| Team: | Detroit Lions |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Record: | 2–14 |
| Division Place: | 5th NFC Central |
| Coach: | Marty Mornhinweg |
| General Manager: | Matt Millen |
| Owner: | William Clay Ford Sr. |
| Stadium: | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Uniform: | NFC-Throwback-Uniform-DET.PNG |
| Pro Bowlers: | DE Robert Porcher |
| Ap All-Pros: | None |
| Shortnavlink: | Lions seasons |
The 2001 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 72nd season in the National Football League (NFL). Marty Mornhinweg was named the 21st head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001,[1] after owner William Clay Ford Sr. controversially fired 2000 interim coach Gary Moeller.[2]
The season began with much optimism, with the Lions hoping to improve on their 9–7 record from 2000; however, the Lions were extremely disappointing and had the worst start to an NFL season since the 1986 Indianapolis Colts began 0–13. They were widely believed to be likely to suffer the NFL’s first 0–16 season[3] before they defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to that, they had lost an NFL record nine consecutive games by eight points or less.[3]
Seven seasons later, the Lions went 0–16 after a week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.[4]
This was the final season that the Lions played at the Pontiac Silverdome before moving to Ford Field the following season, as well as the final season for the NFC Central Division, which would dissolve following the NFL's realignment in 2002, although all NFC Central teams except the Tampa Bay Buccaneers formed the new NFC North Division.
The Lions closed the Silverdome by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 15–10 in the regular season finale. Coincidentally, the Cowboys defeated the Lions 36–10 in the first regular season game at the Silverdome (then known as Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium) in 1975.
This would also be the first season under new general manager Matt Millen, as he would be the team's general manager for the next six seasons and first 3 games of the 2008 season. This would start a stage of futility for the Lions, as they would fail to post a winning record with Millen as general manager.
See main article: 2001 NFL draft. [5]
| Josh Lovelady | Guard | Houston |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 9 | at Green Bay Packers | L 6–28 | 0–1 | Lambeau Field | Recap | |
| 2 | September 23 | L 14–24 | 0–2 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap | ||
| 3 | Bye | ||||||
| 4 | St. Louis Rams | L 0–35 | 0–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | ||
| 5 | October 14 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 26–31 | 0–4 | Recap | ||
| 6 | October 21 | L 24–27 | 0–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | ||
| 7 | October 28 | L 27–31 | 0–6 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | ||
| 8 | November 4 | L 13–21 | 0–7 | 3Com Park | Recap | ||
| 9 | November 11 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 17–20 | 0–8 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | |
| 10 | November 18 | L 38–45 | 0–9 | Sun Devil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 11 | Green Bay Packers | L 27–29 | 0–10 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | ||
| 12 | December 2 | at Chicago Bears | L 10–13 | 0–11 | Soldier Field | Recap | |
| 13 | December 9 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 12–15 | 0–12 | Raymond James Stadium | Recap | |
| 14 | December 16 | Minnesota Vikings | W 27–24 | 1–12 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | |
| 15 | December 23 | L 14–47 | 1–13 | Heinz Field | Recap | ||
| 16 | December 30 | Chicago Bears | L 0–24 | 1–14 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | |
| 17 | January 6 | W 15–10 | 2–14 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||
| [7] | |||||||
Quarterback Ty Detmer made his first start for the Lions, ending the game with seven interceptions. Despite this, the Lions' defense kept the game somewhat close, picking off Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch twice, including a 26-yard pick six by cornerback Terry Fair.