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1970 Detroit Lions season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Detroit Lions |
| year | 1970 |
| record | 10–4 |
| division_place | 2nd NFC Central |
| coach | Joe Schmidt |
| stadium | Tiger Stadium |
| playoffs | Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1970-71-nfl-playoffs) |
| (at [Cowboys](1970-dallas-cowboys-season)) 0–5 | |
| shortnavlink | Lions seasons |
(at Cowboys) 0–5 The 1970 Detroit Lions season was the 41st season in franchise history. With a record of 10–4, their best in eight years, the Lions finished in second place in the NFC Central and qualified for the playoffs as the NFC's first ever Wildcard team. Detroit made the postseason for the first time since their championship season in 1957 (they played in three post-season runner-up games (Playoff Bowl) in 1960, 1961, and 1962 and won all three).
One unusual loss during the regular season was at New Orleans in Week 8. The Lions led by a point with only two seconds left, but Saints kicker Tom Dempsey booted a then-record 63-yard field goal as time expired to give the Saints a 19–17 win.
In the divisional round of the playoffs at the Cotton Bowl, the Lions fell 5–0 to the Dallas Cowboys in the lowest scoring game in NFL playoff history, and the first without a touchdown in twenty years.
NFL draft
| 17 | 435 | Jesse Marshall | Defensive tackle | Centenary |
|---|
Roster
| Detroit Lions roster |
|---|
| **Quarterbacks** |
Regular season
Schedule
| Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Week | Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Date | Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Result | Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Record | Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Venue | Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Detroit Lions | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 20 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1970-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 40–0 | 1–0 | Lambeau Field | 56,263 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197009200gnb.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 27 | [Cincinnati Bengals](1970-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **W** 38–3 | 2–0 | Tiger Stadium | 58,202 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197009270det.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[Chicago Bears](1970-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 28–14 | 3–0 | Tiger Stadium | 58,210 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010050det.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 11 | at [Washington Redskins](1970-washington-redskins-season) | **L** 10–31 | 3–1 | RFK Stadium | 50,414 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010110was.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 18 | at [Cleveland Browns](1970-cleveland-browns-season) | **W** 41–24 | 4–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 83,577 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010180cle.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 25 | at **Chicago Bears** | **W** 16–10 | 5–1 | Wrigley Field | 45,632 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010250chi.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1 | **[Minnesota Vikings](1970-minnesota-vikings-season)** | **L** 17–30 | 5–2 | Tiger Stadium | 58,210 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011010det.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 8 | at [New Orleans Saints](1970-new-orleans-saints-season) | **L** 17–19 | 5–3 | Tulane Stadium | 66,910 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011080nor.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 15 | at **Minnesota Vikings** | **L** 20–24 | 5–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011150min.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 22 | [San Francisco 49ers](1970-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **W** 28–7 | 6–4 | Tiger Stadium | 56,232 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011220det.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | [Oakland Raiders](1970-oakland-raiders-season) | **W** 28–14 | 7–4 | Tiger Stadium | 56,597 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011260det.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 6 | [St. Louis Cardinals](1970-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **W** 16–3 | 8–4 | Tiger Stadium | 56,362 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012060det.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Los Angeles Rams](1970-los-angeles-rams-season) | **W** 28–23 | 9–4 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 79,441 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012140ram.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 20 | **Green Bay Packers** | **W** 20–0 | 10–4 | Tiger Stadium | 57,387 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012200det.htm) |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Season summary
Week 3
Standings
Playoffs
- Scoring
- DAL – field goal Clark 26 DAL 3–0
- DAL – Safety, Andrie tackled Landry in end zone DAL 5–0
References
References
- "Detroit Lions (1934-Present)".
- (November 9, 1970). "Saints upset Lions, 19-17 on Dempsey's 63-yard FG". Ludington Daily News.
- Rappaport, Ken. (November 9, 1970). "Still plenty of foot in football". Reading Eagle.
- (December 27, 1970). "Colts, Cowboys advance in playoffs". Reading Eagle.
- (December 28, 1970). "Detroit looking ahead to 1971". Ludington Daily News.
- "1970 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com".
- "Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions - October 5th, 1970 - Pro-Football-Reference.com".
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