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1995 Detroit Lions season

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1995 Detroit Lions season
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford Sr.
General managerChuck Schmidt
Head coachWayne Fontes
Home fieldPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd NFC Central
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Eagles) 37–58
Pro BowlersC Kevin Glover
T Lomas Brown
WR Herman Moore
RB Barry Sanders
AP All-ProsT Lomas Brown (1st team)
WR Herman Moore (1st team)
RB Barry Sanders (1st team)
C Kevin Glover (2nd team)

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 to 1972. This feat would not be repeated until 2024.

It was also the Lions' third consecutive postseason appearance, and fourth in five seasons – the franchise’s best era 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 were routed by the Philadelphia Eagles 58–37 in the Wild Card playoffs after falling behind 51–7. Leading up to their Wild Card game, Detroit offensive linemen Lomas Brown guaranteed a victory over the Eagles.

The last remaining active member of the 1995 Detroit Lions was kicker Jason Hanson, who retired after the 2012 season.

Offseason

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Additions Subtractions
DT Henry Thomas (Vikings) QB Dave Krieg (Cardinals)
QB Don Majkowski (Colts) LB Pat Swilling (Raiders)
T Zefross Moss (Colts) DT Marc Spindler (Jets)
QB Donald Hollas (Bengals) LB Broderick Thomas (Vikings)

1995 Expansion Draft

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Main article: 1995 NFL expansion draft
Detroit Lions selected during the Expansion Draft
Round Selection Name Position Expansion team
17 34 Mark Rodenhauser Center Carolina Panthers
23 45 Harry Colon Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars
24 48 Larry Ryans Wide receiver Carolina Panthers

NFL Draft

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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]

Undrafted free agents

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1995 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Tommie Boyd Wide receiver Toledo
Mill Coleman Wide receiver Michigan State
Kevin Dixson Wide receiver Illinois State
Jeff Jones Tackle Texas A&M
Ron Rice Safety Eastern Michigan
Willie Smith Linebacker Penn State
Josh Taves Defensive end Northeastern

Personnel

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Staff

[edit]
1995 Detroit Lions staff

Front office

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

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1995 Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad
  • 45 Willie Smith LB

Reserve

Rookies in italics
, 3 practice squad

Regular season

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Schedule

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

Season summary

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Week 1: @ Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week 1: Pittsburgh Steelers VS Detroit Lions
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 10 01020
Steelers 0 3 71020

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 13

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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)
Scoring summary
Q1DETPerriman 2 yard pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)DET 7–0
Q11:56DETPerriman 20 yard pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)DET 14–0
Q1MINReed 55 yard pass from Moon (Reveiz kick)DET 14–7
Q2DETMorton 16 yard pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)DET 21–7
Q2MINPalmer 74 yard punt return (Reveiz kick)DET 21–14
Q27:53MINThomas 17 yard fumble return (Reveiz kick)Tie 21–21
Q2DETHanson 32 yard field goalDET 24–21
Q2MINCarter 10 yard pass from Moon (Reveiz kick)MIN 28–24
Q3MINReveiz 49 yard field goalMIN 31–24
Q3DETHanson 40 yard field goalMIN 31–27
Q38:48DETMoore 27 yard pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)DET 34–31
Q4DETSanders 50 yard run (Hanson kick)DET 41–31
Q4MINCarter 7 yard pass from Moon (Reveiz kick)DET 41–38
Q4DETHanson 39 yard field goalDET 44–38

[3]

Standings

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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

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NFC Wild Card Game: At Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
See also: 1995–96 NFL playoffs
NFC Wild Card Game: Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Quarter 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

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  • 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

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

References

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  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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