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1980 Detroit Lions season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Detroit Lions |
| year | 1980 |
| record | 9–7 |
| division_place | 2nd NFC Central |
| coach | Monte Clark |
| stadium | Pontiac Silverdome |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro_bowlers | {{Collapsible list |
| title | 3 |
| AP All-pros | {{Collapsible list |
| title | 2 |
| shortnavlink | Lions seasons |
|RB Billy Sims |DE Al Baker |K Eddie Murray | AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list | K Eddie Murray (1st team) | RB Billy Sims (2nd team) The 1980 Detroit Lions season was the 51st season in franchise history. As the result of their 2–14 1979 season, the Lions were able to select Heisman Trophy-winning Oklahoma Sooner halfback Billy Sims with the first pick in the NFL draft. In his rookie season, Sims rushed his way to the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award while carrying the Lions back to respectability.
After winning their first four games, the Lions stumbled down the stretch including costly 1-point losses to the Colts and lowly Cardinals, where Cardinals running back Nathan Micknick out ran the Lions newly signed, struggling linebacker Aidan Smith to put the Cardinals up by 1 in the closing minutes. While they vastly improved overall, finishing 9–7, the Lions narrowly lost the NFC Central Division title to the Minnesota Vikings by virtue of a conference record tiebreaker. The Lions won nine NFC games to the Vikings’ eight, but Minnesota had a better winning percentage in the conference. The Lions’ 1979 fifth-place finish meant they played two extra NFC games, resulting in five conference losses to the Vikings' four losses. The Lions managed to compile their first winning season since 1972. And first since moving to the Pontiac Silverdome.
Offseason
Draft
Main article: 1980 NFL draft
Roster
- Doug English DT (Ret.) [[File:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
Regular season
In his NFL debut, Billy Sims had three touchdowns.
Schedule
| Detroit Lions | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Week | Detroit Lions | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Date | Detroit Lions | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Detroit Lions | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Result | Detroit Lions | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Record | Detroit Lions | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Venue | Detroit Lions | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 7 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1980-los-angeles-rams-season) | **W** 41–20 | 1–0 | Anaheim Stadium | 64,892 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 14 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1980-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 29–7 | 2–0 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 53,099 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 21 | [St. Louis Cardinals](1980-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **W** 20–7 | 3–0 | Pontiac Silverdome | 80,027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 28 | **[Minnesota Vikings](1980-minnesota-vikings-season)** | **W** 27–7 | 4–0 | Pontiac Silverdome | 80,291 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 5 | at [Atlanta Falcons](1980-atlanta-falcons-season) | **L** 28–43 | 4–1 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 57,652 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 12 | [New Orleans Saints](1980-new-orleans-saints-season) | **W** 24–13 | 5–1 | Pontiac Silverdome | 78,147 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 19 | at **[Chicago Bears](1980-chicago-bears-season)** | **L** 7–24 | 5–2 | Soldier Field | 58,508 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 26 | at [Kansas City Chiefs](1980-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 17–20 | 5–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 59,391 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 2 | [San Francisco 49ers](1980-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **W** 17–13 | 6–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 78,845 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 9 | at **[Minnesota Vikings](1980-minnesota-vikings-season)** | **L** 0–34 | 6–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,264 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 16 | [Baltimore Colts](1980-baltimore-colts-season) | **L** 9–10 | 6–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | 77,677 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 23 | at **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1980-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 24–10 | 7–5 | Tampa Stadium | 64,976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 27 | **[Chicago Bears](1980-chicago-bears-season)** | **L** 17–23 OT | 7–6 | Pontiac Silverdome | 75,397 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 7 | at [St. Louis Cardinals](1980-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **L** 23–24 | 7–7 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 46,966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 14 | **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1980-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 27–14 | 8–7 | Pontiac Silverdome | 77,098 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 21 | **[Green Bay Packers](1980-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 24–3 | 9–7 | Pontiac Silverdome | 75,111 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1 at Rams
First quarter
- LA – Drew Hill 98-yard kickoff return (kick failed). Rams 6–0.
