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1976 Detroit Lions season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| logo =

| team = Detroit Lions

| year = 1976

| record = 6–8

| division_place = 3rd NFC Central

| coach = Rick Forzano and Tommy Hudspeth

| general_manager = Russ Thomas

| owner = William Clay Ford Sr.

| stadium = Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium{{Cite web|title=The Argus-Press - Google News Archive Search|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19761028&id=jk8iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S6wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1373,4798352&hl=en|access-date=2021-10-10|website=news.google.com}}

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro_bowlers = {{collapsible list

| title = 2

| TE Charlie Sanders

| CB Lem Barney

}}

| AP All-pros = None

| shortnavlink = Lions seasons

}}

The 1976 Detroit Lions season was the 47th season in franchise history. After the first four games of the season, Rick Forzano resigned under pressure of owner William Clay Ford, and was replaced by one time Brigham Young University head coach and Lions assistant Tommy Hudspeth.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing, New York, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 114. In spite of a stellar season by quarterback Greg Landry, that year's NFL Comeback Player Of The Year, the team was still mired in mediocrity, finishing 6–8.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Offseason

=1976 Expansion Draft=

{{main article|1976 NFL expansion draft}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Detroit Lions selected during the Expansion Draft

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|border=2}}" | Round

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|border=2}}" | Overall

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|border=2}}" | Name

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|border=2}}" | Position

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|border=2}}" | Expansion Team

00Larry BallLinebackerTampa Bay Buccaneers
00Gordon JolleyOffensive tackleSeattle Seahawks
00John McMakinTight endSeattle Seahawks

= NFL Draft =

{{Main|1976 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1976

| teamname = Detroit Lions

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 10

| player = James Hunter

| position = CB

| college = Grambling State

| notes = from Chicago

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 16

| player = Lawrence Gaines

| position = RB

| college = Wyoming

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 44

| player = Ken Long

| position = G

| college = Purdue

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 46

| player = David Hill

| position = TE

| college = Texas A&I

| notes = from San Diego

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 68

| player = Russ Bolinger

| position = OT

| college = Long Beach State

| notes = from Chicago

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 76

| player = John Woodcock

| position = DT

| college = Hawaii

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 145

| player = Steadman Scavella

| position = LB

| college = Miami (FL)

| notes = from Miami

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 198

| player = Garth TenNapel

| position = LB

| college = Texas A&M

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 217

| player = Rich Sorenson

| position = K

| college = Chico State

| notes = from New England

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 225

| player = Charles Braswell

| position = DB

| college = West Virginia

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 253

| player = Leanell Jones

| position = TE

| college = Long Beach State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 279

| player = Bill Bowerman

| position = DB

| college = New Mexico State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 307

| player = Gary Shugrue

| position = DE

| college = Villanova

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 335

| player = Mike McCabe

| position = C

| college = South Carolina

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 13

| pick = 363

| player = Mel Jacobs

| position = WR

| college = San Diego State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 14

| pick = 391

| player = Leonard Elston

| position = WR

| college = Kentucky State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 15

| pick = 419

| player = Trent Smock

| position = WR

| college = Indiana

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 16

| pick = 447

| player = Craig McCurdy

| position = LB

| college = William & Mary

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 17

| pick = 475

| player = Jim Meeks

| position = DB

| college = Boise State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}{{NFL team draft end

| hof = no

}}

Notes

  • Detroit were awarded a first-round pick (8th) from Los Angeles as compensation for the Rams signing Lions free agent WR Ron Jessie. During the draft, Detroit traded this 8th pick to Chicago in exchange for the Bears' first- and third-round picks (10th and 68th).
  • Detroit were awarded a second-round pick (46th) from San Diego as compensation for the Chargers signing Lions free agent C Ed Flanagan.
  • Detroit traded its fourth-round pick (108th) to Miami in exchange for LB Larry Ball and the Dolphins' fifth-round pick (145th).
  • Detroit traded its fifth-round pick (140th) to San Francisco in exchange for QB Joe Reed.
  • Detroit traded its sixth-round pick (170th) to New England in exchange for C Jon Morris.
  • Detroit traded FB Leon Crosswhite to New England in exchange for the Patriots' eighth-round pick (217th) and sixth-round pick in 1975.

