1989 Detroit Lions season

The Lions took quarterback Rodney Peete in the sixth round.

Barry Sanders, the Lions' ultimate first round selection, wouldn't have been eligible for the draft under normal circumstances. At the time of the 1989 draft, juniors in college were not allowed to declare for the draft. However, as Sanders' college, Oklahoma State, were under investigation by the NCAA, which they were ultimately found in violation of the NCAA's recruiting rules.[1] Thus, Oklahoma State were unable to appear on television and were ineligible for bowl games. Under these conditions, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle allowed Sanders to declare for the draft.[2] The Lions selected Sanders with their third overall pick, the highest they took a running back since Billy Sims went first overall in 1980.

On offense, only two of the Lions' wide receiver selections, John Ford and Jason Phillips, recorded any statistics, not only for the Detroit Lions, but in their career. Phillips recorded 578 receiving yards and caught 2 touchdowns with most of his yards coming in his rookie campaign, and Ford played one game and recorded 58 receiving yards.[3] The Lions also took quarterback Rodney Peete in the sixth round, who would go on to start several seasons for the Lions, including their 1991 season where he started 8 games before being sidelined with an injury.[4] On defense, the only player who made any splash was cornerback Ray Crockett. Crockett would be awarded two Defensive Player of the Week awards with the Lions, and finished second in the league in interceptions in 1991.[5]

[6]

In a season deemed "Year of the Holdout", eight draft selections held out in search for more favorable contracts along with five defensive starters and two special teams players.[7] Barry Sanders wasn't signed until September 8, two days before the Week 1 opener. In June, Sanders' father William said they would look for offers from the Canadian Football League if negotiations fell through.[8] Rodney Peete, who was drafted in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB draft, had intentions to play baseball unless he received "a satisfactory offer" faxed to the Lions office.[7] Peete would eventually sign a two-year deal with the Lions.[9] Two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler Jim Arnold, Pro Bowler Mike Cofer, full-time starters Dennis Gibson and Jerry Holmes, and veteran kicker Eddie Murray did not report to training camp on July 19. Jimmy Williams requested a trade and did not report to training camp. The Indianapolis Colts and the Seattle Seahawks expressed interest in Williams, with the Colts hosting a workout for him.[10] The Lions were able to resign Murray,[11] Arnold,[12] and Cofer,[13] with Williams reporting back to training camp.[14] They also resigned running back Tony Paige,[15] signed Walter Stanley,[16] and traded for Terry Taylor.[17]

After substandard performances in his two first seasons, former seventh overall pick Reggie Rogers was waived by the Lions. Rogers had his 1988 season cut short after being involved in a car accident which killed three teenagers and broke multiple of Rogers' vertebrae. The Lions' reason for waiving Rogers would be due to the injuries he suffered.[18]

The Lions started their regular season falling to 0–5. After their fifth consecutive loss, backup quarterback Chuck Long said starting multiple quarterbacks was "tearing the team apart".[26] After losing the Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals to fall to 2–9, the Lions rallied to win the last 5 games of the season to end with a 7–9 record, winning 5 in a row for the first time since 1970.[27]

The Lions started three different quarterbacks in the season; Bob Gagliano, Eric Hipple, and Rodney Peete. Peete, a sixth-round pick who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up behind Barry Sanders in 1988,[28] started eight games, missing eight due to injury. Gagliano was the Week 1 starter due to a knee injury Peete suffered in training camp, coming back in the Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[29] When Peete went down with an injury in the Steelers game, he was ruled out for the Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Hipple, who led the Lions' last winning season, was slated to start the Week 5 matchup.[30] Peete returned to start for weeks 6–11, but reinjured his knee during the Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.[31] Peete was ruled out for one week before making his return against the New Orleans Saints, but again reinjured his left knee, keeping him out for the season.[32] Gagliano threw for 1,671 yards, 6 touchdowns to 12 inteceptions while Peete threw for 1,479 yards, 5 touchdowns to 9 interceptions.[33] In his rookie campaign, Barry Sanders rushed for 1,470 yards, good for 2nd in the league, just 10 yards behind the league leader. Sanders also had 14 rushing touchdowns, also good for 2nd in the league.[34]

Cornerback Jerry Holmes led the team in interceptions with 6, followed closely by Jimmy Williams with 5. Both Jerry Ball and Mike Cofer led the team with 9.0 sacks each, and Chris Spielman led the team in tackles with 125. Both Spielman and Ball earned Pro Bowl nods. On special teams, punter Jim Arnold was 2nd in the league for punting yardage with 3,538, earning the 3rd most yards per punt with 43.1. Kicker Eddie Murray led the league in field goal percentage with 95.2%, nearly 10% more than the 2nd best. Murray was named to the Pro Bowl for his efforts.[34]

All game reports use the Pro Football Researchers' gamebook archive as a source.[35]

Receiving the kickoff at the home and season opener, the Lions' instantly marched down the field to score on an Eddie Murray 30-yard field goal to bring the score to 3–0. The first quarter ended without any more scoring, but the Lions dominated the time of possession by holding the ball for 11:09. After a Lions punt, the Cardinals began their third drive of the game. They picked up their first first down of the game on a Gary Hogeboom 11-yard pass to J. T. Smith. Hogeboom and Smith connected on the next play for a 24-yard gain, which moved the Cardinals into Lions territory. The Cardinals would slowly inch closer and get down to the Lions 4-yard line with a Hogeboom pass to tight end Robert Awalt. The Cardinals stalled, settling for a Al Del Greco 29-yard field goal to tie it at 3–3. With a chance to respond, the Lions instead went three-and-out and punted it 51 yards to the Cardinals 42. Starting with good field position, the Cardinals began with an 11-yard pass from Hogeboom to Smith. Following a holding penalty on the Cardinals, they stalled out and elected to punt. However, cornerback Terry Taylor ran into the kicker, a 15-yard penalty which gave the Cardinals a first down at the Lions' 32-yard line. With a second chance, the Cardinals immediately capitalized on a 19-yard passing play to Roy Green. Unable to pick up a 3rd and 3, the Cardinals kicked a 23-yard field goal to settle the score at 3–6 going into halftime.[36]

Beginning the second half with possession, the Cardinals inched down the field, reaching the Lions 30-yard line. An illegal motion penalty on the Cardinals set them back to the 35-yard line, which was followed by a third down incompletion, leading the Cardinals to punt 25 yards. Starting their drive, a Bob Gagliano 11-yard rush was erased on the following play after a 10-yard holding penalty. An incompletion and 3-yard rush put the Lions on 3rd and 17, which they converted on a screen pass from Gagliano to Mel Gray which went for 30 yards. After an incompletion, Barry Sanders came into the game. A 27-yard pass interference penalty put the Lions at the Cardinals 29-yard line. Handed the ball on his first carry as an NFL player, Sanders ran up the middle for an 18-yard gain. Sanders was given the ball three more times, punching in the last one for a 3-yard touchdown. The Cardinals responded immediately with an 11-play, 88-yard drive capped off by a Hogeboom pass to Green for 15 yards to put the score at 13–10 with 12:33 left in the fourth. The Lions responded with a quick 8 play drive that ended with a Murray 23-yard field goal. This field goal was Murray's 13th straight, a franchise record. The Lions got another chance to score when, on the first play on the Cardinals' ensuing drive, a Hogeboom pass was intercepted by William White, but the Lions stalled, punting it away. The teams traded punts when the Cardinals began their drive with 2:45 left in the fourth. A 15-yard and 22-yard completion set the Cardinals up at the Lions' 16-yard line. On first down, with 0:13 left, the Cardinals kicked a 33-yard field goal to put them up 16–13. With only 13 seconds to respond, the Lions' received the kickoff. Rookie Jerry Woods brought the kickoff out from the 8-yard line, but fumbled on the 21-yard line when hit, turning the ball over and ending the game.[36]

