1982 Detroit Lions season explained

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
Shortnavlink:Lions seasons

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.[1] 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

See main article: 1982 NFL draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionCollege
115Jimmy WilliamsLBNebraska
242Bobby WatkinsCBSouthwest Texas State
369Steve DoigLBNew Hampshire
496Bruce McNortonCBGeorgetown (KY)
5127William GrahamSTexas
6154Mike MachurekQBIdaho State
7175Phil BatesRBNebraska
7187Victor SimmonsWROregon State
8208Martin MossDEUCLA
9231Dan WagonerDBKansas
10266Roosevelt BarnesLBPurdue
11292Edward LeeWRSouth Carolina State
12319Ricky PorterRBSlippery Rock
12326Rob RubickTEGrand Valley State

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 12Chicago BearsW 17–101–0Pontiac Silverdome71,337
2September 19at Los Angeles RamsW 19–142–0Anaheim Stadium59,470
Player strike cancels seven games
3November 21at Chicago BearsL 17–202–1Soldier Field71,337
4November 25New York GiantsL 6–132–2Pontiac Silverdome64,348
5New York JetsL 13–282–3Pontiac Silverdome79,361
6December 12at Green Bay PackersW 30–103–3Lambeau Field51,875
7December 19Minnesota VikingsL 31–343–4Pontiac Silverdome73,058
8December 26at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 21–233–5Tampa Stadium65,997
9January 2Green Bay PackersW 27–244–5Pontiac Silverdome64,377
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 12

See also: 1982 New York Giants season.

Playoffs

The Redskins jumped to a 24–0 lead en route to a 31–7 victory over the Lions.

Records

Regular-season record

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book . 2001 . Workman Publishing Co . . 0-7611-2480-2 . 294 . registration .