=Roster=

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1976

| team = Detroit Lions

| Quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|16|Gary Danielson|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|11|Greg Landry}}

{{NFLplayer|14|Joe Reed|d=quarterback}}

| Running backs =

| Wide receivers =

| Tight ends =

| Offensive linemen =

| Defensive linemen =

| Linebackers =

| Defensive backs =

| Special teams =

| Reserve lists =

|Defensive Back={{NFLplayer|20|Lem Barney|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|29|Ben Davis|d=American football|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|28|James Hunter|rookie=y|d=American football|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|23|Levi Johnson|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Maurice Tyler|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|40|Charlie West|SS}}|Special Teams={{NFLplayer| 1|Benny Ricardo|K}}

{{NFLplayer|18|Herman Weaver|P}}|linebackers={{NFLplayer|52|Jim Laslavic|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Paul Naumoff|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|55|Ed O'Neil|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Garth TenNapel|rookie=y|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|59|Charlie Weaver|OLB}}|Offensive Linemen={{NFLplayer|62|Lynn Boden|G}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Russ Bolinger|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|76|Rocky Freitas|T}}

{{NFLplayer|71|Craig Hertwig|T}}

{{NFLplayer|66|Bob Kowalkowski|G}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Ken Long|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Mark Markovich|C}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Jon Morris|C}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Jim Yarbrough|T|d=offensive lineman}}|Defensive Linemen={{NFLplayer|79|Don Croft|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Billy Howard|d=gridiron football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|83|Jim Mitchell|d=defensive lineman|DE/DT}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Ernie Price|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Ken Sanders|d=American football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|77|John Woodcock|d=American football|rookie=y|DT}}|Running Backs={{NFLplayer|43|Andy Bolton|d=American football|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Dexter Bussey}}

{{NFLplayer|38|Lawrence Gaines|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|33|Bobby Thompson|d=running back}}|Wide Receivers={{NFLplayer|45|Ray Jarvis|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|44|Bob Picard}}

{{NFLplayer|39|Leonard Thompson|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|49|Larry Walton}}|Tight Ends={{NFLplayer|81|David Hill|d=tight end|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|88|Charlie Sanders}}|reserve_lists={{NFLplayer|78|Doug English|DT|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Larry Hand|DT|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|41|J. D. Hill|WR|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Dick Jauron|S|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Horace King|d=American football|RB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|88|Herb Orvis|DT|IR}}}}

Regular season

On November 25, O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills set a record with the most rushing yards in a Thanksgiving Day game, by rushing for 273 yards against the Lions.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 377

In spite of their poor overall record the Lions offense set a statistical record for Passer Rating Differential (40.9, 14th best 1960 to 2011). Such a high rating is usually reserved for playoff teams or Super Bowl winners.{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/kerry_byrne/06/23/most.important.stat.passer.rating.differential/index.html |title=Aaron Rodgers shows Passer Rating Differential is important stat - Kerry J. Byrne - SI.com |access-date=2011-06-25 |archive-date=2011-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626164742/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/kerry_byrne/06/23/most.important.stat.passer.rating.differential/index.html |url-status=dead }}

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}"| Week

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}"| Date

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}"| Opponent

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}"| Result

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}"| Record

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}"| Venue

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| September 12

| at Chicago Bears

| L 3–10

| 0–1

| Soldier Field

| 54,125

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 19

| Atlanta Falcons

| W 24–10

| 1–1

| Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium

| 50,840

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| September 26

| Minnesota Vikings

| L 9–10

| 1–2

| Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium

| 77,292

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| October 3

| at Green Bay Packers

| L 14–24

| 1–3

| Lambeau Field

| 55,041

style="background:#cfc"

! 5

| October 10

| New England Patriots

| W 30–10

| 2–3

| Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium

| 60,174

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 17

| at Washington Redskins

| L 7–20

| 2–4

| RFK Stadium

| 45,908

style="background:#cfc"

