The 1934 Detroit Lions season was the fifth in franchise history and the first in Detroit, as the team moved from Portsmouth, Ohio, to Detroit after the 1934 season. Under head coach Potsy Clark, the Lions won their first ten games (of which the first seven were shutouts) then lost three straight in an eight-day span to end the season at 10–3. They finished in second place in the NFL Western Division, three games behind the undefeated Chicago Bears. They ranked first in the NFL in scoring defense and second in scoring offense.
Dutch Clark was a consensus All-NFL pick at quarterback and led the league with 1,146 yards of total offense and ranked second in scoring, third in rushing yardage, and fourth in passing yardage. End Harry Ebding led the NFL with 264 receiving yards. The Lions also boasted four of the NFL's leading rushers: Clark (third with 805 yards); Ernie Caddel (sixth with 528 yards); Ace Gutowsky (seventh with 517 yards); and Glenn Presnell (12th with 413 yards). The team's total of 426 rushing yards against Pittsburgh on November 4 remains an NFL single-game record.
The Lions played the NFL's first Thansksgiving day game on November 29, 1934, starting the team's longstanding tradition of hosting Thanksgiving games. The team played its home games at University of Detroit Stadium.
Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Attendance Venue Recap Sources 1 September 23 New York Giants W 9–0 1–0 12,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap Edward M. "Bud" Erickson (ed.), Detroit Lions Facts Book 1963: Press, Radio, TV. Detroit: Detroit Football Company, 1963; p. 41. 2 September 30 Chicago Cardinals W 6–0 2–0 18,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap 3 October 7 at Green Bay Packers W 3–0 3–0 7,500 City Stadium Recap 4 October 14 at Philadelphia Eagles W 10–0 4–0 9,860 Baker Bowl Recap 5 Boston Redskins W 24–0 5–0 12,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap 6 October 21 Brooklyn Dodgers W 28–0 6–0 11,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap 7 October 28 at Cincinnati Reds W 38–0 7–0 4,800 Universal Stadium Recap 8 November 4 Pittsburgh Pirates W 40–7 8–0 6,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap 9 November 11 at Chicago Cardinals W 17–13 9–0 11,000 Wrigley Field Recap 10 November 18 St. Louis Gunners W 40–7 10–0 15,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap 11 November 25 Green Bay Packers L 0–3 10–1 12,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap 12 November 29 Chicago Bears L 16–19 10–2 26,000 University of Detroit Stadium Recap 13 December 2 at Chicago Bears L 7–10 10–3 34,412 Wrigley Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Move from Portsmouth and preseason
Prior to 1934, the franchise had played as the Portsmouth Spartans in Portsmouth, Ohio, a city with a 1930 population of 42,560.
In March 1934, a group from Detroit, led by WJR radio owner George A. Richards, purchased the Portsmouth franchise and the rights to all players on its roster, including stars Dutch Clark, Glenn Presnell, George Christensen, and Ox Emerson. Detroit sportsman Irvin (Cy) Huston was appointed as the general manager, owing to "his inttimate knowledge of the game." Huston announced that the University of Detroit Stadium had been secured as the site for the team's home games. He added that negotiations were underway to sign additional players, including the University of Michigan's All-American center Chuck Bernard. Bernard ultimately signed with the club in September.
On April 10, 1934, NFL president Joseph Carr formally presented an NFL franchise to the Detroit investor group at a luncheon at the Detroit Statler Hotel. Huston accepted the franchise from Carr.
Later in April, Huston announced that he had agreed with the New York Giants for the Detroit club's opening game to be played in Detroit on September 23. The game would be a homecoming for the Giants' star quarterback and Detroit native Harry Newman.
On June 9, Huston announced that the team would conduct its early season training at Cranbrook School for the first three weeks of September. Huston noted that Cranbrook had several first class gridirons and a dormitory where the team's training table would be established.
On July 22, Huston announced that the Detroit club would be known as the Lions and would wear blue jerseys with silver for the jersey numbers, helmets, and pants. Asked what shade of blue would be used, Huston replied: "I don't know. They've had me looking at so many blues I'm blue in the face. But anyway, it's the kind of blue, I am told, that will match with silver."
Game summaries Game 1: New York Giants
On September 23, 1934, the Lions opened their first season in Detroit with a 9–0 victory over the New York Giants before a crowd of 12,000 persons at the University of Detroit Stadium. Dutch Clark drop-kicked a field goal from the 20-yard line in the third quarter, and Father Lumpkin intercepted an Ed Danowski pass and returned it 45 yards for the Lions' first touchdown. On offense, the Lions gained 187 yards of total offense, 185 rushing yards and only two passing yards (one completion on three passes). On defense, the Lions held Harry Newman's Giants to 153 yards, 109 rushing and 36 passing (two completions and two interceptions on 18 passes). The Lions fumbled five times in the game and gave up 45 yards on penalties.
The Lions' starting lineup in their first game in Detroit was as follows: Harry Ebding (right end), George Christensen (right tackle), Ox Emerson (right guard), Chuck Bernard (center), Maury Bodenger (left guard), Jack Johnson (left tackle), Bill McKalip (left end), Dutch Clark (quarterback), Ernie Caddell (right halfback), Father Lumpkin (left halfback), and Ace Gutowsky (fullback). Detroit substitutes who appeared in the game were backs Frank Christensen, Glenn Presnell, and Bob Rowe, ends Buster Mitchell and John Schneller, and tackles Sam Knox and Bob Emerick.