In Week 2, the Lions visited the New York Giants. The Lions received the ball to start the game, but were forced to punt after not gaining a first down. On their ensuing drive, Giants quarterback Phil Simms completed a 14-yard pass to Odessa Turner to convert on 3rd and 11. The Giants would convert another third down in Lions territory with a Simms pass to Mark Ingram which set up the 49-yard field goal that Raul Allegre completed to put the Lions down 0–3. With a chance to respond, Bob Gagliano completed a pass to Stacey Mobley for 15 yards. A Gagliano 12-yard rush brought the Lions into Giants territory. The Lions offense stalled out at the Giants 36, and they punted. After trading punts, the Lions began their drive on their own 20-yard line following a touchback. Barry Sanders rushed for 15 yards, but nearly half of it was negated by a following sack on Gagliano. On 2nd and 16, Gagliano completed a pass to Richard Johnson which he brought 71-yards for a touchdown, putting the Lions up 7–3. Attempting to respond, the Giants marched down the field and reached the Lions' 1-yard line. Running back Ottis Anderson rushed up the middle, but fumbled the ball into the endzone which was recovered by the Lions for a touchback. The Lions took advantage, with the clock winding down in the second quarter, they drove down the field to reach the Giants' 10-yard line with 0:47 left in the half. Sanders ran up the middle for 2-yards, but fumbled it back to the Giants, ending the half with the Lions up 7–3.[37]

To begin the second half, the Lions' defense forced a three-and-out on the Giants' first drive. On their first offensive play, Gagliano connected with Johnson for 18 yards. He then completed a pass to Jason Phillips for a 26-yard gain. They capped off the drive with a Barry Sanders 4-yard run for a touchdown, extending the Lions' lead to 14–3. Responding, the Giants constructed a quick drive that ended with an Anderson touchdown to bring the Giants within 4 at 14–10. Both the Lions offense and defense stalled, allowing the Giants to score on a 9-yard pass from Simms to Turner to put the Lions down 14–17. On the second play of the Lions' next drive, Gagliano's pass was intercepted and brought back to the Detroit 35-yard line, however the Giants couldn't score, punting on the Lions' 34. The Lions started their drive on their own 5-yard line, but a 24-yard reception to Sanders and a Johnson 15-yard reception brought them to their own 44-yard line. On second down, Gagliano was strip sacked. The Giants instantly capitalized, scoring in three plays to extend their lead to 24–14. This would stay the final score despite the Lions' starting a drive with 1:47 left in the fourth. A Gagliano interception on the first play of that drive sealed the game for the Giants.[37]

In Week 3, the Lions hosted their division rival Chicago Bears. Receiving the ball on the opening kickoff, Bob Gagliano completed a 25-yard pass to Robert Clark who fumbled it, being recovered by Shaun Gayle who brought it back to the Bears 36. The Bears converted two third downs on their ensuing drive on a Mike Tomczak 17-yard rush and a Dennis McKinnon 18-yard reception. The Bears couldn't finish the drive in the endzone after a third down pass was batted down in the endzone, settling for a field goal to take the early 3–0 lead. The Lions couldn't muster a yard, and punted after three plays. After converting a third down, Tomczak completed a pass up the middle to James Thornton that went for 28-yards. In Lions territory, the Bears produced two large plays on a Neal Anderson 16-yard rush and a Brad Muster 20-yard rush to set the Bears up at the Lions 2-yard line. A four-yard loss set them to the Lions 6 before Muster punched it in to take the 10–0 lead. After gaining possession with 1:04 left to play in the first quarter, a Bears facemask penalty and a Barry Sanders 14-yard rush set the Lions up across midfield. The ball kept rolling, with a Gagliano completion to Richard Johnson that went for 17, a completion to Sanders that went for 10, and another completion to Johnson for 12. Down at the Bears 3-yard line, Sanders sped to the endzone to put the Lions within 3 at 7–10. The Bears quickly responded with a Tomczak pass to Cap Boso that went for 43 yards. The play went under review and stood as called. After a Bears false start, Tomczak found McKinnon in the endzone for a 40-yard touchdown that extended the Chicago lead to 17–7. Gagliano and the Lions offense got back out onto the field for another scoring drive. Gagliano used his legs to get a 14-yard gain before Sanders broke free and eluded three tackles on his way for a 28-yard gain. After Gagliano was sacked for a 15-yard loss, Sanders gained it all back on a 15-yard rush. They settled for an Eddie Murray field goal to again put them within a score at 10–17. However, that lead would again be erased after a Bears drive started with a 55-yard pass from Tomczak to Anderson. After a few lurching plays brought them to the Lions 5, they snagged a field goal to keep the lead 20–10. A Mel Gray 33-yard return got the Lions at their 38. Three consecutive Sanders rushes awarded them two first downs, but they settled for a 48-yard field goal which Eddie Murray drilled to extend his streak to 15 straight field goals. Time on the clock expired with the Bears up 20–13 going into halftime.[38]

The Bears received the second half kickoff and wasted no time scoring with Anderson breaking off a 53-yard run that ended in the endzone. After a return that netted the Lions 38 yards after penalties to start at their own 47. After a Sanders first down, Gagliano targeted Clark in the endzone that wasn't caught, but Clark was interfered with by Lorenzo Lynch in the endzone, setting the Lions at the Bears' 1-yard line. Gagliano rushed into the endzone after faking it to Sanders with the score at 20–30. The Bears kept on producing big plays, with a Tomczak 43-yard pass to Ron Morris being completed. The Bears settled for a 25-yard field goal. On their next drive, Gagliano attempted to get the ball to Clark but was intercepted by Lynch who brought it back to the Lions 34. This interception ended a 9-drive consecutive streak of scoring. The Bears got a first down on the first play, but were stopped on 3rd down to settle for a 32-yard field goal to bring the Bears lead to 33–20. The Lions took their next drive into the fourth quarter, where an errant pass by Gagliano was intercepted at the Bears 15-yard line. The Lions defense forced the first punt by the Bears offense 51 minutes into the game. The Lions started their drive on their own 49, and, after a Gagliano sack, a 12-yard run play by Tony Paige got them across midfield. Gagliano once again turned the ball over on an interception, his third in as many consecutive drives. Rookie John Roper made the interception with Gagliano making the touchdown saving tackle at their own 10-yard line. The Bears quickly scored to go up 40–20. The Lions received the ball with 5:47 left to play. On the first play of their new drive, Gagliano completed a pass to Walter Stanley for 14-yards, but Stanley fumbled the ball which was recovered by corner Vestee Jackson. Due to the blowout, Jim Harbaugh came in to replace Tomczak. After a pass interference penalty but the Bears on the Lions 1, Harbaugh ran it in for a touchdown to mount the Bears lead to 47–27. A 62-yard kickoff return by Paul Palmer got the Lions on the Bears 35-yard line. The Lions scored on 4 plays, bringing the final score to 47–27 in favor of the Bears.[38]

