The 2012 season was the Detroit Lions' 83rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 79th as the Detroit Lions and their fourth under head coach Jim Schwartz. The Lions failed to improve from their 10–6 record in 2011, and spent most of the season at the bottom of their division. They finished the season with an eight-game losing streak, their worst since the winless 2008 season. It was also the franchise's 21st consecutive season without a playoff win.
The Lions set an NFL record with 740 pass attempts during the season (46.25 attempts per game), breaking a record that had stood for thirty years.709 by the 1981 Vikings
This was the final season for longtime Lions placekicker Jason Hanson, who in his 21st season with the team (and in the league) and at age 42 was the NFL's oldest active player. Hanson retired on April 4, 2013.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s league record for most receiving yards in a single season, with 1,964 yards in 122 catches.
Offseason
Signings
Jacob Lacey signed with the Detroit Lions on March 20, 2012.Lions agree to terms with CB Jacob Lacey; re-sign DT Andre Fluellen
Releases Cornerback Aaron Berry was released on July 23, 2012 after his second arrest of the offseason.Detroit Lions Release CB Aaron Berry After Second Off-Season Arrest The Huffington Post, July 23, 2012
2012 Draft class
Round Selection Player Position College 1 23 Riley Reiff Offensive tackle Iowa 2 54 Ryan Broyles Wide receiver Oklahoma 3 85 Dwight "Bill" Bentley Cornerback Louisiana–Lafayette 4 125Ronnell Lewis Outside linebacker Oklahoma 5 138 Tahir Whitehead Outside linebacker Temple5148Chris GreenwoodCornerbackAlbion6196Jonte GreenDefensive backNew Mexico State 7 223 Travis Lewis Linebacker Oklahoma
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Cleveland Browns L 17–19 0–1 Ford Field Recap 2 at Baltimore Ravens W 27–12 1–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 3 at Oakland Raiders L 20–31 1–2 O.co Coliseum Recap 4 Buffalo Bills W 38–32 2–2 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 St. Louis Rams W 27–23 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 September 16 at San Francisco 49ers L 19–27 1–1 Candlestick Park Recap 3 September 23 at Tennessee Titans L 41–44 1–2 LP Field Recap 4 September 30 Minnesota Vikings L 13–20 1–3 Ford Field Recap 5Bye 6 October 14 at Philadelphia Eagles W 26–23 2–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 7 at Chicago Bears L 7–13 2–4 Soldier Field Recap 8 October 28 Seattle Seahawks W 28–24 3–4 Ford Field Recap 9 November 4 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 31–14 4–4 EverBank Field Recap 10 November 11 at Minnesota Vikings L 24–34 4–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 11 November 18 Green Bay Packers L 20–24 4–6 Ford Field Recap 12 November 22 Houston Texans L 31–34 4–7 Ford FieldRecap 13 December 2 Indianapolis Colts L 33–35 4–8 Ford Field Recap 14 December 9 at Green Bay Packers L 20–27 4–9 Lambeau Field Recap 15 December 16 at Arizona Cardinals L 10–38 4–10 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 16 Atlanta Falcons L 18–31 4–11 Ford Field Recap 17 December 30 Chicago Bears L 24–26 4–12 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Regular season results
Standings
Week 1: vs. St. Louis Rams
To open the regular season, the Lions hosted the St. Louis Rams. The Rams took an early lead when Greg Zuerlein kicked a 48-yard field goal, the only scoring drive of the first quarter. The Lions responded in the second quarter when Joique Bell ran in a touchdown from 1 yard out. St. Louis made it a 1-point game when Greg Zuerlein kicked a 29-yard field goal, and took the lead again when Cortland Finnegan intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass and ran it back 31 yards for a touchdown. The final points of the half were scored when Detroit's Jason Hanson kicked a 41-yard field goal. The only points of the third quarter was a 45-yard field goal by Jason Hanson to tie the game. In the final quarter, the score continued to sea-saw. First the Rams' Brandon Gibson caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Sam Bradford to take the lead back again, but the Lions soon tied it back up when Kevin Smith ran in a touchdown from 5 yards out. The Rams then went up by 3 points when kicked Greg Zuerlein his third field goal of the game, this one from 46 yards out. In the final 2 minutes, the Lions completed their third 80-yard scoring drive with a game-winning 5-yard touchdown catch by Kevin Smith, his second of the game. The Lions were able to start 1–0 and capture their second straight regular season opening win.NFL Box Score Week 1 – Rams at Lions ESPN.com, September 9, 2012NFL Drive Chart Week 1 – Rams at Lions ESPN.com, September 9, 2012
Week 2: at San Francisco 49ers
In week 2, the Lions flew west to play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. The 49ers got on the board first with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to Vernon Davis. The Lions responded with two field goals by Jason Hanson, from 38 and 41 yards respectively. The only scoring play of the second quarter was a 1-yard touchdown run by Frank Gore. In the third quarter came a pair of field goals, first a 36-yard kick by San Francisco's David Akers, and later a 40-yard one from Detroit's Jason Hanson. In the final quarter, both teams kicked two more field goals both from 48 yards out, first the 49ers' David Akers, then the Lions' Jason Hanson. Next, San Francisco's Vernon Davis caught his second touchdown pass of the game, this one from 23 yards out. Lastly, Detroit scored their only touchdown of the game when Brandon Pettigrew caught a 9-yard pass from Matthew Stafford dropping the team to 1–1.NFL Box Score Week 2 – Lions at 49ers ESPN.com, September 16, 2012NFL Drive Chart Week 2 – Lions at 49ers ESPN.com, September 16, 2012