Game 2: Chicago Cardinals
On September 30, 1934, the Lions defeated the Chicago Cardinals, 6–0, before a crowd of 7,000 at University of Detroit Stadium. Dutch Clark scored on a two-yard touchdown run five minutes into the game; Clark then missed on his drop-kick for the extra point. Father Lumpkin had a key interception to stop a Chicago drive at midfield. The Lions were held to 119 rushing yards in the game. A group of Detroit Tigers, including Mickey Cochrane, Schoolboy Rowe, Elon Hogsett, and Elden Auker, watched the game from a midfield box before the start of the 1934 World Series three days later.
The Lions' starting lineup against the Cardinals was Harry Ebding (right end), George Christensen (right tackle), Ox Emerson (right guard), Chuck Bernard (center), Maury Bodenger (left guard), Jack Johnson (left tackle), Bill McKalip (left end), Dutch Clark (quarterback), Ernie Caddell (right halfback), Father Lumpkin (left halfback), and Frank Christensen (fullback). Detroit substitutes who appeared in the game were backs Ace Gutowsky, Glenn Presnell, Bob Rowe, and Bill McWilliams; ends Buster Mitchell and John Schneller; guards Thomas Hupke and Russ Lay; and center Clare Randolph.
Game 3: at Green Bay Packers
On October 7, 1934, the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, 3–0, before a crowd of 8,000 at City Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The only points of the game were scored on a 54-yard field goal kicked from placement by backup quarterback Glenn Presnell. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that Presnell's kick was "probably the longest kick for a score in the record" of NFL competition. On offense, the Lions gained 172 total yards, 101 rushing (led by Ace Gutowsky with 54 yards), and 71 passing (five completions out of 22 passes, including a 30-yard gain on a pass from Dutch Clark to Ernie Caddel). On defense, the Lions held the Packers to 123 total yards, 115 rushing and eight passing (two completions and one interceptions on eight passes).
The Lions' starting lineup against the Packers was John Schneller (right end), George Christensen (right tackle), Ox Emerson (right guard), Clare Randolph (center), Maury Bodenger (left guard), Jack Johnson (left tackle), Buster Mitchell (left end), Dutch Clark (quarterback), Ernie Caddell (right halfback), Father Lumpkin (left halfback), and Frank Christensen (fullback). Detroit substitutes who appeared in the game were Bill McKalip (left end), Chuck Bernard (center), Russ Lay (right guard), Ace Gutowsky (left halfback), Glenn Presnell (quarterback), Harry Ebding (end), Ray Richards, Thomas Hupke, and Bob Emerick.
Game 4: at Philadelphia Eagles
On October 14, 1934, the Lions defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 10–0, before a crowd of 10,000 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Ernie Caddel ran nine yards for the game's only touchdown in the second quarter, and Dutch Clark drop-kicked the extra point. Caddel also had the longest run of the game at 53 yards. Clark added a field goal from the 25-yard line in the fourth quarter. On offense, the Lions rushed for 145 yards and tallied 36 passing yards (four completions out of 18 passes). On defense, the Lions held the Eagles to 131 rushing yards (80 by Swede Hanson) and five completions on 26 passes for 20 yards.
The Lions' starting lineup against the Eagles was John Schneller (right end), George Christensen (right tackle), Ox Emerson (right guard), Clare Randolph (center), Maury Bodenger (left guard), Jack Johnson (left tackle), Buster Mitchell (left end), Glenn Presnell (quarterback), Ernie Caddell (right halfback), Frank Christensen (left halfback), and Ace Gutowsky (fullback). Detroit substitutes who appeared in the game were McKalip (left end), Emerick (left tackle), Hupke (left guard), Chuck Bernard (center), Richards (right guard), Knox (right tackle), Ebding (right end), Dutch Clark (quarterback), Father Lumpkin (left halfback), Bill McWilliams (right halfback), and Bob Rowe (fullback).
Game 5: Boston Redskins
On October 17, 1934, in a Wednesday night game, the Lions defeated the Boston Redskins, 24–0, before a crowd of 12,000 at the University of Detroit Stadium. Dutch Clark began the scoring late in the second quarter with a field goal from the 33-yard line.
At the start of the second half, Father Lumpkin returned the kickoff to Boston's 20-yard line. Frank Christensen scored a touchdown nine plays later on a short run. On the next Detroit drive, the Lions gained 30 yards to Boston's 25-yard line on a pass from Clark to Harry Ebding. After an injury to Father Lumpkin, Ace Gutowsky entered the game and scored a touchdown on a six-yard run.
In the fourth quarter, Ernie Caddel ran around the right end for a 52-yard gain to Boston's five-yard line. Glenn Presnell ran around the left end for the final touchdown. Clark added two extra points on drop-kicks, and Presnell placekicked another. On defense, the Detroit Free Press described the Lions play as "almost flawless". They held a Boston team featuring Cliff Battles to 112 total yards, as the Redskins attempted 16 passes, completed only three and had four passes intercepted.
The Lions' starting lineup against the Redskins was Harry Ebding (right end), George Christensen (right tackle), Ox Emerson (right guard), Clare Randolph (center), Maury Bodenger (left guard), Jack Johnson (left tackle), Bill McKalip (left end), Dutch Clark (quarterback), Ernie Caddell (right halfback), Father Lumpkin (left halfback), and Frank Christensen (fullback). Detroit substitutes who appeared in the game were John Schneller (right end), Glenn Presnell (right halfback), Buster Mitchell (left end), Chuck Bernard (center), Maury Bodenger (left guard), Ace Gutowsky (left halfback), Sam Knox (right tackle), Thomas Hupke (right guard), Bob Emerick (right tackle), Ray Richards (right guard), Bob Rowe (right halfback), and Bill McWilliams (left halfback).
Game 6: Brooklyn Dodgers