In Week 4, the Lions hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was the first start for rookie quarterback Rodney Peete. The Lions received the ball on the opening kickoff, but punted it away after not gaining a first down. The Steelers did the same, punting after going three-and-out. The Lions second drive started with a pass interference on Pittsburgh that set them up at their own 49. Peete's first pass attempt went for 3 yards to Richard Johnson. On 3rd & 7, Peete slung a 14-yard pass to Robert Clark that was ruled out of bounds. After a review by the replay official, the call was overturned and the Lions started with a fresh set of downs. A Richard Johnson rush took them eight yards, netting thirteen more yards on a late hit out of bounds by the Steelers. Barry Sanders lost four on a rush and gained it back before Peete was sacked on third down. The Lions settled for a field goal, with Eddie Murray bringing the score to 3–0 on a 37-yard field goal, his 16th in a row. Both teams traded multiple punts before the Lions got a drive going with 9:27 left in the second quarter. On third down, Peete completed a pass to Clark for eight before completing another pass to Johnson for 17-yards. A late flag on the 17-yard completion for two men in motion was called and brought the Lions back on their own 35. On the next play, Peete completed a pass to Clark that went for 46-yards, bringing them well into Pittsburgh territory at the 19-yard line. A pass interference penalty in the endzone set the Lions up at the 1-yard line. Peete handed it off to Sanders, who lost one yard and proceeded to fumble it to the Steelers. The Steelers, starting on their own two-yard line, quickly got out with a 7-yard pass from Bubby Brister to Louis Lipps. After two passes of 19-yards and 24-yards respectively, Brister completed a long 48-yard pass to Lipps in the back of the endzone for a touchdown. On their ensuing drive, Peete completed a pass to Johnson for 8 yards but Johnson fumbled it over to the Steelers. The Steelers quickly got into Detroit territory on a 31-yard reception from rookie Derek Hill got them to the Lions 24-yard line. The Steelers got down to the Lions 2-yard line, but a 1-yard loss on third down set up the 20-yard field goal, which Gary Anderson drilled to put the Steelers up 10–3 going into halftime.[39]

Starting the half with the ball, the Steelers punted it after going three-and-out. The two teams traded punts until an errant Peete pass was intercepted and returned to their 40-yard line. With new hope, Brister completed two passes for 11 yards and 16 yards respectively. A third down conversion brought them to the 1-yard line, where Warren Williams punched it in for the 17–3 lead. Trading punts again, the Lions began their drive on their own 20-yard line after bringing in Bob Gagliano to replace Peete. On his second drive, Gagliano completed a 15-yard pass to Stacey Mobley. On the next play, Gagliano targeted Walter Stanley on a pass that was intercepted by Dwayne Woodruff and brought back eight yards. Now at the Lions 38, the Steelers began another scoring drive. They capped it off with a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Ray Wallace. A subsequent 2-point conversion failed, bringing the score to 23–3 in favor of the Steelers. Nothing came of the five ensuing drives, sealing the 3–23 loss for the Lions.[39]

In Week 5, the Lions traveled to Minnesota to face off against division rival Minnesota Vikings. Having the opportunity to receive the game opening kickoff for the fifth time in as many games, the Lions were forced to a three-and-out. But they got the ball right back when fullback Rick Fenney fumbled on 3rd down, giving the Lions a chance to construct a drive in Minnesota territory. However, they failed to gain a yard and punted. Three straight punts put the Lions on Minnesota's 31. A 30-yard pass from Eric Hipple to Stacey Mobley set them up at Minnesota's 1-yard line where Hipple ran it in for the score to put the Lions up 7–0. With a chance to respond, Tommy Kramer moved the ball down the field into the second quarter to set up a 22-yard field goal by Rich Karlis to put the Vikings on the board down 3–7. On the Lions' ensuing drive, they began at their own 5-yard line. A Hipple pass to Robert Clark put them at their 12. However, an errant Hipple pass fell into the hands of Vikings linebacker Mike Merriweather who brought it to the endzone to put the Lions down 7–10. The Lions got the ball back on their own 21-yard line and looked poised to make up for that mistake. A handful of penalties carried the Lions into Minnesota territory. A Hipple 30-yard pass to Barry Sanders brought the Lions to Minnesota's 15. Looking for the endzone, Hipple quickly shot a pass intended for Walter Stanley, but Issiac Holt ran in front of the pass and intercepted it, bringing it back 90-yards for the pick-six to bring the Vikings lead to 17–7. After a three-and-out from the Lions, the Vikings orchestrated a 13 play drive to extend their lead on a Kramer pass to Brent Novoselsky to extend their lead to 24–7. The Lions got one more drive in the half to earn some points, moving the ball on back-to-back 15-yard plays and got down to the Minnesota 33. With five seconds left in the half, Eddie Murray kicked a 50-yard field goal to bring the score to 24–10 and his kicking streak to 17.[40]

The second half began with three straight punts, before the Lions punted on their second possession of the half. On the punt return, returner Leo Lewis fumbled the ball and turned it over to the Lions in Minnesota territory. The Lions moved closer to the endzone on a Sanders 18-yard rush to put them at Minnesota's 13. A Vikings penalty brought the Lions to the 6-yard line, before they were moved back on their own penalty. Hipple was then sacked and proceeded to throw an interception on third down which was brought back 48 yards. The Vikings started their next drive on the Lions 25-yard line. They inched closer and settled for a 29-yard field goal by Karlis, which missed wide right. With a chance to score, the Lions began their drive on their own 20-yard line. The Lions proceeded to take 19 plays to move 80 yards in 7:12 capped off by a Bob Gagliano 1-yard rush. On the succeeding Vikings drive, D. J. Dozier fumbled the ball on their own 40-yard line, setting the Lions up with prime opportunity to tie the game. On first down, Gagliano rushed 5 yards. On second down, Gagliano was sacked for a loss of seven. On third down, Gagliano was again sacked and lost four. On a game-deciding fourth down, Gagliano was once again sacked for a loss of 9, fumbling the ball which was returned 7 yards to the Lions 42-yard line.[40]

With the loss, the Lions fell to a 0–5 record, their first since the 1955 season.

