1995 Detroit Lions season

The 1995 Detroit Lions season was the team's 66th in the National Football League (NFL). Finishing at 10-6, it marked the Lions' third consecutive winning season, which had not been accomplished in Detroit since the team posted four consecutive winning seasons from 1969-1972.

1995 Detroit Lions season
Head coachWayne Fontes
General managerChuck Schmidt
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford, Sr.
Home fieldPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd NFC Central
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs (at Eagles) 37–58

It was also the Lions' third straight postseason appearance, and fourth in five seasons -- the franchises' best stretch since the 1950s.

The Lions started the season 0-3 and were 3–6 after a Week 10 loss in Atlanta. However, starting with a Week 11 win over Tampa Bay, the Lions won a franchise-record seven consecutive games to close out the season and clinch a playoff berth.

Herman Moore had a career season as he broke Cris Carter’s NFL record for most receptions in a season (123). Moore and teammate Brett Perriman (108 catches) became the first receiver duo to each have more than 100 receptions in the same season.

The Lions' 436 points scored was the most in franchise history until it was eclipsed by the 2011 team.[1]

For the third consecutive year, however, the Lions could not win a playoff game and were eliminated as they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 58-37 in the wild card round.

Offseason

NFL Draft
Main article: 1995 NFL Draft
1995 Detroit Lions draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 20 Luther Elliss *  DT Utah
3 70 David Sloan *  TE New Mexico from St. Louis
5 141 Stephen Boyd *  LB Boston College from Seattle
5 156 Kez McCorvey  WR Florida State
5 163 Ronald Cherry  OT McNeese State from San Francisco
6 186 Kevin Hickman  TE Navy from Arizona
6 192 Cory Schlesinger *  FB Nebraska
7 228 Hessley Hempstead  G Kansas
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

  • Detroit traded its second-round selection (51st) to San Diego in exchange for the Chargers' first-round selection in 1996.
  • Detroit traded up from its third-round selection (82nd) with St. Louis for the Rams' second-round selection (70th), giving up its fourth-round selection (115th).
  • Detroit received Seattle's fifth-round selection (141st) in exchange for WR Reggie Barrett.
  • Detroit received San Francisco's fifth-round selection (163rd) in exchange for RB Derrick Moore.

[2]

Personnel

Staff
1995 Detroit Lions staff
Front office
  • Owner and President – William Clay Ford, Sr.
  • Vice Chairman – William Clay Ford, Jr.
  • Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer – Chuck Schmidt
  • Director of Player Personnel – Ron Hughes
  • Director of Pro Scouting – Kevin Colbert

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Herb Paterra
  • Linebackers – Don Clemons
  • Outside Linebackers – Howard Tippett
  • Defensive Backs – John Fontes

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning/Defensive Assistant – Bert Hill

Roster
1995 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, 3 inactive, 4 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 23–20
58,002
2 September 10 at Minnesota Vikings L 20–10
52,234
3 September 17 Arizona Cardinals L 20–17
58,727
4 September 25 San Francisco 49ers W 27–24
76,236
5 Bye
6 October 8 Cleveland Browns W 38–20
74,171
7 October 15 at Green Bay Packers L 30–21
60,302
8 October 22 at Washington Redskins L 36–30 OT
52,332
9 October 29 Green Bay Packers W 24–16
73,462
10 November 5 at Atlanta Falcons L 34–22
49,619
11 November 12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–24
60,644
12 November 19 at Chicago Bears W 24–17
61,779
13 November 23 Minnesota Vikings W 44–38
74,559
14 December 4 Chicago Bears W 27–7
77,230
15 December 10 at Houston Oilers W 24–17
35,842
16 December 17 Jacksonville Jaguars W 44–0
70,204
17 December 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 37–10
50,049

Season summary

Week 13
1 234Total
Vikings 7 2137 38
• Lions 14 101010 44
  • Date: November 23
  • Location: Pontiac Silverdome
  • Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 74,559
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)

[3]

Standings
NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(3) Green Bay Packers 11 5 0 .688 404 314 W2
(5) Detroit Lions 10 6 0 .625 436 336 W7
Chicago Bears 9 7 0 .563 392 360 W2
Minnesota Vikings 8 8 0 .500 412 385 L2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7 9 0 .438 238 335 L2

Playoffs

NFC Wild Card Game: At Philadelphia Eagles
NFC Wild Card Game: Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Lions 7 0 141637
Eagles 7 31 13758

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

Game information

The Eagles scored 31 points in the second quarter, recorded six interceptions, forced seven total turnovers and held future Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders to just 40 rushing yards en route to a 58–37 victory in the second highest scoring game in NFL postseason history, which was also the first occasion the Lions had played the Eagles since 1986.[4] The two teams combined for 874 total yards of offense.

Awards and honors
  • Scott Mitchell, Thanksgiving Day Record, Most passing yards by a Lions quarterback, 410 yards
  • Herman Moore, Single Season Record, Most Receptions in a Season
  • Barry Sanders, All-Pro
  • Barry Sanders, NFC Pro Bowl Selection

Milestones
  • Barry Sanders, 7th consecutive 1000 yard season
  • Herman Moore, 100 reception season,[5]

References
  1. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, playing for the Detroit Lions, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For.
  2. "1995 Detroit Lions Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  3. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-Dec-10.
  4. Detroit Lions v Philadelphia Eagles
  5. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 440
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