1974 Detroit Lions season

1974 Detroit Lions season
Head coach	Rick Forzano
Owner	William Clay Ford, Sr.
Home field	Tiger Stadium
Results
Record	7–7
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	did not qualify

The 1974 Detroit Lions season was the 45th season in franchise history. It was the Lions' final season playing at Tiger Stadium; the team moved to the Pontiac Silverdome the following season and played home games there until the end of their 2001 season. Prior to the start of training camp, tragedy would strike the Lions, as Head Coach Don McCafferty died of a fatal heart attack at age 53. He would later be replaced by Lions assistant Rick Forzano, who would guide the Lions to a 7–7 record in their final season at Tiger Stadium. This would also be the last season until 2011 when Monday Night Football would air in the city of Detroit as a result of the Lions playing in Pontiac from 1975 to 2001, following by sub par seasons while playing home games at Ford Field during its first eight years.

Offseason

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1974_draft.htm

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 15, 1974	at Chicago Bears	L 17–9	48,134
2	September 22, 1974	Minnesota Vikings	L 7–6	49,703
3	September 29, 1974	at Green Bay Packers	L 21–19	47,292
4	October 6, 1974	at Los Angeles Rams	L 16–13	64,987
5	October 14, 1974	San Francisco 49ers	W 17–13	45,199
6	October 20, 1974	at Minnesota Vikings	W 20–16	47,807
7	October 27, 1974	Green Bay Packers	W 19–17	51,775
8	November 3, 1974	New Orleans Saints	W 19–14	43,256
9	November 10, 1974	at Oakland Raiders	L 35–13	51,973
10	November 17, 1974	New York Giants	W 20–19	40,431
11	November 24, 1974	Chicago Bears	W 34–17	40,930
12	November 28, 1974	Denver Broncos	L 31–27	51,157
13	December 8, 1974	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 23–19	45,159
14	December 15, 1974	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 28–17	57,157

Game summaries

Week 7

1 2 3 4 Total Packers 0 7 3 7 17 • Lions 3 6 7 3 19 Date: October 27 Location: Tiger Stadium • Detroit, Michigan Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 48°F • Wind 10

Scoring summary 1 DET Errol Mann 34 yard field goal Lions 3–0 2 DET Charlie Sanders 11 yard pass from Bill Munson (kick failed) Lions 9–0 2 GB John Brockington 1 yard run (Chester Marcol kick) Lions 9–7 3 GB Chester Marcol 49 yard field goal Packers 10–9 3 DET Larry Walton 39 yard pass from Bill Munson (Errol Mann kick) Lions 16–10 4 GB Jack Concannon 1 yard run (Chester Marcol kick) Packers 17–16 4 DET Errol Mann 41 yard field goal Lions 19–16

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Week 8

1 2 3 4 Total Saints 0 14 0 0 14 • Lions 10 6 0 3 19 Date: November 3 Location: Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 56°F, wind 10

Scoring summary 1 DET Errol Mann 37 yard field goal Lions 3–0 1 DET Ron Jessie 5 yard pass from Bill Munson (Errol Mann kick) Lions 10–0 2 DET Levi Johnson 78 yard blocked field goal return (kick failed) Lions 16–0 2 NO Joel Parker 30 yard pass from Archie Manning (Bill McClard kick) Lions 16–7 2 NO Howard Stevens 5 yard run (Bill McClard kick) Lions 16–14 4 DET Errol Mann 35 yard field goal Lions 19–14

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Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Minnesota Vikings	10	4	0	.714	4–2	8–3	310	195	W3
Detroit Lions	7	7	0	.500	3–3	6–5	256	270	L1
Green Bay Packers	6	8	0	.429	3–3	4–7	210	206	L3
Chicago Bears	4	10	0	.286	2–4	4–7	152	279	L2

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

References

1. Pro-Football-Reference.com
2. Pro-Football-Reference.com

• Detroit Lions on Pro Football Reference
• Detroit Lions on jt-sw.com
• Detroit Lions on The Football Database