In Week 6, the Lions visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the Buccaneers first drive, Joe Ferguson was intercepted at their own 47-yard line which was returned to the 38-yard line. On second down, Rodney Peete completed a pass over the middle to Walter Stanley for 20-yards. The Lions failed to convert another first down and settled for a Eddie Murray 28-yard field goal, extending his streak to 18. The Lions defense stepped up again to force a three-and-out. Getting the ball at their own 44, a Peete 9-yard rush and 14-yard completion to Stanley put them at Tampa Bay's 33-yard line. But a loss of 11-yards and incompletion was succeeded by a Peete interception at the Tampa Bay 20 which was brought back to the 36. The Buccaneers couldn't capitalize as the teams traded punts. The Lions took possession with 14:53 left in the first half at their own 16-yard line. They took the ball across midfield with help from a hit out of bounds penalty. With a fresh set of downs on the Buccaneers 43, Peete threw another interception which was brought back for a touchdown to put the Lions down 3–7. The Lions failed to make up for the interception and punted on their next drive. With a new drive, Tampa Bay lurched forward on a 13 play scoring drive that ended with a Donald Igwebuike 27-yard field goal. The Lions attempted to mount a drive with a little over 3 minutes left in the first half, making it into Tampa Bay territory with 1:30 left. However, pressure by defensive lineman Robert Goff forced an incompletion, leading the Lions to punt. The half ended with a three-and-out from Tampa Bay.[41]

The Lions took the second half kickoff and nearly fumbled it away immediately. On 2nd and 9, Peete was hit by Winston Moss who jarred the football loose. Peete was able to pick it up and get 4 yards, setting up a 3rd and 5. He then found Richard Johnson for 7 yards to keep the drive alive. Following this, Peete was sacked for a loss of 10 before he rushed for 7 yards to set them up for 3rd and 13. Peete found Stanley for 19 yards, extending their drive. The Lions crossed midfield on another 19-yard third down conversion. They capped off the drive with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Peete to Robert Clark, tying it at 10 apiece. After forcing a Tampa Bay three-and-out, the Lions immediately fumbled it on their own 30-yard line. However, the Buccaneers couldn't capitalize with a touchdown and instead went 19 yards in 7 plays, settling for an Igwebuike 34-yard field goal to go up 13–10. The teams traded punts before the Lions again fumbled, this time at the Buccaneers' 13-yard line. The Buccaneers, starting at their own 4, moved methodically down the field, grabbing five first downs and settling again for an Igwebuike field goal from 33-yards out to bring them to 16–10 with 1:45 left to play in the game. The Lions, with potentially their last opportunity to score, began at their own 24-yard line. Peete rushed for 8 yards on first down, but a false start penalty brought the Lions back to their own 27. On second down, Peete found Clark for 21 yards to their own 48-yard line with 1:02 to go. On the following first down, Peete once again found Clark for a 24 yard completion. With the clock at 0:55, Clark hauled in another pass from Peete, this time from 19-yards out. The Lions went 64 yards in 3 plays to end up at the Buccaneers 9-yard line. A Peete pass was overthrown to bring up second down. On second down, Stacey Mobley caught a pass from Peete for 4 yards. On third down, with 5 yards to go, Peete tried to connect with Clark in the corner of the endzone but it was overthrown, bringing up 4th down. With 29 seconds left in the game, Peete took the snap on 4th down and ran it into the endzone for the touchdown. The Murray extra point put the Lions up 17–16 in the waning seconds of the game. The Buccaneers had a chance to attempt to win, but two Ferguson incompletions sealed the game for the Lions in their first win of the season.[41]

In Week 7, the Lions hosted their division rival Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings defense held the Lions' to a three-and-out on the first drive of the game. The Lions punted from their own 7, leading to the Vikings getting the ball at their own 45. The Vikings slowly moved up with a Tommy Kramer pass to Jim Gustafson for 10 yards followed up later by another Kramer 10 yard pass to Alfred Anderson. The Lions stalled the Vikings, where they settled for a field goal to take the early 3–0 lead. On the kickoff, Barry Sanders returned the ball from the 4-yard line 45 yards to the Lions 49-yard line. However, two Detroit penalties nullified the return and brought them back to their own 12. The Lions tried to get back the yardage lost, but were unable to make it to midfield and punted. On the first play of the ensuing Vikings drive, Herschel Walker broke through for a big play of 34 yards. Further in the drive, the Vikings converted a third down for 17 yards before being stopped on the Lions 23, settling for another 40-yard field goal. On the next Lions drive, a third down handoff to Sanders went awry when he fumbled the ball on the Lion 17-yard line which was recovered by the Vikings. The Lions nearly prevented a touchdown, forcing a fourth and 1, but the Vikings punched it through with Walker, taking their lead to 13–0. The Lions moved into Vikings territory for the first time in the game with Rodney Peete's passes of 19, 14, and 13 respectively. However, a loss of 2 and 4 followed by an incompletion resulted in a punt. The next Vikings drive went nowhere, and a well placed punt set the Lions to start their drive on their own 6-yard line. Sanders immediately moved the Lions upfield with a 21-yard rush on the first play of the drive. A subsequent Vikings penalty pushed the Lions to their own 43. After the two minute warning and facing a 3rd and 3, Peete completed a 5-yard pass to Richard Johnson which extended their drive. Two passes to Robert Clark for 17 and 11 respectively in the waning seconds of the half put the Lions at the Vikings 5-yard line. With 20 seconds left in the half, Peete threw a pass incomplete on 1st and 5. However, he had passed the line of scrimmage before passing, which resulted in a penalty. On second down, the Vikings committed a pass interference penalty which put the Lions on the Vikings 1-yard line with 8 seconds left in the half. On the next play, Peete dropped back to pass but was sacked and fumbled which was recovered by the Vikings to close out the half.[42]

The Vikings punted to start the second half. They got the ball back immediately when, on the Lions' first play of the half, Peete targeted Clark downfield but the pass was intercepted at the Vikings 23 and was brought back to midfield. Kramer immediately passed to Steve Jordan which was completed for 27 yards. On the next play, Walker rushed 16 yards to bring the Vikings to the Lions 7-yard line. On third down, Anderson rushed 4 yards into the endzone to bring the Vikings lead to 20–0. Both teams punted three times, with the Lions taking possession with 7:43 left in the first quarter. They instantly moved down the field with a Vikings pass interference penalty which brought them 45 yards to the Vikings 35. A holding penalty set them back 5 and an incompletion moved it to 2nd and 15. On the next play, Peete found Clark for a 31-yard gain to bring them into the redzone at the Vikings 9. The Lions were stopped on third down before Peete ran into the end zone for the touchdown to put the Lions on the board down 7–20. The onside kick failed and the Vikings took control in Lions territory. With backup quarterback Wade Wilson coming into the game, he completed a pass to Hassan Jones for 5 yards, but Jones fumbled it over to the Lions. With more than four minutes to go in the game, the Lions attempted a comeback, moving into Vikings territory with a 25-yard pass from Peete to Clark. However, they couldn't convert a third down which brought up a 4th and 14 at the Vikings 45. On the snap, Peete couldn't find anyone open and scrambled to avoid pressure. After escaping the pressure, he found a receiver downfield. However, as he was beginning to pass, he dropped the ball, being recovered by the Vikings for a fumble recovery. The Vikings ran out the rest of the clock to set in stone their 20–7 win.[42]

