1972 Detroit Lions season
| 1972 Detroit Lions season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Joe Schmidt |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–5–1 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 1972 Detroit Lions season was their 43rd in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on their previous season's output of 7–6–1, winning eight games.[1] The team missed the playoffs for the second straight season. It would also be the team's last winning season until 1980
Linebacker Wayne Walker established a new team record for games played at 200. It was also the final season for longtime defensive back Dick LeBeau.
Offseason[edit]
NFL Draft[edit]
| 1972 Detroit Lions draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Herb Orvis | DE | Colorado | |
| 3 | 65 | Ken Sanders | DE | Howard Payne | from Philadelphia |
| 6 | 145 | Charles Potts | DB | Purdue | |
| 7 | 172 | Charles Stoudmire | WR | Portland State | |
| 8 | 197 | Henry Stuckey | DB | Missouri | |
| 9 | 224 | Bill McClintock | DB | Drake | |
| 10 | 249 | Jim Teal | LB | Purdue | |
| 11 | 276 | Bob Waldron | DT | Tulane | |
| 12 | 301 | Paul Bradley | WR | SMU | |
| 13 | 328 | John Kirschner | TE | Memphis State | |
| 14 | 353 | Eric Kelley | OT | Whitworth | |
| 15 | 380 | Steve Roach | LB | Kansas | |
| 16 | 405 | Leon Jenkins | DB | West Virginia | |
| 17 | 432 | Mike Tyler | DB | Rice | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Notes
- Detroit traded QB Greg Barton to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' second- and third-round selections (40th and 65th) and second-round selection in 1971.
- Detroit traded the 40th selection received from Philadelphia to Atlanta in exchange for RB Paul Gipson.
- Detroit traded its second-round selection (41st) to Atlanta in exchange for CB Rudy Redmond, RB Sonny Campbell and Atlanta's fourth-round selection in 1973.
- Detroit traded its third-round selection (68th) to Philadelphia in exchange for QB Bill Cappleman.
- Detroit traded its fourth-round selection (93rd) to Dallas in exchange for WR Ron Jessie.
- Detroit traded its fifth-round selection (120th) to Los Angeles in exchange for DT Dick Evey.
Roster[edit]
Schedule[edit]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17 | New York Giants | W 30–16 | 54,418
|
| 2 | September 24 | Minnesota Vikings | L 10-34 | 54,418
|
| 3 | October 1 | at Chicago Bears | W 38–24 | 55,701
|
| 4 | October 8 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 26–23 | 58,850
|
| 5 | October 16 | Green Bay Packers | L 23-24 | 54,418
|
| 6 | October 22 | San Diego Chargers | W 34–20 | 54,371
|
| 7 | October 30 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 24-28 | 65,378
|
| 8 | November 5 | Chicago Bears | W 14–0 | 54,418
|
| 9 | November 12 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 14-16 | 49,784
|
| 10 | November 19 | New Orleans Saints | W 27–14 | 53,752
|
| 11 | November 23 | New York Jets | W 37–20 | 54,418
|
| 12 | December 3 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7-33 | 56,263
|
| 13 | December 10 | at Buffalo Bills | T 21–21 | 41,583
|
| 14 | December 17 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 34–17 | 71,761
|
Season summary[edit]
Week 13 at Bills[edit]
Week Thirteen: Detroit Lions (7–5) at Buffalo Bills (3–9)
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
- Date: December 10
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,583
- Box Score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standings[edit]
| NFC Central | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Green Bay Packers | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 5–1 | 8–3 | 304 | 226 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | 2–4 | 6–5 | 339 | 290 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 4–2 | 6–5 | 301 | 252 | L2 |
| Chicago Bears | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | 1–5 | 3–7–1 | 225 | 275 | L1 |