2002 Detroit Lions season
NFL team season
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The 2002 season was the Detroit Lions' 73rd in the National Football League (NFL). It was the Lions’ inaugural season at the new Ford Field in Downtown Detroit and their first in the city since the team left Tiger Stadium after the 1974 season. Following the season, Marty Mornhinweg was fired and Steve Mariucci was hired as the Lions' head coach. The Lions entered the 2002 season looking to improve on their 2–14 record from 2001 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
| 2002 Detroit Lions season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | William Clay Ford Sr. |
| General manager | Matt Millen |
| Head coach | Marty Mornhinweg |
| Home stadium | Ford Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 3–13 |
| Division place | 4th NFC North |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | None |
| Uniform | |
They improved on their record, winning 3 games. However, the new stadium didn't help the team overall, and they continued to disappoint, beginning the season with three consecutive losses. By week 9, the Lions had a 3–5 record after a win over the Dallas Cowboys. However, after that win, the Lions lost their remaining 8 games to finish the season 3–13 and failed to reach the playoffs. The Lions also went 0–8 on the road for the second straight season. As a result, Marty Mornhinweg was fired after the season. In his 2 seasons as head coach, the Lions went 5–27 for a winning percentage of .156.
Offseason
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| G Ray Brown (49ers) | QB Charlie Batch (Steelers) |
| FS Corey Harris (Ravens) | LB Scott Kowalkowski (retirement) |
| WR Bill Schroeder (Packers) | WR Johnnie Morton (Chiefs) |
| TE Mikhael Ricks (Chiefs) | DE Tracy Scroggins (retirement) |
| LB Jeff Gooch (Buccaneers) | TE David Sloan (Saints) |
| WR Az-Zahir Hakim (Rams) | CB Terry Fair (Panthers) |
NFL draft
| 2002 Detroit Lions draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Joey Harrington | Quarterback | Oregon | |
| 2 | 35 | Kalimba Edwards | Defensive end | South Carolina | |
| 3 | 68 | André Goodman | Cornerback | South Carolina | |
| 4 | 134 | Johnathan Taylor | Defensive end | Montana State | |
| 5 | 138 | John Owens | Tight end | Notre Dame | |
| 6 | 175 | Chris Cash | Cornerback | USC | |
| 7 | 214 | Luke Staley | Running back | BYU | |
| 7 | 252 | Matt Murphy | Tight end | Maryland | |
| 7 | 259 | Victor Rogers | Tackle | Colorado | |
| Made roster | |||||
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Pierre Brown | Wide receiver | Wayne State |
| Robert Chapman | Linebacker | Southern |
| Crance Clemons | Cornerback | UTEP |
| Mike Collins | Defensive tackle | Ohio State |
| Eddie Drummond | Wide receiver | Penn State |
| Aaron Edmonds | Punter | BYU |
| Chris Glantzis | Defensive end | Bowling Green |
| Abdual Howard | Safety | Florida State |
| Marcel Howard | Tackle | Iowa State |
| Kenny Jackson | Defensive tackle | Ole Miss |
| Antwan Lake | Defensive tackle | West Virginia |
| James McCall | Tackle | West Virginia |
| Labrone Mitchell | Wide receiver | Georgia |
| James Mungro | Running back | Syracuse |
| Dave Pavich | Kicker | Kent State |
| Ken Philpot | Linebacker | Eastern Michigan |
| Kris Ryan | Fullback | Penn |
| Josh Thornhill | Linebacker | Michigan State |
Personnel
Staff
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
Regular season
In addition to their regular games against NFC North rivals, the Lions under the NFL's new scheduling formula played games against teams from the NFC South and from the AFC East. They also played the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, who had the fourth best records from 2001 of the teams placed in their respective divisions.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8 | at Miami Dolphins | L 21–49 | 0–1 | Pro Player Stadium | 72,216 |
| 2 | September 15 | at Carolina Panthers | L 7–31 | 0–2 | Ericsson Stadium | 71,951 |
| 3 | September 22 | Green Bay Packers | L 31–37 | 0–3 | Ford Field | 61,505 |
| 4 | September 29 | New Orleans Saints | W 26–21 | 1–3 | Ford Field | 60,023 |
| 5 | Bye | |||||
| 6 | October 13 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 24–31 | 1–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,013 |
| 7 | October 20 | Chicago Bears | W 23–20 (OT) | 2–4 | Ford Field | 60,421 |
| 8 | October 27 | at Buffalo Bills | L 17–24 | 2–5 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | 72,710 |
| 9 | November 3 | Dallas Cowboys | W 9–7 | 3–5 | Ford Field | 61,789 |
| 10 | November 10 | at Green Bay Packers | L 14–40 | 3–6 | Lambeau Field | 63,313 |
| 11 | November 17 | New York Jets | L 14–31 | 3–7 | Ford Field | 61,720 |
| 12 | November 24 | at Chicago Bears | L 17–20 (OT) | 3–8 | Memorial Stadium | 62,375 |
| 13 | November 28 | New England Patriots | L 12–20 | 3–9 | Ford Field | 62,109 |
| 14 | December 8 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 20–23 (OT) | 3–10 | Sun Devil Stadium | 28,640 |
| 15 | December 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 20–23 | 3–11 | Ford Field | 61,942 |
| 16 | December 22 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 15–36 | 3–12 | Georgia Dome | 69,307 |
| 17 | December 29 | Minnesota Vikings | L 36–38 | 3–13 | Ford Field | 60,233 |
Game summaries
Week 1: at Miami Dolphins
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Dolphins | 7 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: September 8, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 72,216
- Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
- TV announcers (FOX): Dan Miller, Mark Carrier, Mike Di Pasquale
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Carolina Panthers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Panthers | 0 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: September 15, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 72 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,951
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- TV announcers (FOX): Kenny Albert and Tim Green
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 7 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 37 |
| Lions | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: September 22, 2002
- Game time: 4:15 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,505
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Cris Collinsworth, and Troy Aikman
