The 2002 season was the Detroit Lions' 73rd in the National Football League (NFL). It was the Lions’ inaugural season at the new Ford Field in Downtown Detroit and their first in the city since the team left Tiger Stadium after the 1974 season. Following the season, Marty Mornhinweg was fired and Steve Mariucci was hired as the Lions' head coach. The Lions entered the 2002 season looking to improve on their 2–14 record from 2001 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
2002 Detroit Lions season | |
---|---|
Owner | William Clay Ford Sr. |
General manager | Matt Millen |
Head coach | Marty Mornhinweg |
Home field | Ford Field |
Results | |
Record | 3–13 |
Division place | 4th NFC North |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | None |
Uniform | |
They improved on their record, winning 3 games. However, the new stadium didn't help the team overall, and they continued to disappoint, beginning the season with three consecutive losses. By week 9, the Lions had a 3–5 record after a win over the Dallas Cowboys. However, after that win, the Lions lost their remaining 8 games to finish the season 3–13 and failed to reach the playoffs. The Lions also went 0–8 on the road for the second straight season. As a result, Marty Mornhinweg was fired after the season. In his 2 seasons as head coach, the Lions went 5–27 for a winning percentage of .156.
Offseason edit
Signings | Departures |
---|---|
G Ray Brown (49ers) | QB Charlie Batch (Steelers) |
FS Corey Harris (Ravens) | LB Scott Kowalkowski (retirement) |
WR Bill Schroeder (Packers) | WR Johnnie Morton (Chiefs) |
TE Mikhael Ricks (Chiefs) | DE Tracy Scroggins (retirement) |
TE David Sloan (Saints) |
NFL Draft edit
2002 Detroit Lions draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Joey Harrington | Quarterback | Oregon | |
2 | 35 | Kalimba Edwards | Defensive end | South Carolina | |
3 | 68 | André Goodman | Cornerback | South Carolina | |
4 | 134 | Johnathan Taylor | Defensive end | Montana State | |
5 | 138 | John Owens | Tight end | Notre Dame | |
6 | 175 | Chris Cash | Cornerback | USC | |
7 | 214 | Luke Staley | Running back | BYU | |
7 | 252 | Matt Murphy | Tight end | Maryland | |
7 | 259 | Victor Rogers | Tackle | Colorado | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Undrafted free agents edit
Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Eddie Drummond | Wide receiver | Penn State |
Antwan Lake | Defensive tackle | West Virginia |
James Mungro | Running back | Syracuse |
Kris Ryan | Fullback | Penn |
Personnel edit
Staff edit
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Roster edit
Regular season edit
In addition to their regular games against NFC North rivals, the Lions under the NFL's new scheduling formula played games against teams from the NFC South and from the AFC East. They also played the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, who had the fourth best records from 2001 of the teams placed in their respective divisions.
Schedule edit
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 8 | at Miami Dolphins | L 21–49 | 0–1 | Pro Player Stadium | 72,216 |
2 | September 15 | at Carolina Panthers | L 7–31 | 0–2 | Ericsson Stadium | 71,951 |
3 | September 22 | Green Bay Packers | L 31–37 | 0–3 | Ford Field | 61,505 |
4 | September 29 | New Orleans Saints | W 26–21 | 1–3 | Ford Field | 60,023 |
5 | Bye | |||||
6 | October 13 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 24–31 | 1–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,013 |
7 | October 20 | Chicago Bears | W 23–20 (OT) | 2–4 | Ford Field | 60,421 |
8 | October 27 | at Buffalo Bills | L 17–24 | 2–5 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | 72,710 |
9 | November 3 | Dallas Cowboys | W 9–7 | 3–5 | Ford Field | 61,789 |
10 | November 10 | at Green Bay Packers | L 14–40 | 3–6 | Lambeau Field | 63,313 |
11 | November 17 | New York Jets | L 14–31 | 3–7 | Ford Field | 61,720 |
12 | November 24 | at Chicago Bears | L 17–20 (OT) | 3–8 | Memorial Stadium | 62,375 |
13 | November 28 | New England Patriots | L 12–20 | 3–9 | Ford Field | 62,109 |
14 | December 8 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 20–23 (OT) | 3–10 | Sun Devil Stadium | 28,640 |
15 | December 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 20–23 | 3–11 | Ford Field | 61,942 |
16 | December 22 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 15–36 | 3–12 | Georgia Dome | 69,307 |
17 | December 29 | Minnesota Vikings | L 36–38 | 3–13 | Ford Field | 60,233 |
Game summaries edit
Week 1: at Miami Dolphins edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Dolphins | 7 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: September 8, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 72,216
- Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
- TV: FOX
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: at Carolina Panthers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Panthers | 0 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: September 15, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 72 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,951
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- TV: FOX
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 7 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 37 |
Lions | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: September 22, 2002
- Game time: 4:15 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,505
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- TV: Fox
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 21 |
Lions | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 26 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: September 29, 2002
- Game time: 1:03 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 60,023
- Referee: Ron Winter (14)
- TV: Fox
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
Vikings | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 13, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,013
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- TV: Fox
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. Chicago Bears edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Lions | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: October 10, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: none (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 60,421
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- TV: FOX
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 8: at Buffalo Bills edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Bills | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
Game information | ||
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Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Lions | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 3, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,013
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV: Fox
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 10: at Green Bay Packers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Packers | 3 | 27 | 10 | 0 | 40 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: November 10, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,329
- Referee: Dick Hantak (105)
- TV: Fox
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 11: vs. New York Jets edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jets | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 31 |
Lions | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 17, 2002
- Game time: 4:15 p.m.
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,720
- Referee: Johnny Grier (23)
- TV: CBS
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at Chicago Bears edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Bears | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 20 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
- Date: November 24, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Partly cloudy 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,375
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall, Brian Baldinger and Dan Jiggetts
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. New England Patriots edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots' | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
Lions | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 28, 2002
- Game time: 12:30 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,109
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- TV: CBS
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
Game information | ||
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Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
Lions | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 16: at Atlanta Falcons edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
Falcons | 3 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 36 |
Game information | ||
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Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
Lions | 14 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 36 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: December 29, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 60,223
- Referee: Bill Carollo (63)
- TV: Fox
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Standings edit
Division edit
NFC North | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(3) Green Bay Packers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 9–3 | 398 | 328 | L1 |
Minnesota Vikings | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | 390 | 442 | W3 |
Chicago Bears | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | 281 | 379 | L2 |
Detroit Lions | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 3–9 | 306 | 451 | L8 |
Conference edit
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | ||||||||||
1[a] | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 11–1 | .469 | .432 |
2[a][b] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .482 | .432 |
3[a][b] | Green Bay Packers | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .451 | .414 |
4 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .504 | .450 |
Wild Cards | ||||||||||
5 | New York Giants | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .482 | .450 |
6 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .494 | .429 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | ||||||||||
7 | New Orleans Saints | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .498 | .566 |
8[c] | St. Louis Rams | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .508 | .446 |
9[c] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .506 | .433 |
10[d] | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .527 | .438 |
11[d] | Carolina Panthers | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .486 | .357 |
12 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .498 | .417 |
13[e] | Arizona Cardinals | West | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 5–7 | .500 | .400 |
14[e] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .500 | .475 |
15 | Chicago Bears | North | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .521 | .430 |
16 | Detroit Lions | North | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .494 | .375 |
Tiebreakers[f] | ||||||||||
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References edit
- ^ "Administration and Coaching Staff". 2002 Detroit Lions Media Guide. pp. 4–28.