1988 Detroit Lions season
Head Coach
Darryl Rogers Wayne Fontes
General Manager
Russ Thomas
Home Field
Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record
4–12
Place
4th NFC Central
Playoff Finish
did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season
Next season
1987
1989
The 1988 Detroit Lions season was the 59th season in franchise history. The team fell a step further from their 4–11 record in the strike-affected 1987 season, losing 12 of 16 games and suffering their fifth successive losing record. Head coach Darryl Rogers , who had served since 1985, was fired after 11 games and replaced by defensive coordinator Wayne Fontes .[1]
The 1988 Lions’ offense was historically inept; their 3,405 offensive yards gained is the second-lowest all-time in a 16-game season, and the lowest total of the 1980s.[2] Their 220 points scored (13.75 per game) is the fifth-fewest of the 1980s.[3] They scored 20 or more points only three times all season.
Offseason [ ]
NFL Draft [ ]
[4]
Personnel [ ]
Staff [ ]
1988 Detroit Lions staff
Front office
Owner and President – William Clay Ford, Sr.
Executive Vice President and General Manager – Russ Thomas
Treasurer – William Clay Ford, Jr.
Vice President for Finance – Chuck Schmidt
Vice President for Player Personnel – Jerry Vainisi
Director of Player Personnel – Joe Bushofsky
Director of Pro Scouting – Ron Hughes
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Special Teams – Carl Battershell
Strength and conditioning
Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Don Clemons
Roster [ ]
1988 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
Active, Inactive, Practice squad
Regular season [ ]
Schedule [ ]
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Attendance
1
September 4, 1988
Atlanta Falcons
W 31–17
31,075
2
September 11, 1988
at Los Angeles Rams
L 17–10
46,262
3
September 18, 1988
New Orleans Saints
L 22–14
32,943
4
September 25, 1988
New York Jets
L 17–10
29,250
5
October 2, 1988
at San Francisco 49ers
L 20–13
58,285
6
October 9, 1988
Chicago Bears
L 24–7
64,526
7
October 16, 1988
at New York Giants
L 30–10
74,813
8
October 23, 1988
at Kansas City Chiefs
W 7–6
66,926
9
October 30, 1988
New York Giants
L 13–10 OT
38,354
10
November 6, 1988
at Minnesota Vikings
L 44–17
55,573
11
November 13, 1988
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L 23–20
25,956
12
November 20, 1988
at Green Bay Packers
W 19–9
44,327
13
November 24, 1988
Minnesota Vikings
L 23–0
46,379
14
December 4, 1988
Green Bay Packers
W 30–14
28,124
15
December 11, 1988
at Chicago Bears
L 13–12
55,010
16
December 18, 1988
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L 21–10
37,778
Game summaries [ ]
Week 1 [ ]
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
3
0
0
14
17
• Lions
0
10
14
7
31
[5]
Week 8 [ ]
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
• Lions
0
7
0
0
7
Chiefs
0
3
3
0
6
Scoring summary
Q2
KC Lowery 38 yard field goalKC 3–0
Q2
DET Chadwick 14 yard pass from Hilger (Murray kick)DET 7–3
Q3
KC Lowery 43 yard field goal DET 7–6
[6]
Week 12 [ ]
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
• Lions
3
6
0
10
19
Packers
0
0
3
6
9
Scoring summary
Q1
DET Murray 42 yard field goalDET 3–0
Q2
DET Murray 37 yard field goal DET 6–0
Q2
DET Murray 19 yard field goal DET 9–0
Q3
GB Dawson 32 yard field goalDET 9–3
Q4
DET Williams 1 yard run (Murray kick)DET 16–3
Q4
DET Murray 26 yard field goal DET 19–3
Q4
GB Matthews 3 yard pass from Majkowski (kick failed)DET 19–9
[7]
Week 14 [ ]
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Packers
0
0
0
14
14
• Lions
10
17
0
3
30
Scoring summary
Q1
DET Murray 26 yard field goalDET 3–0
Q1
DET Mandley 21 yard run (Murray kick)DET 10–0
Q2
DET Murray 23 yard field goal DET 13–0
Q2
DET Mitchell 90 yard interception return (Murray kick)DET 20–0
Q2
DET James 2 yard run (Murray kick)DET 27–0
Q4
GB West 4 yard pass from Wright (Dorsey kick)DET 27–7
Q4
DET Murray 23 yard field goal DET 30–7
Q4
GB Sharpe 24 yard pass from Wright (Dorsey kick)DET 30–14
[8]
Standings [ ]
Template:1988 NFC Central standings
References [ ]
↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2 , p. 114
↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1978 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Total Yds.
↑ In a 16-game season, Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1980 to 1989, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For.
↑ "1988 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1988_draft.htm . Retrieved January 10, 2014 .
↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com
↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2014-Dec-28.
↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2014-Nov-07.
↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2014-Nov-07.
External links [ ]
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