The 1984 Detroit Lions season was their 55th in the National Football League . The team failed to improve upon their previous season 's output of 9–7, winning only four games.[1] The team missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. In a Lions season littered with numerous key injuries, the most painful was star running back Billy Sims suffering a career-ending knee injury in a game against the Minnesota Vikings during the season. In just five seasons in the NFL since joining Detroit in 1980, Sims had set the Lions career rushing mark at 5,106.[2]
Offseason
NFL Draft
Roster
1984 Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Attendance
1
September 2, 1984
San Francisco 49ers
L 30–27
56,782
2
September 9, 1984
at Atlanta Falcons
W 27–24 OT
49,878
3
September 16, 1984
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L 21–17
44,560
4
September 23, 1984
Minnesota Vikings
L 29–28
57,511
5
September 30, 1984
at San Diego Chargers
L 27–24
53,509
6
October 7, 1984
Denver Broncos
L 28–7
55,836
7
October 14, 1984
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W 13–7 OT
44,308
8
October 21, 1984
at Minnesota Vikings
W 16–14
57,953
9
October 28, 1984
at Green Bay Packers
L 41–9
54,289
10
November 4, 1984
Philadelphia Eagles
T 23–23 OT
59,141
11
November 11, 1984
at Washington Redskins
L 28–14
50,212
12
November 18, 1984
at Chicago Bears
L 16–14
54,911
13
November 22, 1984
Green Bay Packers
W 31–28
63,698
14
December 2, 1984
at Seattle Seahawks
L 38–17
62,441
15
December 10, 1984
Los Angeles Raiders
L 24–3
66,710
16
December 16, 1984
Chicago Bears
L 30–13
53,252
Game summaries
Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions
10
7
7
0
27
Falcons
0
10
7
7
24
at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium , Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
Lions – Billy Sims 9 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) – Lions 7–0
Lions – Eddie Murray 46 yard field goal – Lions 10–0
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Falcons – Stacey Bailey 29 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) – Tie 24–24
Overtime
Lions – Eddie Murray 48 yard field goal – Lions 27–24
Lions
Gary Danielson 21/32, 250 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Billy Sims 23 Rush, 140 Yds, TD
David Lewis 4 Rec, 68 Yds, TD
Falcons
Steve Bartkowski 24/28, 299 yds, 2 TD
Gerald Riggs 19 Rush, 78 Yds, TD
Billy Johnson 8 Rec, 116 Yds, TD
Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DET – Ken Jenkins 25-yard run (Eddie Murray kick), 1:59 (DET 10–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 13-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 5:24 (SEA 14–10)
DET – James Jones 15-yard pass from Gary Danielson (Eddie Murray kick), 11:51 (DET 17–14)
SEA – Daryl Turner 4-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 14:24 (SEA 21–17)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SEA – Daryl Turner 51-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 1:43 (SEA 28–17)
SEA – Norm Johnson 36-yard field goal, 5:06 (SEA 31–17)
SEA – Mike Tice 5-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 8:03 (SEA 38–17)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – pass – rush – total – to
DET – 139 – 108 – 247 – 2
SEA – 275 – 113 – 388 – 2
Standings
[3]
References
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