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1951 Detroit Lions season

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NFL team season

1951 Detroit Lions season
Head coachBuddy Parker
Home fieldBriggs Stadium
Results
Record7–4–1
Division placeT-2nd NFL National
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1951 Detroit Lions season was their 22nd in the league. It was the first season under Buddy Parker as head coach. They were 7–4–1, tied for second in the National Conference, a half game behind the Los Angeles Rams. A loss at San Francisco in the regular season finale cost the Lions the conference title, and they failed to qualify for the playoffs for a sixteenth consecutive season. The team improved on their previous season's output of 6–6.

In their 52–35 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, Detroit became the first team in NFL history to score three touchdowns of 70 yards or more in one quarter (a run and two punt returns in the third period). It was the first of thirteen consecutive appearances for the Packers in Detroit on Thanksgiving, through 1963.

Regular season

Main article: 1951 NFL season

According to the team, a total of 10,094 season tickets were sold by the Lions for the 1951 campaign. The Lions played their home games in Briggs Stadium (Tiger Stadium), which had a regular listed seating capacity of 46,194, with an additional 7,000 bleacher seats for football to bring total capacity to 53,194.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 30 Washington Redskins W 35–17 1–0 Briggs Stadium 27,831
2 October 8 New York Yanks W 37–10 2–0 Briggs Stadium 24,194
3 October 14 Los Angeles Rams L 21–27 2–1 Briggs Stadium 50,567
4 October 21 New York Yanks T 24–24 2–1–1 Briggs Stadium 21,807
5 October 28 Chicago Bears L 23–28 2–2–1 Briggs Stadium 34,778
6 November 4 at Green Bay Packers W 24–17 3–2–1 City Stadium 18,165
7 November 11 at Chicago Bears W 41–28 4–2–1 Wrigley Field 43,709
8 November 18 at Philadelphia Eagles W 28–10 5–2–1 Shibe Park 25,098
9 November 22 Green Bay Packers W 52–35 6–2–1 Briggs Stadium 32,247
10 December 2 San Francisco 49ers L 10–20 6–3–1 Briggs Stadium 45,757
11 December 9 at Los Angeles Rams W 24–22 7–3–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 52,937
12 December 16 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–21 7–4–1 Kezar Stadium 26,465
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text
  • Monday night (October 8), Thursday (November 22: Thanksgiving)

Standings

NFL National Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Rams 8 4 0 .667 7–2 392 261 W1
San Francisco 49ers 7 4 1 .636 5–2–1 255 205 W3
Detroit Lions 7 4 1 .636 5–4–1 336 259 L1
Chicago Bears 7 5 0 .583 6–2 286 282 L1
Green Bay Packers 3 9 0 .250 1–8 254 375 L7
New York Yanks 1 9 2 .100 1–7–2 241 382 L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL American Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns 11 1 0 .917 9–0 331 152 W11
New York Giants 9 2 1 .818 7–2–1 254 161 W4
Washington Redskins 5 7 0 .417 4–5 183 296 L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 4 7 1 .364 3–5–1 183 235 W1
Philadelphia Eagles 4 8 0 .333 3–6 234 264 L2
Chicago Cardinals 3 9 0 .250 0–8 210 287 W1
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

  1. "4 battle for pro grid lead". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 16, 1951. p. 4, part 2.
  2. "49ers pull 21-17 upset". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 17, 1951. p. 4, part 2.
  3. 1951 Detroit Lions
  4. ^ "Packers bow to Layne's passing wizardry, 52-35". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 23, 1951. p. 3, part 2.
  5. ^ "Lions trim crippled Packers in wild scoring game, 52-35". Milwaukee Journal. November 23, 1951. p. 2, part 2.
  6. ^ "Layne's 4 TD passes lead Lions over Packers, 52-35". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. November 23, 1951. p. 40.
  7. "Elias Says..." ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Edward M. "Bud" Erickson (ed.), Detroit Lions Facts Book 1963: Press, Radio, TV. Detroit, MI: Detroit Football Company, 1963, p. 4.
  9. "Walker, Harder score twice in Lions victory". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. October 9, 1951. p. 8, part 2.
  10. "Lions take lead in NFL's National loop". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. October 9, 1951. p. 24.

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Formerly the Portsmouth Spartans (1930–1933)
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory
Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance
1951 NFL season
American ConferenceChi Cardinals PhiladelphiaChi BearsLos Angeles National Conference
Cleveland PittsburghDetroitNY Yanks
NY Giants WashingtonGreen BaySan Francisco
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