1940 Detroit Lions season

The 1940 Detroit Lions season was their 11th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6–5, winning only five games.[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

1940 Detroit Lions season
Head coachPotsy Clark
Home fieldUniversity of Detroit Stadium
Results
Record5–5–1
Division place3rd NFL Western
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Due to a dispute between new Lions owner Fred Mandel and Detroit Tigers owner Walter Briggs, the Lions played the entire 1940 home schedule at University of Detroit Stadium.[2]

Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 Bye
2 September 15 at Chicago Cardinals T 0–0 0–0–1 War Memorial Stadium Recap
3 September 22 Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–10 0–1–1 University of Detroit Stadium Recap
4 September 29 Cleveland Rams W 6–0 1–0–1 University of Detroit Stadium Recap
5 October 5 Chicago Cardinals W 43–14 2–0–1 University of Detroit Stadium Recap
6 October 13 at Chicago Bears L 0–7 2–1–1 Soldier Field Recap
7 October 20 at Green Bay Packers W 23–14 3–1–1 City Stadium Recap
8 October 27 Washington Redskins L 14–20 3–3–1 University of Detroit Stadium Recap
9 November 3 at Cleveland Rams L 0–24 3–4–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium Recap
10 November 10 Chicago Bears W 17–14 4–4–1 University of Detroit Stadium Recap
11 November 17 at Philadelphia Eagles W 21–0 5–4–1 Shibe Park Recap
12 November 24 Green Bay Packers L 7–50 5–5–1 Briggs Stadium Recap
13 Bye

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

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NFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Chicago Bears 8 3 0 .727 6–2 238 152 W2
Green Bay Packers 6 4 1 .600 4–3–1 238 155 T1
Detroit Lions 5 5 1 .500 4–3–1 138 153 L1
Cleveland Rams 4 6 1 .400 2–5–1 171 191 T1
Chicago Cardinals 2 7 2 .222 2–5–1 139 222 L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

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  1. ^ 1940 Detroit Lions
  2. ^ Charlie Sanders, Larry Paladino, Charlie Sanders's Tales From the Detroit Lions, 2005, p. 150.
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