Week 3: at Tennessee Titans
In week 3, the Lions traveled south to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans. This game was the highest scoring game of the 2012 NFL season. Detroit started the scoring in the first quarter with a pair of field goals by Jason Hanson, from 47 and 53 yards respectively. On the Titans first drive, they fumbled the snap and the Lions recovered the ball. The Titans responded with a 31-yard field goal by Rob Bironas, and took the lead when Darius Reynaud caught a Ben Graham punt and threw a lateral to Tommie Campbell who ran back a 65-yard touchdown. Tennessee added more points in the second quarter when Jared Cook caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Jake Locker. The Lions responded when Jason Hanson kicked a 33-yard field goal. The final points of the first half was a 38-yard kick by The Titans' Rob Bironas. The only points of the third quarter was a 1-yard touchdown run by Detroit's Mikel Leshoure, sandwiched between two missed FGAs by Bironas. The fourth quarter scoring started when Jason Hanson kicked a 26-yard field goal. Next, the Lions' Nate Burleson caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford and the same duo completed a two-point conversion. Tennessee then scored 3 consecutive touchdowns. First, after already returning a punt for a touchdown, Darius Reynaud returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown. Following a Lions punt, Nate Washington caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from Locker. The Lions drove deep into Titans territory on the next drive but Alterraun Verner yanked the ball out of Brandon Pettigrew's hands and ran back a 72-yard touchdown. Matthew Stafford had to come out of the game with a pulled leg muscle and Shaun Hill responded with a drive ending in a three-yard touchdown to Calvin Johnson with just twenty seconds to go. The Lions kicked onside and Amari Spievey caught the ball off a bounce at the Detroit 35-yard line. Even if Spievey did recover the onside and drove down the field further, his team was set up on the 46-yard line. On the final play of regulation, Hill went deep and Titus Young caught the 46-yard touchdown off a partial deflection. Tied 41–41, the game went to overtime. After winning the coin toss, the Titans' Rob Bironas kicked the game-winning a field goal from 26 yards out. The Lions then drove down field, but were stopped on a fourth-down stand at the Titans 7-yard line as the team fell to 1–2.NFL Box Score Week 3 – Lions at Titans ESPN.com, September 23, 2012NFL Drive Chart Week 3 – Lions at Titans ESPN.com, September 23, 2012
Week 4: vs. Minnesota Vikings
In week 4, the Lions hosted their NFC North Division rivals the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings took an early lead when Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown. The Lions responded with a 40-yard field goal by Jason Hanson. Minnesota's Blair Walsh then kicked a field goal from 49 yards out. Both teams kicked a field goal in the second quarter, first Minnesota's Blair Walsh from 27 yards out, then Detroit's Jason Hanson from 31 yards. The only scoring drive of the third quarter was when the Vikings' Marcus Sherels returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown. The Lions scored the only points of the final quarter when quarterback Matthew Stafford completed a 1-yard run for a touchdown. With the loss, the Lions went into their bye week at 1–3.NFL Box Score Week 4 – Vikings at Lions ESPN.com, September 30, 2012NFL Drive Chart Week 4 – Vikings at Lions ESPN.com, September 30, 2012
Week 6: at Philadelphia Eagles
After their bye week, the Lions traveled east to play the Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions took an early lead in the first quarter with two field goals by Jason Hanson, from 46 and 34 yards out. The only scoring drive of the second quarter was a 2-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to LeSean McCoy to put Philadelphia up by 1 point. In the third quarter the Eagles' Alex Henery kicked 2 field goals, from 26 and 32 yards out. In the fourth quarter, Alex Henery kicked a 49-yard field goal. The Lions responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Matthew Stafford. The Eagles' Jeremy Maclin then caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick. The Lions responded with their own touchdown pass, a 17-yarder from Matthew Stafford to Nate Burleson. The Lions took it to overtime after Jason Hanson kicked a 19-yard field goal. On the second drive in Overtime, the Lions' Jason Hanson kicked the game-winning field goal from 45 yards out. With the win, the Lions improved to 2–3, snapping their 3-game losing streak.NFL Box Score Week 6 – Lions at Eagles ESPN.com, October 14, 2012NFL Drive Chart Week 6 – Lions at Eagles ESPN.com, October 14, 2012
Week 7: at Chicago Bears
In week 7, the Lions traveled to Chicago to take on their NFC North Division arch-rivals the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Bears struck first when Brandon Marshall caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler, and added more points when Robbie Gould kicked a 39-yard field goal. After a scoreless second quarter, the Bears' Robbie Gould scored the only points of the third quarter with a 21-yard field goal. The Lions scored their only points of the game in the fourth quarter when Ryan Broyles caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford. It was their fifth straight loss at Chicago as they dropped to 2–4 on the season.NFL Box Score Week 7 – Lions at Bears ESPN.com, October 22, 2012NFL Drive Chart Week 7 – Lions at Bears ESPN.com, October 22, 2012
Week 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks