1979 Detroit Lions season
Head Coach Monte Clark
Home Field Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record 2–14
Place 5th NFC Central
Playoff Finish did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season
Next season
1978
1980
The 1979 Detroit Lions season was the 50th season in franchise history. In the midst of a major rebuilding project, the woeful Lions finished the season with a 2–14 record, equal-worst record in the NFL and a tiebreaker with the 49ers gave the Lions the first pick overall in the 1980 NFL Draft. Detroit entered the year as a favorite in the NFC Central,[1] but a season-ending injury to quarterback Gary Danielson in the preseason[2] forced the Lions to ultimately turn to a rookie ninth-round pick, Jeff Komlo , behind center, with disastrous results.
Offseason Edit
NFL Draft Edit
[3]
Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Reserve Lists
Rookies in italics
Regular season Edit
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Attendance
1
September 1, 1979
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L 31–16
68,225
2
September 9, 1979
Washington Redskins
L 27–24
54,991
3
September 16, 1979
at New York Jets
L 31–10
49,612
4
September 23, 1979
Atlanta Falcons
W 24–23
56,249
5
September 30, 1979
Minnesota Vikings
L 13–10
75,295
6
October 7, 1979
at New England Patriots
L 24–17
60,629
7
October 14, 1979
at Green Bay Packers
L 24–16
53,930
8
October 21, 1979
at New Orleans Saints
L 17–7
57,428
9
October 28, 1979
Buffalo Bills
L 20–17
61,911
10
November 4, 1979
at Chicago Bears
L 35–7
50,108
11
November 11, 1979
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L 16–14
70,461
12
November 18, 1979
at Minnesota Vikings
L 14–7
43,650
13
November 22, 1979
Chicago Bears
W 20–0
66,219
14
December 2, 1979
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 44–7
66,128
15
December 9, 1979
Miami Dolphins
L 28–10
78,087
16
December 15, 1979
Green Bay Packers
L 18–13
57,376
[4]
Standings Edit
Template:1979 NFC Central standings
Player stats Edit
Note: Comp = Completions; ATT = Attempts; TD = Touchdowns; INT = Interceptions
Player Games Comp Att Yards TD INT Rating
Jeff Komlo 16 183 368 2238 11 23 52.8
Scott Hunter 13 18 41 321 1 1 69.3
Joe Reed 2 14 32 164 2 1 67.7
Jerry Golsteyn 1 2 9 16 0 2 0.0
Tom Skladany 2 0 1 0 0 0 28.6
Larry Swider 14 1 1 36 0 0 118.7
Note: Att = Attempts; Yds = Yards; TD = Touchdowns
Player Games Att Yds TD Long
Dexter Bussey 16 144 625 1 38
Rick Kane 16 94 332 4 26
Bo Robinson 14 87 302 2 29
Horace King 16 39 160 1 23
Jeff Komlo 16 30 107 2 16
Lawrence Gaines 16 23 55 0 6
Freddie Scott 14 6 21 0 18
Leonard Thompson 15 5 24 0 16
Ken Callicut 16 3 6 0 10
Scott Hunter 13 2 3 1 2
Joe Reed 2 2 11 0 11
David Hill 16 1 15 0 15
Gene A. Washington 16 1 24 0 24
Luther Blue 9 1 −8 0 −8
Jerry Golsteyn 1 1 0 0 0
Ed O'Neil 16 1 0 0 0
Larry Swider 14 1 0 0 0
Receiving Edit
Note: Rec = Receptions; Yds = Yards; Avg = Average Yards per Reception; TD = Touchdowns
Player Games Rec Yds Avg TD Long
Freddie Scott 14 62 929 15.0 5 50
David Hill 16 47 569 12.1 3 40
Leonard Thompson 15 24 451 18.8 2 82
Horace King 16 18 150 8.3 0 30
Dexter Bussey 16 15 102 6.8 0 22
Gene A. Washington 16 14 192 13.7 1 29
Bo Robinson 14 14 118 8.4 0 14
Rick Kane 16 9 104 11.6 1 36
Luther Blue 9 8 102 12.8 1 26
Ulysses Norris 16 4 43 10.8 1 34
Ken Callicutt 16 2 16 8.0 0 11
Russ Bolinger 16 1 −1 −1.0 0 −1
References Edit
v · d · e Detroit Lions Formerly the Portsmouth Spartans • Founded in 1929 • Based in Detroit , Michigan The Franchise Stadiums Culture Rivalries Lore Head Coaches Notable people League Championships (4) Current League Affiliations Broadcasters
v · d · e Portsmouth Spartans / Detroit Lions seasons