In Week 8, the Lions traveled to Milwaukee to play against the Green Bay Packers. The Lions received the opening kickoff. Rodney Peete immediately found Walter Stanley for 17 yards. But they wouldn't convert another first down and punted. The Packers lurched forward to cross midfield on a 13 yard Don Majkowski pass to Herman Fontenot. The Packers ended their drive on the Lions 31 where Chris Jacke launched a 49-yard field goal in between the uprights to take the early 3–0 lead. The Lions were able to answer on the next drive, only having to convert one third down before Peete completed a 6-yard pass to Richard Johnson for the touchdown to go up 7–3. On the Packers chance to respond, Majowski found Perry Kemp for a 39-yard gain to bring them to the Lions 27 yard line. However, on the very next play, a ball caught by Keith Woodside was fumbled, giving the Lions the ball on the 27-yard line. The Lions moved the ball slowly across the field, converting two third downs with two plays of 17 and 10 yards. Stalling at the Packers 25-yard line, the Lions settled for a 42-yard field goal which Eddie Murray drilled to extend the Lions lead to 10–3 and his kicking streak to 19. With a Packers punt, the Lions kept rolling. A Barry Sanders 27 yard rush brought the Lions 1 yard away from midfield, which they crossed to settle at the Packers 7-yard line with 2:28 left in the first half. A incomplete pass from Peete to Johnson set up 2nd and goal. On 2nd and goal, Sanders rushed into the endzone for the touchdown. However, a flag on illegal blocking instead sent the Lions to convert a 2nd and goal from the Packers 22. Peete tried to find Robert Clark near the end zone but the pass fell incomplete. On third down, Sanders found six yards to set up the 34-yard field goal attempt. On the kick attempt that would extend Murray's streak to 20 straight field goals, the ball leaned left and banged off the left upright, ending Murray's streak. The Packers took over on the Lions 20-yard line and immediately began moving the ball with Majowski taking control of the ball on every play of the drive. He passed for 12 yards, then rushed for 9 yards, then passed three times in a row for 14, 9, and 3 yards. He threw incomplete and then took a sack. On the four yard line, Majowski found rookie Jeff Query in the endzone to tie the game at 10–10 at the end of the first half.[43]

Beginning the second half with the ball, the Packers took 9 plays to end up at the Lions 4-yard line, kicking a 21-yard field goal to put the Packers up 13–10. The Lions were forced to a three-and-out and punted. The Packers began moving the ball again with an 11-yard pass to begin the drive. On a 2nd and 10 on the Lions 39-yard line, Majowski threw an interception which was returned 29 yards. However, the Lions committed a holding penalty which overturned the interception. The Packers would then extend their drive by converting a 3rd and 7 with a Majowski pass to Sterling Sharpe for 26-yards. On the next play, Packers running back Michael Haddix found the endzone for the touchdown. But a face mask penalty set the Packers to the 10-yard line. The Lions defense stepped up to force a third down, but Majowski found Sharpe for the 2-yard touchdown to put the Packers up 2 scores with a 20–10 lead. Both teams punted before the Lions found life on a 21-yard pass from Peete to Keith McDonald. But the Lions couldn't muster up more than a yard and settled for a Murray 46-yard field goal, which was made to put the Lions within seven at 13–20. Both teams punted again with the Packers taking possession on their 10-yard line. After a rush for no gain, Majowski threw an interception that was returned 16 yards to the Packers 1-yard line. With the Lions looking to tie the game, a Sanders rush lost a yard along with a holding penalty to put the Lions at the 11-yard line. On a new first down, Sanders lost three yards. On second down, Peete scrambled to the endzone to tie the game at 20–20. Looking for a score, the Packers took their next drive into the two-minute warning. However, a 4th and 9 forced them to punt with 1:44 left in the game. The Lions looked poised to score when Sanders rushed 31-yards downfield to set up a first down at the Packers 39 yard line. Another Sanders rush got them three yards. But on second down, Peete fumbled the ball, being recovered at the Packers 45-yard line to turn the ball over with 44 seconds to play in the game. Majowski was sacked for a loss of 1 before a penalty pushed them back to their own 34. Attempting to convert a 2nd and 21, Majowski scrambled up the middle for 11-yards. On 3rd and 10, Majowski found Query for 14-yards. The Packers were at the Lions 41-yard line with 13 seconds left in the game before Majowski completed a pass to Brent Fullwood to set up the potential 50-yard game winning field goal. On the attempt, Jacke missed the kicked wide right as time expired to bring up overtime.[43]

The Lions won the overtime coin flip and elected to receive the ball. With a chance to end the game with this drive, Peete passed for Stanley but was intercepted by Mark Murphy and returned 3 yards to the Lions 26-yard line. After review, the interception stood and the Packers took the field in prime position to win the game. The Packers got 5 yards across 3 plays before setting up to kick the 38-yard field goal. This time, the ball went through the uprights to clinch the victory for the Packers at 23–20.[43]

In Week 9, the Lions traveled to Houston to play the Houston Oilers. The Lions received the game opening kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, Rodney Peete avoided pressure and launched a deep pass to a wide open Robert Clark for a 47-yard gain to reach the Houston 36-yard line. A Barry Sanders 11-yard rush and a 10-yard rush got them to the Houston 15. On 3rd and 8 on the Houston 13, Sanders rushed right for a 12-yard gain to end up at the Houston 1. Two rushes for no gain forced a third down where Sanders cut up the middle for the score to put the Lions up 7–0. On the ensuing kickoff, returner Lorenzo White took the kickoff 70 yards to the Lions 25-yard line. However, an offsides penalty against the Oilers nullified the return, with a re-kick setting Houston up at their own 25. On that drive, Warren Moon completed a pass to Ernest Givins for 32 yards to cross midfield. The Oilers moved further down the field, converting a crucial 4th and 1 to keep the drive alive. On 2nd and 7 from the Lions 14, the Oilers went for the end zone on a Moon pass to Givins that wound up incomplete. However, pass interference was called on the Lions to set the Oilers up at the 1-yard line. On first down, White punched into the end zone to tie the game at 7 apiece. After a Lions punt, the Oilers moved the ball across field with a 3rd down Moon pass to Curtis Duncan for 13 yards. But the replay official determined the pass to be incomplete. On the punt, a Lions defender ran into punter Greg Montgomery, giving the Oilers a fresh set of downs. After converting a first down, Moon tossed a pass to Drew Hill which was caught but fumbled and was returned 19 yards to the Oilers 49-yard line and the Lions took over. Peete converted a third down in Oilers territory which took them to their 32-yard line. On 2nd and 4, Peete hauled a pass for Richard Johnson for 15 yards. Sixteen yards away from scoring, on third down, Peete found an open Clark for the 16 yard touchdown. On Houston's responding drive, Moon soared a pass to Haywood Jeffires for 25 yards, then completed a pass to Hill for 18. Having to convert a 4th down and a 3rd down, the Oilers ended up at the Lions 6. The Lions defense held the Oilers offense back from the end zone, forcing 4th and goal from the Lions 1. On fourth down, Mike Rozier took the ball into the end zone to tie the game once again at 14. With the next Lions drive taking them into the two-minute warning, they started their drive at their own 10-yard line. A pass to Johnson gained 7, but a false start set them back 5. Another pass to Johnson gained 7, setting up a QB sneak to convert the 3rd and 1. A Peete pass to Stanley on 2nd down netted 18-yards before Peete and Clark connected on a 25-yard pass to bring the Lions to Houston's 27. With the clock winding down, the Lions settled for the 47-yard field goal which Eddie Murray drilled down the middle to send the Lions up 17–14 to end the first half.[44]