- DET – Eddie Murray 52-yard field goal. ''Rams 6–3. '''Drive:'''''
- DET – Billy Sims 10-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). ''Lions 10–6. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
- LA – Cullen Bryant 1-yard run (Frank Corral kick). ''Rams 13–10. '''Drive:'''''
- LA – Elvis Peacock 1-yard run (Frank Corral kick). ''Rams 20–10. '''Drive:'''''
- DET – Billy Sims 1-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). ''Rams 20–17. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
- DET – Eddie Murray 38-yard field goal. ''Tie 20–20. '''Drive:'''''
- DET – Dexter Bussey 15-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). ''Lions 27–20. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
- DET – Billy Sims 41-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). ''Lions 34–20. '''Drive:'''''
- DET – Horace King 4-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). ''Lions 41–20. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
- DET – Gary Danielson – 10/19, 179 yards
- LA – Pat Haden – 13/24, 133 yards, 3 INT ;Top rushers
- DET – Billy Sims – 22 rushes, 153 yards, 3 TD
- LA – Elvis Peacock – 15 rushes, 67 yards, TD ;Top receivers
- DET – Billy Sims – 2 receptions, 64 yards
- LA – Preston Dennard – 4 receptions, 63 yards
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
;Top passers
- DET – Gary Danielson – 11/17, 246 yards, 1 TD
- GB – Lynn Dickey – 16/30, 174 yards, 1 INT ;Top rushers
- DET – Billy Sims – 20 rushes, 134 yards, 1 TD
- GB – Eddie Lee Ivery – 10 rushes, 31 yards, 1 TD ;Top receivers
- DET – Dexter Bussey – 5 receptions, 74 yards
- GB – James Lofton – 4 receptions, 73 yards
Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons
Passing
- Gary Danielson 23/36, 348 yards Rushing
- Gary Danielson 5–28, Billy Sims 14–21, Dexter Bussey 5–18, Horace King 2–5, Rick Kane 1–0 Receiving
- Leonard Thompson 3–129, Freddie Scott 5–107, Jesse Thompson 3–40, David Hill 3–39, Dexter Bussey 3–17, Rick Kane 2–15, Billy Sims 2–-5 Defense
- Ray Oldham INT, Walt Williams INT
Week 13
First quarter
- DET – Eddie Murray 34-yard field goal. ''Lions 3–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
- DET – Billy Sims 47-yard pass from Gary Danielson (Eddie Murray kick). ''Lions 10–0. '''Drive:'''''
- CHI – Bob Thomas 24-yard field goal. ''Lions 10–3. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
- DET – Gary Danielson 1-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). ''Lions 17–3. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
- CHI – Bob Fisher 20-yard pass from Vince Evans (Bob Thomas kick). ''Lions 17–10. '''Drive:'''''
- CHI – Vince Evans 4-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 0:00. ''Tie 17–17. '''Drive: 14 plays, 94 yards.''''' Overtime
- CHI – Dave Williams 94-yard kickoff return. Bears 23–17. ;Top passers
- CHI – Vince Evans – 11/22, 167 yards, TD
- DET – Gary Danielson – 9/21, 156 yards, TD ;Top rushers
- CHI – Walter Payton – 18 rushes, 123 yards
- DET – Billy Sims – 19 rushes, 72 yards ;Top receivers
- CHI – James Scott – 6 receptions, 106 yards
- DET – Ray Williams – 3 receptions, 50 yards
Awards and records
- Billy Sims, 1980 Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Billy Sims, 1980 UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year
- Billy Sims, Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year
References
References
- [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/det/lions.html Season summary and stats at Sports E Cyclopedia]
- Urena, Ivan; ''Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present'', p. 85 {{ISBN. 0786473517
- "Heisman Trophy".
- "1980 Detroit Lions Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
- Sports Illustrated, Oct. 27, 2008, p.24, Vol. 109, No. 16
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