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | 0 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 21 |
| Lions | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 26 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: September 29, 2002
- Game time: 1:03 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 60,023
- Referee: Ron Winter (14)
- TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan, and Jennifer Hammond
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Vikings | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 13, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,013
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Tim Green, and Mike Goldberg
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 7: vs. Chicago Bears
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Lions | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: October 20, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: none (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 60,421
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- TV announcers (FOX): Dan Miller, Tim Green, and Jennifer Hammond
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 8: at Buffalo Bills
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Bills | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 3, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,013
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, and Brian Baldinger
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 10: at Green Bay Packers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Packers | 3 | 27 | 10 | 0 | 40 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: November 10, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,329
- Referee: Dick Hantak (105)
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth, and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 11: vs. New York Jets
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 31 |
| Lions | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 17, 2002
- Game time: 4:15 p.m.
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,720
- Referee: Johnny Grier (23)
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 12: at Chicago Bears
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Bears | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 20 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
- Date: November 24, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Partly cloudy 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,375
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall, Brian Baldinger and Dan Jiggetts
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
After winning the coin toss to begin overtime, because of the windy conditions, Marty Mornhinweg chose to have the Lions kick off instead of receive, affectionately known as "taking the wind". This decision backfired after the Bears took the ball and kicked a field goal on their drive. It was later mocked by Chris Berman on Monday Night Countdown the next night.
Week 13: vs. New England Patriots
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots' | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Lions | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 28, 2002
- Game time: 12:30 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 62,109
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 8, 2002
- Game time: 4:05 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 28,640
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- TV announcers (FOX): Ron Pitts, Dwight Clark, and Kevin McCabe
- Recap, Box Score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
| Lions | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 16: at Atlanta Falcons
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Falcons | 3 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 36 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 22, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: none (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 69,307
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston, and Ron Pitts
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
| Lions | 14 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 36 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: December 29, 2002
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 60,223
- Referee: Bill Carollo (63)
- TV announcers (Fox): Drew Goodman, Sean Jones, and Jennifer Hammond
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standings
Division
| NFC North | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (3) Green Bay Packers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 9–3 | 398 | 328 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | 390 | 442 | W3 |
| Chicago Bears | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | 281 | 379 | L2 |
| Detroit Lions | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 3–9 | 306 | 451 | L8 |
Conference
| # | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division leaders | ||||||||||
| 1[a] | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 11–1 | .469 | .432 |
| 2[a][b] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .482 | .432 |
| 3[a][b] | Green Bay Packers | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .451 | .414 |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .504 | .450 |
| Wild Cards | ||||||||||
| 5 | New York Giants | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .482 | .450 |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .494 | .429 |
| Did not qualify for the postseason | ||||||||||
| 7 | New Orleans Saints | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .498 | .566 |
| 8[c] | St. Louis Rams | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .508 | .446 |
| 9[c] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .506 | .433 |
| 10[d] | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .527 | .438 |
| 11[d] | Carolina Panthers | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .486 | .357 |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .498 | .417 |
| 13[e] | Arizona Cardinals | West | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 5–7 | .500 | .400 |
| 14[e] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .500 | .475 |
| 15 | Chicago Bears | North | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .521 | .430 |
| 16 | Detroit Lions | North | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .494 | .375 |
| Tiebreakers[f] | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||