The Oilers received the ball to begin the second half. On the first play of the second half, Rozier took a handoff and fumbled it on the Houston 23. Lions defensive lineman Kevin Brooks recovered the fumbled and was tackled by Moon at the Houston 20. Brooks let go of the ball and was recovered by safety William White who ran it the 20 yards for the score to extend the Lions lead to 24–14. After a 28 yard return, the Oilers began their ensuing drive on their 43-yard line. Moon moved the ball downfield, settling in the red zone on a pass to Hill for 25-yards. On 3rd and 6 on the Lions 6, Moon dropped a pass into the hands of Givins in the back of the end zone to pull the Oilers within 3 at 21–24. The Lions were unable to get the ball rolling on the next drive and punted. The Oilers began their next drive on their own 22, but quickly marched across midfield with back-to-back passes to Givins and Duncan for 17 and 24-yards respectively. On a 3rd and 3, the Lions stopped Alonzo Highsmith short of the first down marker to bring up 4th and 1. The Oilers went for it, getting well over the first down with an 8-yard rush down to the Lions 12. A pair of penalties against Houston followed by a 15-yard pass to Hill set up 3rd and 5 on the 7. Moon connected with Hill again for the go-ahead touchdown to put Houston up 28–24. After a Lions punt, Moon threw an interception on the first play of their new drive, giving the Lions the ball at their own 37. But the Lions would give the ball right back after a pass from Peete to Clark went for 22 and Clark was hit by Steve Brown who jarred the football loose. Houston then went on a long drive that took up 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, capping it off in the end zone with a Moon rushing touchdown on 4th and goal to extend their lead to 35–24. With the ball down 11 with 3:15 left in the fourth, the Lions took their drive past the two-minute warning. Two passes from Peete went for 12-yards to bring them across midfield. A Sanders rush that went for 1 and two incompletions set up a 4th and 9 at the Oilers 44. On the deciding fourth down play, Peete hit Clark over the middle for a gain of 19 yards. Peete then hit Stanley for 11 before handing the ball off to Sanders who drove it 14-yards for the touchdown to bring the Lions closer at 31–35. With 1:41 left in the game, the Lions failed to convert the onside kick and the Oilers got the ball at the Lions 28. With two rushes for 2-yards, the Oilers got down to a 3rd and 6. On the play, Moon completed a pass to Duncan for 9 yards, but the ball was forced out by Bruce Alexander and returned 35 yards to the midfield line. With new hope and 1:16 left to play, the Lions began a potential game-winning drive. Peete threw the first down play away before a Lions penalty set them back 5 yards. On 2nd and 15, Peete found Keith McDonald for 13 to make it a manageable 3rd and 2. But another Lions penalty set them back 5 yards. On the 3rd and 7, Peete attempted to find Clark, but the pass was broken up by Patrick Allen with Tracey Eaton nabbing the game-losing interception to seal it for the Lions 31–35.[44]

In Week 10, the Lions hosted their division rival Green Bay Packers. The Lions won the coin toss and took the opening kickoff. After three straight punts, the Packers fumbled on their own 38, turning it over to the Lions. The Lions offense couldn't get a first down, electing to kick a 45-yard field goal which Eddie Murray drilled to take the early 3–0 lead. An ensuing Packers drive ended with a Majkowski interception on the Lions 46-yard line. With one Barry Sanders rush for 15 yards, the Lions crossed midfield. A 13-yard pass from Rodney Peete to Richard Johnson. Two plays later, Peete found Johnson in the end zone to stretch their lead to 10–0. The Packers converted one first down but were unable to convert another and punted. On the return, Walter Stanley returned from his own 13-yard line and ran up the field for a 74-yard return to set up the Lions drive at the Packers 13. Peete found Johnson again in the end zone to extend their lead to 17–0. The Packers responded by crossing midfield on a Majkowski pass to Sterling Sharpe that netted them 21-yards. Two completions combined for 33 yards to bring them into the red zone. The Lions forced the Packers to kick a 34-yard field goal which Chris Jacke drilled to put the Packers on the board 3–17. After a Lions punt in Packers territory, the Packers completed a 14 yard pass from their own 5 to take them to their 19. On 3rd and 10, a Majkowski pass intended for Jeff Query was tipped and intercepted by Jerry Holmes and taken to the end zone. On the extra point attempt, Murray completed it for his 900th career point. The Packers responded by driving across midfield with 0:06 left in the game. Jacke attempted a 52-yard field goal, but was missed wide right to keep the score at 24–3 going into halftime.[45]

After two punts to start the first half, the Packers took a drive that started at the 50-yard line down to the Lions 7-yard line. After Keith Woodside fumbled the ball on first down, the Lions failed to recover and Woodside grabbed the ball. On the next play, Majkowski completed a pass to Michael Haddix for the 6-yard touchdown to bring the score to 24–10. On the next Lions possession, Peete overthrew Johnson on a pass that was intercepted and brought to their own 34. The Packers offense took 5 plays to reach the end zone on a Vince Workman 1-yard rush to bring the Packers within 7 at 17–24. The Lions defense held the Packers to a punt on their next drive. On the punt return, Stanley ran 30 yards across midfield, but fumbled at the Packers 29-yard line, being recovered by the Packers. The Packers took the ball 40 yards in nine plays, settling for a Jacke 40-yard field goal to keep the score close at 20–24. The Lions punted on their next drive but immediately got the ball back when Haddix fumbled the ball, being recovered by the Lions to the Packers 41-yard line. The Lions took their drive to the endzone on a Sanders lateral from Peete for the 1-yard touchdown. The Packers began their long drive with 8:34 left in the game. They converted three third downs in their own territory, crossing it on a Majkowski pass to Carl Bland went for 22 yards. The Packers offense got down to the Lions 5-yard line to set up a game-deciding 4th and 5 with a little over 2 minutes remaining. Majkowski found Query in the end zone that went through his hands, sealing the game after Peete ran out of the back of the endzone to run the clock out to bring up a final score of 31–22.[45]

In Week 11, the Lions visited the reigning AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. The Lions won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. On their first drive, facing a 3rd and 7, Rodney Peete found Robert Clark for a 69 yard gain to the Bengals 2-yard line. On the next play, Barry Sanders punched in the 2-yard rushing touchdown to put the Lions up 7–0 in less than 60 seconds. After two punts, the Bengals began their second drive. Boomer Esiason found wide receiver Eddie Brown and tight end Rodney Holman to bring the Bengals to the Lions 28-yard line. On 1st and 10, Esiason passed for Tim McGee in the end zone that was intercepted by Jerry Holmes. The Lions began their new drive on their own 20. They got down to their own 43 when a Richard Johnson fumbled on a run play. The Bengals were able to recover, starting their drive at the Lions 45. An Esiason pass to McGee for 25 instantly put them in the red zone. A Lions penalty put them on the Lions 17 on 3rd down. On the next play, Esiason found McGee in the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7 apiece. The Lions were held to a three-and-out and punted. The ensuing Bengals drive saw them convert a third down and a fourth down, ending with a 3-yard Craig Taylor rush into the end zone to put the Bengals up 14–7. With a chance to respond, the Lions fumbled the ball away on their next drive which was recovered by the Bengals and brought to their own 1-yard line. Esiason found Taylor in the end zone to stretch the Bengals lead to 21–7. The Lions were once again held to a three-and-out. The punt was subsequently blocked by Eric Thomas and recovered in the end zone by Barney Bussey for the Bengals' fourth touchdown of the quarter. The Lions were held to their third three-and-out of the game, and punted. Cincinnati threatened to score with 0:06 left in the game on a 49-yard field goal, but kicker Jim Breech didn't have the leg and missed it short, keeping the score at 28–7 going into halftime.[46]

