson kick), 4:25. Browns 24–7. Drive: 1 play, 34 yards, 0:07.
Fourth quarter
- DET – Johnnie Morton 14-yard pass from Ty Detmer (Jason Hanson kick), 11:25. Browns 24–14. Drive: 9 plays, 84 yards, 4:13.
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Top passers
- DET – Ty Detmer – 22/42, 212 yards, TD, 7 INT
- CLE – Tim Couch – 12/20, 138 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Quarterback Ty Detmer made his first start for the Lions, ending the game with seven interceptions. Despite this, the Lions' defense kept the game somewhat close, picking off Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch twice, including a 26-yard pick six by cornerback Terry Fair.
Week 4: vs. St. Louis Rams
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First quarter
Second quarter
- STL – Torry Holt 36-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick), 13:31. Rams 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:57.
- STL – Dré Bly 93-yard interception return (Jeff Wilkins kick), 3:04. Rams 21–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- STL – Ernie Conwell 1-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick), 10:14. Rams 28–0. Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards, 5:53.
- STL – Marshall Faulk 7-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick), 4:32. Rams 35–0. Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 3:54.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
- STL – Marshall Faulk – 9 receptions, 80 yards
- DET – Germane Crowell – 5 receptions, 65 yards
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Week 11: vs Green Bay Packers
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
- Date: November 22, 2001
- Game time: 12:36 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 77,730
- TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall and John Madden
- [1]
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
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Week 14: vs Minnesota Vikings
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First quarter
Second quarter
- DET – Jason Hanson 44-yard field goal, 9:06. Lions 17–7. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:30.
- DET – Jason Hanson 36-yard field goal, 0:00. Lions 20–7. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 2:48.
Third quarter
- MIN – Gary Anderson 27-yard field goal, 12:23. Lions 20–10. Drive: 6 plays, 24 yards, 2:37.
- MIN – Randy Moss 66-yard pass from Todd Bouman (Gary Anderson kick), 7:12. Lions 20–17. Drive: 4 plays, 90 yards, 2:42.
- MIN – Randy Moss 13-yard pass from Todd Bouman (Gary Anderson kick), 1:51. Vikings 24–20. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:39.
Fourth quarter
- DET – Cory Schlesinger 1-yard run (Jason Hanson kick), 10:36. Lions 27–24. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 6:15.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 15: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 15: Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 23, 2001
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,809
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green and Jennifer Hammond
- [2]
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
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Week 17: vs Dallas Cowboys
Week 17: Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
- Date: January 6, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 77,512
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green and Jennifer Hammond
- [3]
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
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Standings
Notes
- ^ a b The Lions were originally scheduled to host the Dallas Cowboys during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Pontiac Silverdome. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was rescheduled to Week 17.
References
- ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.117
- ^ "Mornhinweg Hired To Coach the Lions." New York Times, January 25, 2001. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.
- ^ a b “Infamy Awaits the Lions” in The Free Lance Star, Sunday December 16, 2001; p. C11
- ^ "Bloomberg Politics - Bloomberg". Bloomberg News.
- ^ "2001 Detroit Lions Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ "Administration and Coaching Staff". 2001 Detroit Lions Media Guide. pp. 4–32.
- ^ "2001 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
External links
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