| Team: | Detroit Lions |
| Year: | 1962 |
| Record: | 11–3 |
| Division Place: | 2nd NFL Western |
| Coach: | George Wilson |
| Stadium: | Tiger Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Won NFL Playoff Bowl (vs. Steelers) 17–10 |
| Shortnavlink: | Lions seasons |
The 1962 Detroit Lions season was the 33rd season in franchise history. In one of the best regular seasons in their history, the Lions posted an 11–3 record, but finished two games behind the eventual NFL champion Green Bay Packers in the NFL Western Conference. It was the third straight season the Lions finished as runner-up to the Packers in the West. Entering the final weekend, Detroit was one game behind and had won seven consecutive, but were shut out 3–0 by the Chicago Bears.[1] The Lions' three losses, all on the road, were by a total of eight points.
As conference runner-up, Detroit won their third consecutive Playoff Bowl game over the Pittsburgh Steelers, 17–10.[2] [3] The third place game was played at the Orange Bowl in Miami on January 6, three weeks after the end of the regular season.[4]
The Lions never trailed by more than seven points at any point in any game during the season, a feat that was not repeated for 48 years. Their 26–14 win over the Packerson Thanksgiving Day in week 11 denied defending champion Green Bay the NFL's first true perfect season.[5] The Lions were up 26–0 in the fourth quarter before Green Bay scored two touchdowns;[6] the Packers had won the first meeting 9–7 in the mud in Green Bay with a late field goal on October 7.[7] [8]
After the season, defensive coordinator Don Shula left to become the head coach for the Baltimore Colts for seven years.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School | |
| 1 | 10 [9] | John Hadl[10] | Back |
See main article: 1962 NFL season.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 45–7 | 1–0 | Tiger Stadium | 46,641 | |
| 2 | September 23 | San Francisco 49ers | W 45–24 | 2–0 | Tiger Stadium | 51,032 | |
| 3 | September 30 | at Baltimore Colts | W 29–20 | 3–0 | Memorial Stadium | 57,966 | |
| 4 | October 7 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7–9 | 3–1 | City Stadium | 38,669 | |
| 5 | October 14 | Los Angeles Rams | W 13–10 | 4–1 | Tiger Stadium | 53,714 | |
| 6 | October 21 | at New York Giants | L 14–17 | 4–2 | Yankee Stadium | 62,856 | |
| 7 | October 28 | Chicago Bears | W 11–3 | 5–2 | Tiger Stadium | 53,342 | |
| 8 | November 4 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 12–3 | 6–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 44,241 | |
| 9 | November 11 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 38–24 | 7–2 | Kezar Stadium | 43,449 | |
| 10 | November 18 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 17–6 | 8–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 31,257 | |
| 11 | November 22 | Green Bay Packers | W 26–14 | 9–2 | Tiger Stadium | 57,598 | |
| 12 | December 2 | Baltimore Colts | W 21–14 | 10–2 | Tiger Stadium | 53,012 | |
| 13 | December 9 | Minnesota Vikings | W 37–23 | 11–2 | Tiger Stadium | 42,256 | |
| 14 | December 16 | at Chicago Bears | L 0–3 | 11–3 | Wrigley Field | 44,948 |
See also: 1962 Green Bay Packers season and Lions–Packers rivalry.
Alex Karras reportedly threw a helmet at Milt Plum in the locker room after the game for throwing the late interception that led to the Lions' defeat.
The game was dubbed the "Thanksgiving Day Massacre" thanks to the dominant performance of the Lions defense, who sacked Bart Starr 11 times.[11] [12] It was Green Bay's sole loss of the season; they repeated as NFL champions.
See main article: Playoff Bowl. The game matched the conference runners-up for third place in the league and was played three weeks after the end of the regular season (and a week after the championship game). The ten editions of the Playoff Bowl, all held at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, are now considered exhibition games by the NFL, not post-season contests.
[2] [3] [4] [13]