The 2020 season was the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

' 91st in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

(NFL) and their third and final season under

head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...

Matt Patricia Matthew Edward Patricia (born September 13, 1974) is an American football coach who is the senior football advisor and offensive line coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He has served 15 non-consecutive sea ...

. The Lions improved on their 3–12–1 record from the previous season, but were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive year following their loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. The Lions finished 5–11, and last place in the NFC North for the third consecutive season. Further, the 2020 Lions defense had one of the worst seasons in NFL history, setting franchise records for points allowed (519, 3rd worst in NFL history) and yards allowed (6,716, 3rd worst in NFL history) in a season, both marks topping the 2008 team. On June 23, 2020, Detroit Lions' principal owner

Martha Firestone Ford Martha Parke Firestone Ford (born September 16, 1925) is an American businesswoman and former principal owner and chairperson of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Ford is also on the board of the Henry Ford Health System. ...

stepped down, passing ownership to her daughter

Sheila Ford Hamp Sheila Firestone Ford Hamp (born October 31, 1951) is an American businesswoman and football executive. A descendant of both the Ford and Firestone family fortunes, she is the principal owner and chairwoman of the Detroit Lions of the Nationa ...

. Following the Lions' Thanksgiving Day loss to the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...

, both Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn were fired and offensive coordinator

Darrell Bevell Darrell Wayne Bevell (born January 6, 1970) is an American football coach, who currently serves as the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the Miami Dolphins. He previously served as offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings fr ...

took over as interim head coach. Patricia finished his tenure in Detroit with a record of . Additionally, the Lions fired special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs on December 21.Lions Fire Special Teams Coordinator Brayden Coombs
''Sports Illustrated'' Fan Nation, December 21, 2020

Offseason

Coaching changes

*On December 31, 2019, the Lions fired strength coach

Harold Nash Harold Nash, Jr. (born May 5, 1970 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a current American football strength and conditioning coach of the National Football League (NFL). He is also a former defensive back in the Canadian Football League. Playing car ...

, special-teams coordinator John Bonamego, defensive backs coach Brian Stewart, linebackers coach

Al Golden Alfred James Golden Jr. (born July 4, 1969) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He is a former head coach at Temple from 2006 to 2010. He has also served for five years as defensive ...

, tight ends coach Chris White and assistant strength coach Rodney Hill. *On January 2, 2020, defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni retired and offensive line coach Jeff Davidson took an "indefinite leave" from coaching. *On January 13, the Lions hired

Cory Undlin Cory Undlin (born June 29, 1971) is an American football coach who is the defensive passing game coordinator for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions in ...

as defensive coordinator.

Additions

Departures

Re-signings

Trades

*On March 18, the Lions acquired

safety Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to risk management, the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings There are ...

Duron Harmon Duron Harmon (born January 24, 1991) is an American football free safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Harmon was nicknamed "the Closer" by fans and media for his ability to come up with late, game-sealing inte ...

and a seventh-round pick from the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...

in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the

2020 NFL Draft The 2020 NFL Draft was the 85th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2020 NFL season. The first round was held on April 23, followed by the second and third rounds on April 24. The d ...

. *On March 19, the Lions traded

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create tur ...

Darius Slay Darius Demetrius Slay Jr. (born January 1, 1991) is an American football cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the s ...

to the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...

in exchange for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. *On October 27, the Lions acquired defensive end

Everson Griffen Everson Griffen (born December 22, 1987) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. A graduate of Agua Fria High School, Griffen attended and played college football at USC. He was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of ...

from the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...

in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick in the

2021 NFL Draft The 2021 NFL Draft was the 86th National Football League Draft, the annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland from April 29 to May 1, 2021 ...

Draft

Notes *The

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...

traded a third and sixth-round selection (75th and 197th) to Detroit in exchange for a third, fifth, and sixth-round selection (85th, 149th, 182nd). *The Lions traded their fourth-round selection (109th) to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a fourth and fifth-round selection (121st and 172nd). *On August 23, 2018, the Lions traded a conditional seventh-round selection to the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...

in exchange for

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, p ...

Eli Harold Medgar Elisha Harold (born January 20, 1994) is a gridiron football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football for the University of Virginia Cavaliers. Early years Harold attended Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach ...

