2002 Detroit Lions season

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2002 Detroit Lions season
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford Sr.
General managerMatt Millen
Head coachMarty Mornhinweg
Home fieldFord Field
Results
Record3–13
Division place4th NFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone
Uniform

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.

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[edit]

Signings Departures
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)
TE David Sloan (Saints)

NFL Draft[edit]

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    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents[edit]

2002 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Eddie Drummond Wide receiver Penn State
Antwan Lake Defensive tackle West Virginia
James Mungro Running back Syracuse
Kris Ryan Fullback Penn

Personnel[edit]

Staff[edit]

2002 Detroit Lions staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Jason Arapoff
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Malcolm Blacken

[1]

Roster[edit]

2002 Detroit Lions final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 14 inactive, 5 practice squad

Regular season[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Week 1: at Miami Dolphins[edit]

Week 1: Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 7 7721
Dolphins 7 21 14749

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: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 2: at Carolina Panthers[edit]

Week 2: Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 707
Panthers 0 10 14731

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: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers[edit]

Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 7 10 14637
Lions 7 10 01431

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: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints[edit]

Week 4: New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 7 8621
Lions 13 7 3326

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: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings[edit]

Week 6: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 14 7 3024
Vikings 3 7 71431

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: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 7: vs. Chicago Bears[edit]

Week 7: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Bears 0 10 100020
Lions 0 14 33323

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: October 10, 2002
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: none (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 60,421
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
  • TV: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: at Buffalo Bills[edit]

Week 8: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 14 0317
Bills 7 7 10024

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: October 27, 2002
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 47 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,710
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Tim Green and Bob Trimble
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys[edit]

Week 9: Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 0 0 077
Lions 0 0 639

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: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 10: at Green Bay Packers[edit]

Week 10: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 7 0 0714
Packers 3 27 10040

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: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. New York Jets[edit]

Week 11: New York Jets at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 6 81031
Lions 0 7 7014

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: CBS
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: at Chicago Bears[edit]

Week 12: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Lions 0 3 140017
Bears 0 7 010320

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Game information

Week 13: vs. New England Patriots[edit]

Week 13: New England Patriots at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots' 10 7 0320
Lions 3 3 3312

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: CBS
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals[edit]

Week 14: Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Lions 14 3 30020
Cardinals 7 7 33323

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: FOX
  • Recap, Box Score
Game information

Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers[edit]

Week 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 3 10 01023
Lions 0 10 3720

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: December 15, 2002
  • Game time: 1:00 pm
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 61,942
  • Referee: Tom White (123)
  • TV: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at Atlanta Falcons[edit]

Week 16: Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 01515
Falcons 3 10 61736

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: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings[edit]

Week 17: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 14 14 7338
Lions 14 3 71236

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: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings[edit]

Division[edit]

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[edit]

# 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]
  1. ^ a b c Philadelphia finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Green Bay based on conference record (11–1 vs 9–3/9–3).
  2. ^ a b Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay based on head-to-head victory.
  3. ^ a b St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle based on division record (4–2 to 2–4).
  4. ^ a b Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on common games (2–3 to 1–4)
  5. ^ a b Arizona finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Administration and Coaching Staff". 2002 Detroit Lions Media Guide. pp. 4–28.

External links[edit]