The Bengals received the ball to open the second half and immediately threatened to score when an Esiason pass to McGee went for 55 yards. On the next play, running back James Brooks fumbled on the Lions 17-yard line, turning it over. The Lions were held to another three-and-out, and punted on 4th and 1. The Bengals moved quickly down the field, not having to face a second down until they were at the Lions 25-yard line. After converting a 3rd down, they faced another on 3rd and goal from the Lions 15. Esiason found Mike Martin in the end zone for the 15-yard touchdown. The Lions punted before Cincinnati turned the ball over on down on the Lions 37-yard line. Both teams punted before a 21-yard punt return started the Lions next drive on their own 45. A Bob Gagliano 17-yard pass to Mel Gray converted the 1st first down for the Lions since the first quarter. They made it to 4th and 1 on the Bengals 16 when Sanders ran for 7 yards to convert the first down. However, offsetting penalties made the teams repeat the 4th and 1. Sanders converted it again but fumbled, turning it over. Both teams were unable to score until Cincinnati scored on a 41-yard pass from rookie Erik Wilhelm to rookie Kendal Smith put the final score at 42–7.[46]

In Week 12, the Lions hosted the Cleveland Browns in their annual Thanksgiving game. The Lions received the kickoff but couldn't convert a first down after a Barry Sanders 23-yard rush and punted. The Browns punted on a three-and-out before the Lions were faced with a 3rd and 7 from their own 46. On the play, Bob Gagliano found Sanders for a 46-yard play. On 1st and goal from the Browns 8, Sanders fumbled the ball forward through the end zone where it was recovered by the Browns for a touchback. After three consecutive punts, the Lions drew blood first with a 39-yard field goal made by Eddie Murray after an 8 play drive to put the Lions ahead 3–0. The Browns responded by driving downfield to score on a 35-yard field goal to tie it at 3 apiece. The Lions started their next drive at their own 38 due to a 36-yard return by Mel Gray. Two Gagliano passes to Jason Phillips for 19 and 10 brought them across midfield. After a delay of game set up a 1st and 15 on the Browns 27, Gagliano found Richard Johnson in the end zone for the touchdown. The Browns were able to respond with the help of a Bernie Kosar 24-yard pass to Reggie Langhorne. Facing a 3rd and 3 at the Lions 38, Barry Redden ran up the seam and to the end zone for the 38-yard touchdown to put the halftime score at 10–10.[47]

Beginning the second half with three punts, the Lions began their next scoring drive at their own 20. Sanders ran twice for 15 and 9, crossing midfield on the back of a personal foul penalty on the Browns. The Lions got down to the Browns 15-yard line but stalled, opting for a 35-yard field goal to take the lead 13–10. The Browns got to midfield on their next drive. On 1st and 10 from the 50, Kosar completed a pass to Webster Slaughter for 30-yards. Slaughter, on a hit by Bennie Blades, fumbled the ball to the Lions who recovered it on their own 21. The Lions went three-and-out and punted. The Bears looked poised to score when they crossed midfield on a 15-yard pass from Kosar to Ozzie Newsome. They got to the Lions 26 on 4th down and opted for the Matt Bahr 44-yard field goal. However, Bahr missed wide right to keep the score at 13–10. The Lions went three-and-out again before the next Browns drive ended on a turnover on downs. The Lions ran the clock down and punted with 23 seconds left in the game. With 10 seconds remaining, Kosar attempted a pass to Slaughter that was intercepted by Holmes and nearly ended in a touchdown when he was tackled at the one yard line. This sealed the 13–10 win for the Lions.[47]

In Week 13, the Lions hosted the New Orleans Saints. After the Saints received the opening kickoff, three straight three-and-outs gave the Lions the ball at their own 22. A Rodney Peete pass to Richard Johnson netted 27 yards that took them across midfield. On a 3rd and 15 from the Saints 45, Peete found Walter Stanley for a gain of 37 yards at the Saints 8. Two plays of 1 yard each set the Lions up with 3rd and goal from the Saints 6. After taking the snap, Peete was unable to find a target and ran into the end zone for the touchdown, opening up the scoring with the Lions ahead 7–0. On the first play of the next Saints possession, quarterback Bobby Hebert found tight end Hoby Brenner for 15 yards before Brenner lost the ball when hit, turning it over to the Lions in Saints territory. Peete was sacked on the first play before throwing an interception that bounced off of Robert Clark's hands. The Saints went three-and-out on their possession before the Lions handed the ball back on a bad snap that Peete fumbled. The Saints took advantage, advancing 34 yards in 8 plays to punch in the 1-yard rushing touchdown from Dalton Hilliard to even the score at 7–7. The Lions responded with a Sanders 46-yard rush to put them at the Saints 36. On 3rd and 13, Peete found Johnson for 36 yards to advance to the Saints 3. Sanders took one play to run into the end zone to take the lead 14–7. On the kickoff, Bobby Morse took the ball out from the 1-yard line, running up the left side of the field for the 99-yard kickoff return touchdown to tie it up 14–14. Three punts later led to the Saints beginning a drive on their own 49. They took the drive into Lions territory and chose to kick a field goal with 0:18 left in the half. Morten Andersen missed wide right on the 48-yard attempt to keep the score at 14–14 leading into the half.[48]

Both teams punted twice to start the second half. The Lions began their third drive of the second half on their own 15-yard line. They converted a first down with two Sanders rushes before Bob Gagliano, substituting for the injured Peete, found Johnson for the 75-yard touchdown pass to put the Lions up 21–14. Both teams punted before the Saints found themselves inside Lions territory moving into the fourth quarter. After reaching the Lions 7, a false start penalty moved them to the 12-yard line. Hebert, on 2nd down, tried to find Lonzell Hill in the end zone but the pass was batted up and almost intercepted by Jerry Holmes. On third down, Hebert tried to find Rod Harris in the end zone, but this time it was intercepted by Holmes for a Lions touchback. Both teams punted twice, including a Saints punt with 4:11 left. The Lions were successfully able to run out the clock, getting down to the Saints 1-yard line with 1:01 left. However, they chose to kneel the ball, securing the 21–14 win.[48]

After making his first field goal, Chicago kicker Kevin Butler missed two in a row.