. *On October 22, 2019, the Lions traded

Quandre Diggs Quandre Diggs (born January 22, 1993) is an American football free safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas, and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2015 NF ...

and a seventh-round pick in the

to the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

caused the preseason to be cancelled. On July 29, the Lions placed five players, including wide receiver

Kenny Golladay Kenneth Golladay (born November 3, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota and Northern Illinois and was drafted by the Detroit Lions ...

and tight end

T. J. Hockenson Thomas James Hockenson (born July 3, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the first round (eighth selection overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lio ...

, on the

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

reserve list. The following day, two more players, including cornerback

Justin Coleman Justin Jamal Coleman (born March 27, 1993) is an American football cornerback and nickelback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee, and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an und ...

, were placed on the list. On August 1, the Lions placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on the list. Three days later, however, Stafford's test was confirmed to be a false positive and he was removed from the list. Most games this season were played behind closed doors, with crowds at some stadiums limited to friends and families of the players, coaches, and staff members. Several members of the Lions coaching staff, including interim head coach

, had to quarantine during the week 16 game against the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South divisio ...

due to an outbreak.Lions could be without several coaches vs. Bucs as team determines high-risk COVID-19 close contacts
NFL.com, December 23, 2020

Staff

Following the Lions' Thanksgiving Day loss to the

, both Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn were relieved of their duties with offensive coordinator

taking over as interim head coach. Patricia finished his tenure in Detroit with a record of . Additionally, the Lions fired special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs on December 21. Due to Coronavirus restrictions, Robert Prince was the acting head coach when the team faced the

Final roster

Preseason

The Lions' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears

The Lions began their season by hosting their divisional rival, the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...

. Detroit opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 27-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The Bears got on the board in the second quarter via a 35-yard field goal by

Cairo Santos Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

to tie the game. The teams exchanged field goals, first a 32-yard field goal by Prater, then a 28-yard field goal by Santos. The Lions responded with a one-yard touchdown run from D'Andre Swift, making the score 13–6 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Lions extended their lead in the third quarter via a four-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

and a 44-yard field goal by Prater. The Bears responded with 21-unanswered points in the fourth quarter via a two-yard touchdown pass from

Mitchell Trubisky Mitchell David Trubisky (born August 20, 1994) is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted second overall by the Chicago ...

to Jimmy Graham, a one-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky to

Javon Wims Javon Lamar Wims (born September 11, 1994) is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia. Early years Wims attended and played high school footbal ...

and a 27-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky to Anthony Miller. The Lions' attempted comeback failed when Swift dropped the go-ahead touchdown with 11 seconds remaining in the game, making the final score 27–23 in favor of Chicago. This was the Lions' 10th consecutive loss dating back to Week 9 of last season. It also marks the team's fifth straight loss to Chicago. Jamie Collins, one of the Lions' linebackers got ejected for contacting a referee.

Week 2: at Green Bay Packers

In week 2, the Lions visited their divisional rival, the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from

Kerryon Johnson Kerryon Johnson (born June 30, 1997) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Auburn and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Early years Johnson attended ...

. The Packers responded with a 43-yard field goal by Mason Crosby. The Lions extended their lead via a four-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

Marvin Jones Marvin Jones may refer to: *John Marvin Jones (1882–1976), known as Marvin Jones and J. Marvin Jones, United States congressman *Marvin Jones (linebacker) (born 1972), American football linebacker *Marvin Jones (wide receiver) (born 1990), Americ ...

. The Packers scored 14 points in the second quarter via a seven-yard touchdown pass from

Aaron Rodgers Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Rodgers began his college football career at Butte College in 2002 before transferring to the ...

to Aaron Jones and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to

Robert Tonyan Robert Joseph Tonyan Jr. ( /tʌnjən/ TUN-yun; born April 30, 1994) is an American football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Indiana State and signed with the Detroit Lio ...

, making the score 17–14 in favor of Green Bay at half-time. The Packers scored 17 points in the third quarter via a 75-yard touchdown run from Jones, a seven-yard interception return by

Chandon Sullivan Chandon Lamar Sullivan (born August 7, 1996) is an American football cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State. College career Sullivan was a four-year starter f ...

, and a 35-yard field goal by Crosby. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the fourth quarter, first a 24-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

Marvin Hall Marvin Hall Jr. (born April 10, 1993) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Washington Huskies football, Washington. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Professional care ...

