1999 Detroit Lions season

Offseason

1999 expansion draft

Main article: 1999 NFL expansion draft

NFL draft

Main article: 1999 NFL draft

Notes

• Detroit traded up from its second-round selection (39th) with Miami, receiving Miami's first-round selection (27th), which they had received from San Francisco, in return for Detroit's third- and fifth-round selections (70th and 142nd).
• Detroit traded up from a third-round selection (72nd) received from Baltimore as part of the trade of QB Scott Mitchell with Miami to the 70th pick, giving up a seventh-round selection (232nd) in return. Detroit had received the 232nd pick from Green Bay in exchange for RB Glyn Milburn.
• Detroit traded its fourth-round selection in 2000 to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' fifth-round selection (137th).

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

• Chairman and president – William Clay Ford Sr.

• Vice chairman – William Clay Ford Jr.

• Executive vice president and chief operating officer – Chuck Schmidt

• Vice president of player personnel – Ron Hughes

• Vice president of football administration – Larry Lee

• Vice president of stadium development and salary cap – Tom Lewand

• Director of pro scouting – Kevin Colbert

• Head coach – Bobby Ross

• Offensive coordinator – Sylvester Croom

• Quarterbacks – Jim Zorn

• Running backs – Frank Falks

• Wide receivers – Jerry Sullivan

• Tight ends – Danny Smith

• Offensive line – Jack Henry

• Offensive assistant – Stan Kwan

• Quality Control–Offense/Administrative Assistant – John Misciagna

• Defensive coordinator – Larry Peccatiello

• Defensive line – Brian Baker

• Linebackers – Gary Moeller

• Defensive backs – Richard Selcer

• Defensive assistant – Don Clemons

• Quality Control–Defense – Dennis Murphy

• Special teams – Chuck Priefer

• Special teams assistant – Stan Kwan

• Strength and conditioning – Bert Hill

• Assistant strength and conditioning – Rob Graf

Roster

Regular season

The season had an inauspicious beginning as future Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders suddenly retired on the eve of training camp. Undaunted, coach Bobby Ross led the Lions to a fast start, highlighted by a Week 9 win over the then 6–1 St. Louis Rams.

The following week, Ross made a questionable decision to go for a failed two-point conversion after a touchdown against Arizona. The game ended with Detroit trailing by four points in the red zone trying to score a game-winning touchdown. The Lions would lose at Green Bay the following week, but defeat Chicago at home to get back on track.

The following week, the Lions picked up the franchise's first win vs. Washington since 1965 and snapped an 18 game losing streak, putting the team at an 8–4 and in sole possession of the second seed in the NFC. However, the Lions collapsed down the stretch and lost their last four regular season games to finish 8–8.

Two other NFC teams—the Packers and Carolina Panthers—finished 8–8, but the Lions beat the Panthers 24–9 in Week 7 and they held the conference record tiebreaker over the Packers, thus allowing Detroit to make the playoffs as the sixth seed despite losing their final four games.

This would be the Lions' last playoff appearance until the 2011 season.

Schedule

Standings

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card Game: at (#3) Washington Redskins

First quarter

• WAS – Stephen Davis 1-yard run (Brett Conway kick), 9:09. ''Redskins 7–0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:38.'''''
• WAS – Stephen Davis 4-yard run (Brett Conway kick), 2:28. ''Redskins 14–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 87 yards, 3:36.''''' Second quarter
• WAS – Brett Conway 33-yard field goal, 13:50. ''Redskins 17–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards, 1:55.'''''
• WAS – Brett Conway 23-yard field goal, 9:50. ''Redskins 20–0. '''Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 2:53.'''''
• WAS – Albert Connell 30-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Brett Conway kick), 1:19. ''Redskins 27–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 82 yards, 3:36.''''' Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• DET – Ron Rice 94-yard return of blocked field goal (pass failed), 9:23. Redskins 27–6.
• DET – Ron Rivers 5-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Jason Hanson kick), 0:00. ''Redskins 27–13. '''Drive: 12 plays, 90 yards, 2:35.''''' Top passers
• DET – Gus Frerotte – 21/46, 251 yards, TD, 2 INT
• WAS – Brad Johnson – 15/31, 174 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• DET – Cory Schlesinger – 7 rushes, 23 yards
• WAS – Stephen Davis – 15 rushes, 119 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
• DET – Herman Moore – 3 receptions, 69 yards
• WAS – Larry Centers – 7 receptions, 61 yards

References

References

1. [http://www.footballoutsiders.com/walkthrough/2004/skin-teeth-worst-playoff-teams-ever Football Outsiders: Skin of the Teeth: The Worst Playoff Teams Ever]