1976 Detroit Lions season

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1976 Detroit Lions season
Head coach Rick Forzano and Tommy Hudspeth
Results
Record 6–8
Division place 3rd NFC Central
Playoff finish did not qualify

The 1976 Detroit Lions season was the 47th season in franchise history. After the first four games of the season, Rick Forzano resigned under pressure of owner William Clay Ford, and was replaced by one time BYU head coach and Lions assistant Tommy Hudspeth.[1] In spite of a stellar season by quarterback Greg Landry, that year's NFL Comeback Player Of The Year, the team was still mired in mediocrity, fininsing 6–8.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Round Pick Player Position School
1

Regular season

During the Thanksgiving Day game on November 25, O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills set a record with the most rushing yards in one Thanksgiving Day game, by rushing for 273 yards vs. the Lions.[2]

In spite of their poor overall record the Lions offense set a statistical record for Passer Rating Differential (40.9, 14th best 196—2011). Such a high rating is usually reserved for playoff teams or Super Bowl winners;

Top 25 Teams in Passer Rating Differential (1960–present)

Ranking Team OPR DPR Differential Record Won title

  • 1 1960 Browns 109.5 51.7 57.8 8–3–1 –
  • 2 1966 Packers 102.1 46.1 56.0 12–2 Yes
  • 3 1987 49ers 106.2 53.8 52.4 13–2 –
  • 4 1989 49ers 114.8 68.5 46.3 14–2 Yes
  • 5 1975 Vikings 90.8 46.2 44.6 12–2 –
  • 6 1975 Steelers 86.7 42.8 43.9 12–2 Yes
  • 7 1994 49ers 111.4 68.1 43.3 13–3 Yes
  • 8 1999 Rams 106.6 64.1 42.5 13–3 Yes
  • 9 1975 Bengals 89 46.9 42.1 11–3 –
  • 10 1963 Giants* 94.4 52.7 41.7 11–3 Yes
  • 11 1962 Packers 84.9 43.4 41.5 13–1 Yes
  • 12 1976 Lions 84.6 43.7 40.9 6–8 --
  • 13 1963 Bears 75.6 34.8 40.8 11–1–2 Yes
  • 14 1996 Packers 95.7 55.4 40.3 13–3 Yes
  • 15 1974 Redskins 90 49.9 40.1 10–4 –
  • 16 1972 Dolphins 86.9 47.4 39.5 14–0 Yes
  • 17 1988 Vikings 80.4 41.2 39.2 11–5 –
  • 18 1991 Redskins 98 58.9 39.1 14–2 Yes
  • 19 1960 Eagles 87.9 49.1 38.8 10–2 Yes
  • 20 2007 Patriots* 116 78.1 37.9 16–0 Yes
  • 21 2002 Buccaneers 86.3 48.4 37.9 12–4 Yes
  • 22 2009 Saints 106 68.6 37.4 13–3 Yes
  • 23 1984 Dolphins* 108.5 71.4 37.1 14–2 Yes
  • 24 1977 Cowboys 85.3 48.2 37.1 12–2 Yes
  • 25 1967 Rams 84.4 47.5 36.9 11–1–2 –

Note: The 1963 Giants, 2007 Patriots and 1984 Dolphins lost in their respective title games.[3]

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 12, 1976 at Chicago Bears L 10–3
54,125
2 September 19, 1976 Atlanta Falcons W 24–10
50,840
3 September 26, 1976 Minnesota Vikings L 10–9
77,292
4 October 3, 1976 at Green Bay Packers L 24–14
55,041
5 October 10, 1976 New England Patriots W 30–10
60,174
6 October 17, 1976 at Washington Redskins L 20–7
45,908
7 October 24, 1976 at Seattle Seahawks W 41–14
61,280
8 October 31, 1976 Green Bay Packers W 27–6
74,992
9 November 7, 1976 at Minnesota Vikings L 31–23
46,735
10 November 14, 1976 at New Orleans Saints L 17–16
42,048
11 November 21, 1976 Chicago Bears W 14–10
78,042
12 November 25, 1976 Buffalo Bills W 27–14
66,875
13 December 5, 1976 at New York Giants L 24–10
66,069
14 December 11, 1976 Los Angeles Rams L 20–17
73,470

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Minnesota Vikings(2) 11 2 1 .821 5–1 9–2 305 176 W2
Chicago Bears 7 7 0 .500 4–2 7–5 253 216 L1
Detroit Lions 6 8 0 .429 2–4 5–7 262 220 L2
Green Bay Packers 5 9 0 .357 1–5 4–8 218 299 W1

Roster

Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

 Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

 Reserve Lists
  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics

Awards and records

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References

  1. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 114
  2. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 377
  3. ↑ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/kerry_byrne/06/23/most.important.stat.passer.rating.differential/index.html
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