, then a 14-yard touchdown run from Jones, and a two-point conversion run by

Jamaal Williams Jamaal Malik Williams (born April 3, 1995) is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at BYU and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the ...

, making the final score 42–21 in favor of Green Bay. This was the Lions' 11th consecutive loss dating back to Week 9 of last season.

Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals

In week 3, the Lions visited the 2–0

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play t ...

. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 37-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The Cardinals responded with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to

Andy Isabella Andy Isabella (born November 18, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UMass Minutemen, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sec ...

. The Lions took the lead in the second quarter via a five-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

Jesse James Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, bank and train robber, guerrilla and leader of the James–Younger Gang. Raised in the " Little Dixie" area of Western Missouri, James and his family maintained stro ...

. The Cardinals responded with a one-yard touchdown run from Murray followed by a failed point-after conversion to take a 13–10 lead. The Lions closed the quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

, making the score 17–13 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, first a 54-yard field goal by

Zane Gonzalez Holden Fortunato Gonzalez (born May 7, 1995) is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona State University and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in ...

, then a 24-yard field goal by Prater. The Cardinals responded with a four-yard touchdown pass from Murray to Isabella to regain the lead, 23–20. Prater kicked two field goals in the final quarter: first one from 35 yards to tie the game, then one from 39 yards as time expired, making the final score 26–23 in favor of Detroit. With the win, the Lions snapped an 11-game losing streak dating back to week 8 of last season.

Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints

In week 4, the Lions hosted the

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...

. The Lions scored 14 points in the first quarter via a seven-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to D'Andre Swift, and a 15-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

. The Saints responded with a three-yard touchdown run from Latavius Murray. The Saints scored 21 points in the second quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from

Alvin Kamara Alvin Mentian Kamara (born July 25, 1995) is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee after transferring from Hutchinson Community College and wa ...

, and two touchdown passes from Drew Brees to

Tre'Quan Smith Tre'Quan Smith (born January 7, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF. Early years Smith attended Village Academy High School in Delray ...

, from two-yards and 20-yards, respectively, making the score 28–14 in favor of New Orleans at half-time. The Saints extended their lead in the third quarter via a six-yard touchdown run from Murray. The Lions responded with a one-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

. The Lions scored the only points of the fourth quarter via a five-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson and a two-point conversion pass from Stafford to Hockenson, making the final score 35–29 in favor of New Orleans. They also dubiously have blown a double-digit lead in five consecutive losses dating back to last season.

Week 6: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Following their bye week, in week 6, the Lions visited the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson. The Jaguars responded with a 31-yard field goal by Jon Brown. The Lions scored 10 points in the second quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from D'Andre Swift and a 31-yard field goal by Matt Prater, making the score 17–3 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Lions extended their lead in the third quarter via a one-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

. The Jaguars responded with a six-yard touchdown run from

Gardner Minshew Gardner Flint Minshew II (born May 16, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He began his college football career at Northwest Mississippi, winning the NJCAA National Footba ...

. The Lions scored 10 points in the fourth quarter via a six-yard touchdown run from Swift and a 41-yard field goal by Prater. The Jaguars responded with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Minshew to James Robinson, making the final score 34–16 in favor of Detroit. Swift became the first rookie running back for the Lions to run for 100-plus yards and score two touchdowns in a game since Barry Sanders in

1989 File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress Street Viaduct, Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxo ...

. Stafford has now thrown a touchdown pass against every NFL team (except his own).

Week 7: at Atlanta Falcons

In week 7, the Lions visited the

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons joined th ...

. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a three-yard touchdown run from D'Andre Swift. The Falcons added 14 points in the second quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from

Todd Gurley Todd Jerome Gurley II (born August 3, 1994) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Georgia, where he recei ...

and a four-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Calvin Ridley. The Lions responded with a 50-yard field goal by Matt Prater, making the score 14–10 in favor of Atlanta at half-time. The Lions scored the only points of the third quarter via a 51-yard field goal by Prater. In the fourth quarter, the Lions regained the lead via a 49-yard field goal by Prater. The Falcons made it all the way to the Detroit red zone and threatened to kick a game-winning field goal. However, Falcons running back

accidentally scored a touchdown, leaving over a minute for the Lions to respond. The Lions ended up scoring a walk-off touchdown from Matthew Stafford to

, with the help of a long PAT from Matt Prater, to win it 23–22.