! 7

| October 24

| at Seattle Seahawks

| W 41–14

| 3–4

| Kingdome

| 61,280

style="background:#cfc"

! 8

| October 31

| Green Bay Packers

| W 27–6

| 4–4

| Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium

| 74,992

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| November 7

| at Minnesota Vikings

| L 23–31

| 4–5

| Metropolitan Stadium

| 46,735

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 14

| at New Orleans Saints

| L 16–17

| 4–6

| Louisiana Superdome

| 42,048

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 21

| Chicago Bears

| W 14–10

| 5–6

| Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium

| 78,042

style="background:#cfc"

! 12

| {{dow tooltip|November 25, 1976}}

| Buffalo Bills

| W 27–14

| 6–6

| Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium

| 66,875

style="background:#fcc"

! 13

| December 5

| at New York Giants

| L 10–24

| 6–7

| Giants Stadium

| 66,069

style="background:#fcc"

! 14

| {{dow tooltip|December 11, 1976}}

| Los Angeles Rams

| L 17–20

| 6–8

| Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium

| 73,470

!Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

= Season summary =

== Week 1 at Bears ==

{{See also|1976 Chicago Bears season|Bears–Lions rivalry}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week One: Detroit Lions (0–0) at Chicago Bears (0–0)

|date=September 12, 1976

|time=2:00 p.m.

|road=Lions

|R1=0 |R2=3 |R3=0 |R4=0

|home=Bears

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=3

|stadium=Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

|attendance=54,125

|weather={{Convert|69|F|C|1|disp=or}} • Wind {{convert|12|mph|km/h knot}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609120chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

;Second quarter

  • DET – Errol Mann 27-yard field goal. Lions 3–0. Drive:

;Third quarter

;Fourth quarter

  • CHI – Bob Thomas 27-yard field goal. Bears 10–3. Drive:

|stats=

;Top passers

;Top rushers

;Top receivers

}}

== Week 2 vs Falcons ==

{{See also|1976 Atlanta Falcons season}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week Two: Atlanta Falcons (0–1) at Detroit Lions (0–1)

|date=September 19, 1976

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Falcons

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=0

|home=Lions

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=24

|stadium=Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan

|attendance=50,840

|weather=Indoors (dome)

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609190det.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

;Second quarter

;Third quarter

  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 41-yard field goal. Falcons 10–0. Drive:

;Fourth quarter

  • DET – Greg Landry 5-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Falcons 10–7. Drive:
  • DET – Errol Mann 32-yard field goal. Tie 10–10. Drive:
  • DET – Ed O'Neil 32-yard pass from Joe Reed (Errol Mann kick). Lions 17–10. Drive:
  • DET – James Hunter 39-yard interception return (Errol Mann kick). Lions 24–10.

|stats=

;Top passers

;Top rushers

;Top receivers

}}

== Week 4 at Packers ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Detroit Lions|year=1976|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week Four: Detroit Lions (1–2) at Green Bay Packers (0–3)

|date=October 3

|time=2:00 p.m.

|road=Lions

|R1=0 |R2=14 |R3=0 |R4=0

|home=Packers

|H1=10 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=14

|stadium=Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

|attendance=55,041

|weather={{Convert|60|F|C|1|disp=or}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610030gnb.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • GB – Barty Smith 1-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 7–0. Drive:
  • GB – Chester Marcol 35-yard field goal. Packers 10–0. Drive:

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • No scoring

Fourth quarter

|stats=

;Top passers

;Top rushers

  • DET – Dexter Bussey – 22 rushes, 81 yards, TD
  • GB – Willard Harrell – 17 rushes, 111 yards

;Top receivers

}}

= Standings =

{{1976 NFC Central standings}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1976.htm?redir Detroit Lions on Pro Football Reference]
  • [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1976-det Detroit Lions on jt-sw.com]
  • [http://www.footballdb.com/teams/detroit-lions/results/1976 Detroit Lions on The Football Database]

{{Detroit Lions}}

{{Detroit Lions seasons}}

{{1976 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1976 Detroit Lions Season}}

Detroit Lions

Category:Detroit Lions seasons

Detroit Lions