In Week 14, the Lions visited their division rival Chicago Bears. The Lions received the opening kickoff but went three-and-out and punted. The Bears began their first drive on the Lions 47. They took one play with a 18-yard pass from Mike Tomczak to Brad Muster to cross midfield. The Bears got down to the Lions 5-yard line and settled for a 22-yard field goal to take the first lead of the game at 3–0. After two punts, Bob Gagliano threw an interception on the first play, with the Bears starting their drive on the Lions 28-yard line. Moving only two yards, Bears kicker Kevin Butler tried a 43-yard field but missed it wide right, keeping the lead at 3–0. On their next drive, the Lions moved across midfield with a Gagliano pass to Walter Stanley that went for 16 yards. On 1st and 10 from the Bears 36 yard line, Gagliano completed a pass to Barry Sanders for 12 yards. The ball was forced out by a Bears defender, but was recovered by Jason Phillips. A Sanders 10-yard rush set up the Gagliano 14-yard rushing touchdown to take the lead 7–3. A Bears punt set the Lions up to start on their own 19. A Gagliano 24-yard pass to Robert Clark got them to their 43, and a Barry Sanders 30-yard rush set up his own 18-yard rushing touchdown to put the Lions up 14–3. The Bears responded when Jim Harbaugh, replacing an injured Tomczak, was unable to convert a 3rd and 23, with the Bears punting. On the return, punt returner Stanley fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Bears to keep their drive alive. The Bears scored on a Muster 11-yard rushing touchdown to bring the Bears within 4. The Lions responded by bringing their lead to 7 on an Eddie Murray 45-yard field goal to bring the halftime score to 17–10.[49]

The Lions forced a three-and-out to make the Bears punt. The Lions then took the ball 72 yards across 11 plays, capped off by a Sanders 3-yard rushing touchdown. The Bears crossed midfield on their next drive but were forced to punt. The Lions were forced to a three-and-out and punted. On the punt return, Bears returner Dennis McKinnon fumbled it, turning it over to the Lions on the Bears' 30-yard line. With a drive crossing into the fourth quarter, the Lions settled for a field goal on the Bears 10-yard line which Murray punched through to give the Lions their 27–10 lead. After a Bears interception by Harbaugh, the Lions were forced to a three-and-out. On the punt, Jim Arnold punted the ball into the back of a Lions player which traveled 10 yards backwards out of bounds. The Bears started on the Lions 41-yard line. Four straight Harbaugh passes brought them to the Lions 11-yard line. Neal Anderson took the ball 10 of the remaining 11-yards, including the 1-yard touchdown to put the Lions lead at 27–10. The Lions punted on three-and-out, and the Bears took their drive into the two-minute warning. With 0:57 remaining in the game, the Bears attempted to bring the game within a touchdown lead, but Butler missed the 37-yard field goal, solidifying the 27–17 win for the Lions.[49]

For their last divisional matchup of the season, the Lions hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions received the opening kickoff and took it across midfield and down to the goal line on a Barry Sanders 33-yard rush. They got into the end zone with a Bob Gagliano 2-yard pass to Richard Johnson to take the early 7–0 lead. The Lions nearly got the ball back when kick returner Sylvester Stamps fumbled, but it was recovered by a Buccaneer. The Bucs punted on their ensuing drive, as did the Lions on their next. On the first play of the Buccaneers' next drive, Vinny Testaverde fumbled the ball, being recovered by a Buccaneer. On the next play, Testaverde threw an interception to Jerry Holmes. The Lions took 3 plays for Gagliano to throw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jason Phillips to go up 14–0. The Bucs went three-and-out, with the Lions taking their drive into the second quarter. Down to the Bucs' 15-yard line, Eddie Murray kicked a 33-yard field goal. On the Bucs next drive, the Lions sacked Testaverde on third down, putting him out of the game and forcing the Bucs to punt. Both teams were held to a three-and-out in their following drives, with the Lions taking possession on their own 41. Two first down passes from Gagliano to Phillips brought them across midfield. Sanders ran three times in a row, including the 4-yard touchdown to take the 24–0 lead. On the Bucs next drive, Joe Ferguson fumbled the ball to the Lions. The Lions took the ball down to the Bucs' 1-yard line, but Sanders fumbled on a rush and turned it over to end the half.[50]

The Lions held the Buccaneers to a three-and-out to start the second half. On the Lions next drive, they took 10 plays to end up at the Buccaneers 25-yard line, where Murray kicked a 43-yard field goal. The Buccaneers' next drive took them across midfield and to the Lions 24-yard line. They got down to the 22-yard line when, on 3rd and 8, Ferguson was intercepted on the Lions 2-yard line. The Lions got further from their endzone on a Sanders 11-yard rush. On Their own 35, Gagliano threw a batted pass that was intercepted at the Bucs 28-yard line. Both teams punted thrice as the game moved into the fourth quarter. Another Ferguson interception set the Lions up at their own 25. Chuck Long came into the game to replace Gagliano due to the blowout. Long led the Lions across midfield with Murray kicking a 35-yard field goal. A third Ferguson interception set the Lions up at the Bucs 30. Murray kicked his third field goal at the Lions 19 for a 36-yard field goal with 0:20 left in the game. The Bucs got the ball with 0:12 left in the game. On the first play, Ferguson found Mark Carrier for a 69-yard touchdown with time expiring, denying the Lions their first shutout since Week 7 in 1987 and finalizing the score at 33–7.[50]

For the final game of the season, the Lions traveled to Atlanta to play the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons received the opening kickoff and got into Lions' territory with a Chris Miller 30-yard pass to Ron Heller. On the Lions 25-yard line, Greg Davis tried a 42-yard field goal, but missed it wide right. On the Lions first drive, Barry Sanders led the Lions across midfield with an 11-yard rush. The Lions converted three straight first downs when, on 2nd and 10, Bob Gagliano found Richard Johnson for the 34-yard score. Following four straight punts, the Falcons took a scoring drive into the second quarter, allowing Davis to kick a 25-yard field goal to put the Falcons on the board 3–7. The Lions responded with a Gagliano 35-yard pass to Johnson that brought them to Atlanta's 34-yard line. After a 9-yard Gagliano pass to Robert Clark, Sanders ran up the middle for the 25-yard rushing touchdown. After three punts, an errant pass by Gagliano was intercepted, setting the Falcons up on the Lions' 40 going into the two-minute warning. The Falcons moved slowly down the field before scoring on a Miller 9-yard pass to Gene Lang to put the Falcons at 10–14 going into halftime.[51]

On the opening drive of the second half, Gagliano threw 6 straight passes, but was sacked on 3rd and 5. The Lions settled for a 39-yard field goal, which Murray drilled to put the Lions up 17–10. After a Falcons punt, Johnson fumbled on a pass on the first play of the drive. The Falcons punted, setting the Lions up on their own 35 to start their drive. A 24-yard pass from Gagliano to Johnson put the Lions in Falcons' territory. On 3rd and 3, Gagliano connected with Clark for 15 yards and a first down. On the next play, Sanders rushed for 17 yards and the touchdown, putting the Lions lead at 24–10. Two punts and a Miller interception later, the Lions took their next drive into the fourth quarter. They scored again on a Sanders rushing touchdown, this time from 18 yards out to take the 31–10 lead. The Falcons failed to score in Lions territory with a turnover on downs. After the Lions went three-and-out, Miller passed six straight times before the Falcons scored on a Keith Jones 1-yard rushing touchdown. The Falcons kicked onside with 4:37 left in the game. The ball was recovered by Falcons corner Robert Moore. On their next drive, they scored on a Miller 6-yard pass to Michael Haynes with 0:51 left in the game. The Falcons attempted another onside kick, but failed. The Lions ran the clock out to win 31–24 and clinch their 7–9 record.[51]

• Crompton, Samuel Etinde (2008). Barry Sanders. New York: Chelsea House. ISBN 9780791096673.