Week 8: vs. Indianapolis Colts

In week 8, the Lions hosted the

. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 25-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

. The Colts scored 20 points in the second quarter via a 22-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers to

Nyheim Hines Nyheim Hines ( ; born November 12, 1996) is an American football running back and punt returner for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in ...

, a seven-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Jack Doyle, and a 29-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Hines, making the score 20–7 in favor of Indianapolis at half-time. The Lions scored the only points of the third quarter via a nine-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

. The Colts scored 21 points in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from

Jordan Wilkins Jordan Wilkins (born July 18, 1994) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Ole Miss. In his college career, he had 1,751 yards and 14 touchdowns at 6.4 yards per carry. Wilkins ran a 4.53-second ...

, and two-point conversion run by Wilkins, a 29-yard interception return by

Kenny Moore Kenneth Clark Moore (December 1, 1943 – May 4, 2022) was an American Olympic road running athlete and journalist. He ran the marathon at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics, finishing fourth at the latter. Early life Moore was born in Portland ...

, and a two-yard touchdown run from

Trey Burton Lawrence Godfrey "Trey" Burton III, (born October 29, 1991) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football for the University of Florida and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie free age ...

. The Lions responded with a four-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Jones, making the final score 41–21 in favor of Indianapolis.

Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings

In week 9, the Lions visited their divisional rival, the

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...

. The Vikings scored 13 points in the first quarter via a five-yard touchdown run from

Dalvin Cook Dalvin James Cook (born August 10, 1995) is an American football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State, where he finished his career as the school's all-time lea ...

and a nine-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to

Irv Smith Jr. Irvin Martin Smith Jr. (born August 9, 1998) is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted in second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the V ...

(This marked the first game of the 2020 season in which the Lions did not score first.) The Lions scored ten points in the second quarter via a 23-yard field goal by Matt Prater and a 15-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

. The Vikings responded with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to

Ameer Abdullah Ameer Abdullah (born June 13, 1993) is an American football running back for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football a ...

, making the score 20–10 in favor of Minnesota at half-time. The Vikings scored the only points of the third quarter via a one-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Smith Jr. The Lions attempted comeback failed with interceptions on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. Stafford exited the game in the fourth quarter due to concussion protocol. The Lions scored 10 points in the fourth quarter via a 45-yard field goal by Prater and a two-yard touchdown pass from

Chase Daniel William Chase Daniel (born October 7, 1986) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Missouri and was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted f ...

. The Vikings responded with a 70-yard touchdown run from Cook, making the final score 34–20 in favor of Minnesota.

Week 10: vs. Washington Football Team

In week 10, the Lions hosted the Washington Football Team. Detroit opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 55-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

. Washington responded with a 38-yard field goal by

Dustin Hopkins Dustin Hopkins (born October 1, 1990) is an American football placekicker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round ...

, their only points of the first half. Detroit added 10 points in the second quarter, via a 27-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

and a 53-yard field goal by Matt Prater, making the score 17–3 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter, first a 15-yard touchdown pass from Staffford to D'Andre Swift for Detroit, then a two-yard touchdown run from

J. D. McKissic Joshua Dobbie McKissic (born August 15, 1993) is an American football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas State, where set the Sun Belt Conference record for mo ...

for Washington. In the fourth quarter, Washington's

Antonio Gibson Antonio Gibson (born June 23, 1998) is an American football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Georgia, he played college football at East Central Community College in Mississippi for tw ...

scored back-to-back touchdowns, from two and five-yards, respectively, to tie the score at 24 points. Detroit responded with a 37-yard field goal by Prater to regain the lead. Washington responded with a 41-yard field goal by Hopkins, to tie the score again at 27 points each. Detroit responded with a 59-yard game-winning field goal by Prater as time expired, making the final score 30–27 in favor of Detroit, for their first home win of the season.

Week 11: at Carolina Panthers

In week 11, the Lions visited the

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. T ...

. The Panthers opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Mike Davis. After a scoreless second quarter, the Panthers added 10 points in the third quarter via a 17-yard touchdown pass from

P. J. Walker Phillip "P. J." Walker (born February 26, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indian ...

Curtis Samuel Curtis Samuel (born August 11, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he was a member of the team that won the 2015 Colle ...

and a 58-yard field goal by

Joey Slye Joseph David Slye (born April 10, 1996) is an American football placekicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Yo ...

. The Panthers extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 37-yard field goal by Slye, making the final score 20–0 in favor of Carolina. The Lions were shut out for the first time since week 6 of

2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...

Week 12: vs. Houston Texans

For their annual Thanksgiving Day game, the Lions donned throwback uniforms and hosted the

. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson. The Texans responded with a 19-yard interception return by

J. J. Watt Justin James Watt (born March 22, 1989) is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Central Michigan and Wisconsin and was drafted by the Houston Texans i ...

and a two-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to

C. J. Prosise Calvin "C. J." Prosise Jr. (born May 20, 1994) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. Early years P ...

. In the second quarter, Detroit regained the lead via a one-yard touchdown run from Peterson. Houston responded with 10 points via a 33-yard touchdown pass from Watson to

Duke Johnson Randy "Duke" Johnson Jr. (born September 23, 1993) is an American football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round (77th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. ...

and a 42-yard field goal by

Kaʻimi Fairbairn John Christian Kaiminoeauloamekaikeokekumupaa "Kaimi" Fairbairn (born January 29, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Playing college football at UCLA, he was a consensus fir ...

, making the score 23–14 in favor of Houston at half-time. In the third quarter, the teams exchanged field goals, first a 29-yarder by Matt Prater for Detroit, then a 26-yarder by Fairbairn for Houston. In the fourth quarter, Will Fuller of the Texans scored back-to-back touchdown receptions, from 40 and 34 yards, respectively. Detroit scored the game's final points via a 14-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

Mohamed Sanu Muhammad was an Islamic prophet and a religious and political leader who preached and established Islam. Muhammad and variations may also refer to: *Muhammad (name), a given name and surname, and list of people with the name and its variations ...

and a two-point conversion pass from Stafford to Sanu, making the final score 41–25 in favor of the Texans. With the loss, the Lions fell to 4–7 and lost their fourth consecutive Thanksgiving Day game. Two days after the game, both head coach

and general manager Bob Quinn were fired by the Lions.

Week 13: at Chicago Bears

In week 13, the Lions visited their divisional

rivals A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant o ...

, the

, for a rematch of week 1, in

's debut as interim head coach. The Bears scored nine points in the first quarter via a 45-yard field goal by

and a 13-yard touchdown run from David Montgomery. The Lions responded with a three-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the second quarter via a five-yard touchdown run from Cordarrelle Patterson for the Bears and a 49-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

Quintez Cephus Quintez Cephus (born April 1, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin. High school career While playing high school football at Stratfo ...

for the Lions. The Bears extended their lead via a four-yard touchdown run from Montgomery, making the score 23–13 in favor of Chicago at half-time. The Lions scored the only points of the third quarter via a nine-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

. The Bears extended their lead in the fourth quarter via an 11-yard touchdown pass from

to Cole Kmet. The Lions responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

. With under two minutes left in the game, Trubisky was sacked by

Romeo Okwara Romeo Chidozie Okwara (born June 17, 1995) is an American football defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame and signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free ag ...

at the Bears nine-yard line, causing a fumble that was recovered by Detroit's

John Penisini John Nau Penisini (born May 31, 1997) is an American football nose tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Snow College before transferring to Utah and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft ...

. On the ensuing possession, the Lions scored via a five-yard touchdown run from Peterson. The Lions' defense held off the Bears on the next possession, making the final score 34–30 in favor of Detroit. With the win, the Lions snapped a five-game losing streak to the Bears dating back to week 11 of

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

. This would also be their last win until week 13 of the 2021 season, 364 days later.

Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers

In week 14, the Lions hosted their divisional

, the

, for a rematch of week 2. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

. The Packers responded with a 56-yard touchdown pass from

Davante Adams Davante Lavell Adams (born December 24, 1992) is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Fresno State, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the s ...

to tie the game. In the second quarter the Packers scored via a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, to take their first lead of the game. The Lions responded with a three-yard touchdown run from D'Andre Swift, tying the score at 14–14 at half-time. The Packers scored the only points of the third quarter via a six-yard touchdown run from Rodgers. The Packers extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a four-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to

. The Lions responded with a two-yard touchdown run from

. The teams then exchanged field goals, first a 57-yard field goal by Mason Crosby for the Packers, then a 32-yard field goal by Matt Prater for the Lions, making the final score 31–24 in favor of Green Bay.

Week 15: at Tennessee Titans

In week 15, the Lions visited the Tennessee Titans, who they had not beaten since

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...

when the latter was known as the

Houston Oilers The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston from its founding in 1960 to 1996 before relocating to Memphis, and later Nashville, Tennessee becoming the Tennessee Titans. The Oilers began play in 1960 as ...

. The Titans opened the scoring in the first quarter via a three-yard touchdown run from

Derrick Henry Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. (born January 4, 1994) is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). His imposing rushing game and larger stature than the average running back earned him the nickna ...

. The Lions responded with a two-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

to tie the game. The Titans regained the lead via a 75-yard touchdown pass from

Ryan Tannehill Ryan Timothy Tannehill III (born July 27, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M, where he was a wide receiver until his junior year, an ...

to Corey Davis. The Titans extended their lead in the second quarter via a 17-yard touchdown run from Tannehill. The Lions responded with nine points via a

and a two-yard touchdown run from D'Andre Swift. The Titans responded with a 38-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski, making the score 24–15 in favor of Tennessee at half-time. The Lions scored the only points of the third quarter via a 53-yard field goal by Matt Prater. In the fourth quarter, the Titans extended their lead via a three-yard touchdown run from Tannehill and a two-point conversion run by Henry, and a two-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to

A. J. Brown Arthur Juan Brown Sr. (born June 30, 1997), nicknamed "Always Open", is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ole Miss and was drafted by the Tennes ...

. The Lions responded with a six-yard touchdown run from Swift. The Titans scored the final points of the game via a three-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to

Darrynton Evans Darrynton L.A. Evans (born July 9, 1998) is an American football running back and return specialist for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Appalachian State. He was drafted by the Tennessee Tit ...

, making the final score 46–25 in favor of Tennessee. With the loss, the Lions were eliminated from playoff contention.

Week 16: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In week 16, the Lions hosted the

. Several members of the Lions coaching staff had to quarantine per NFL rules due to COVID-19 contact tracing. Wide receivers coach Robert Prince filled in for interim head coach

. The Buccaneers scored 34 unanswered points in the first half. They scored 13 points in the first quarter via a 33-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski and a 27-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Mike Evans. The Buccaneers added 21 points in the second quarter, first via a four-yard touchdown run from

Leonard Fournette Leonard Joseph Fournette III (born January 18, 1995) is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, and was drafted by the Jacksonville Ja ...

, then touchdown passes from Brady to

Chris Godwin Rod Christopher Godwin Jr. (born February 27, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Buccaneers in the thir ...

and Antonio Brown, from seven and 12-yards, respectively, making the score 34–0 in favor of Tampa Bay at half-time. In the third quarter, the Buccaneers extended their lead via a 25 yard-touchdown pass from Blaine Gabbert to Gronkowski. The Lions finally got on the board via a 74-yard punt return by

Jamal Agnew Jamal Agnew (born April 3, 1995) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at San Diego. On September 26, 2021, he tied the NFL rec ...

. The Buccaneers scored the game's final points via a 22-yard touchdown pass from Gabbert to Evans, making the final score 47–7 in favor of Tampa Bay.

Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings

To finish the season, the Lions hosted their divisional

the

for a rematch of week 9. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 43-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to

. The Vikings responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to

Alexander Mattison Alexander Mattison (born June 19, 1998) is an American football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boise State and was drafted by the Vikings in the third round, 102nd ov ...

. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the second quarter, via a 20-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to

for the Lions, and a four-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to

for the Vikings. The Lions regained the lead via a 54-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The Vikings responded with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Chad Beebe, making the score 21–16 in favor of Minnesota at half-time. The Lions regained the lead in the third quarter via a 26-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Jones. The Vikings responded with 10 points via a two-yard touchdown run from Mattison and a 23-yard field goal by Dan Bailey. The Lions responded with a two-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson. The Vikings extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Cousins. The Lions scored the final points of the game via a two-yard touchdown run from D'Andre Swift, making the final score 37–35 in favor of Minnesota. The Lions finished 5–11, and last place in the NFC North for the third consecutive season.

Standings

Division

Conference

References

External links

* {{2020 NFL season by team

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

Detroit Lions seasons