The 2013 season was the Detroit Lions' 84th in the National Football League (NFL), their 80th as the Detroit Lions, as well as their fifth and final season under head coach Jim Schwartz, who was fired on December 30.Jim Schwartz fired by Detroit Lions after five seasons NFL.com, December 30, 2013. It was also the final season under the ownership of William Clay Ford Sr., who died in March 2014.
The Lions improved upon their 4–12 record from 2012 when they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 to go to 5–3 on the season. Also, their divisional record improved significantly from 2012 (when they were swept by all their divisional rivals).
At the end of Week 10, the Lions were in first place in their division following their first win at Soldier Field since 2007. With their Thanksgiving Day win over the Green Bay Packers, the Lions not only won their first Thanksgiving Day game since 2003, but they also went undefeated in division home games for the first time since 1999.
However despite starting 6–3, the Lions suffered a late-season collapse, as the Lions dropped to third place after their loss to the Ravens in Week 15, and then they were eliminated from postseason contention for the second straight year after their loss to the New York Giants in Week 16.Detroit Lions eliminated from playoff contention in overtime loss against Giants MLive.com, December 22, 2013 They lost their last game as well, and lost their final 3 games by a combined 6 points. The Lions lost many close games this season, with 6 out of their 9 losses being by a touchdown or less. They ended the season at 7–9.
Offseason
Re-signings Date Player Position Contract SourceMarch 12Corey HilliardOffensive tackle2 years / $2.53 millionKassim OsgoodWide receiver1 year / –Detroit Lions re-sign special teams ace Kassim Osgood MLive.com, March 12, 2013Ashlee PalmerLinebacker2 years / $3.25 millionAmari SpieveySafety1 year / $630,000Lions' Jason Fox, four exclusive-rights free agents sign their tenders Pride of Detroit, April 15, 2013March 13DeAndre LevyLinebacker3 years / $9.75 millionChris HoustonCornerback5 years / $25.00 millionMarch 14Don MuhlbachLong snapper1 year / $905,000March 15Louis DelmasSafety2 years / $8.59 millionLouis Delmas back with Lions ESPN, March 15, 2013Dylan GandyGuard1 year / $905,000April 15Brian RobiskieWide receiver1 year / $715,000Detroit Lions re-sign wide receiver Brian Robiskie MLive.com, April 15, 2013Willie YoungDefensive end1 year / $1.323 millionDetroit Lions re-sign Willie Young for less than restricted free agent tender MLive.com, April 16, 2013Jason Curtis FoxOffensive lineman1 year / $1.323 millionWillie Young and Jason Fox sign with Detroit Lions on Monday MLive.com, April 15, 2013Joique BellRunning back1 year / $630,000Ricard SilvaFree safety1 year / $555,000Shaun ChapasFullback1 year / $555,000Kris DurhamWide receiver1 year / $555,000July 7Matthew StaffordQuarterback3 years / $53 millionDetroit Lions, Matthew Stafford on verge of three-year contract extension Yahoo! Sports, July 9, 2013
Additions Date Player Position Previous team Contract SourceMarch 12Reggie BushRunning backMiami Dolphins4 years / $16.00 million"Lions add Reggie Bush to fold," ESPN (March 13, 2013). Retrieved March 13, 2013.Jason JonesDefensive tackleSeattle Seahawks3 years / $9.50 millionGlover QuinSafetyHouston Texans5 years / $23.50 millionDevin ThomasWide receiverChicago Bears1 year / $715,000April 3C. J. MosleyDefensive linemanJacksonville Jaguars2 years / $2.75 millionC.J. Mosley will sign with Detroit Lions today during visit MLive.com, April 3, 2013April 5David AkersPlacekickerSan Francisco 49ers1 year / $1.005 millionDetroit Lions sign kicker David Akers to replace Jason Hanson MLive.com, April 5, 2013April 11Håvard RuglandPlacekickerUndrafted free agent3 years / $1.485 millionDetroit Lions sign internet sensation Havard 'Kickalicious' Rugland MLive.com, April 11, 2013April 27Skyler AllenCenterOhioUCLA TE Joseph Fauria among undrafted players signed by Detroit Lions MLive.com, April 27, 2013Mic'hael BrooksDefensive tackleEast CarolinaAlex CarderQuarterbackWestern MichiganJoseph FauriaTight endUCLAAustin HoltzOffensive tackleBall StateSteven MillerRunning backAppalachian StateJon MorganLinebackerAlbanyMartavius NelomsCornerbackKentuckyTravis TarpleyWide receiverDelaware StateLaAdrian WaddleOffensive tackleTexas TechCody WilsonWide receiverCentral MichiganApril 28Alex ElkinsLinebackerOklahoma State2013 Lions undrafted free agent tracker Pride of Detroit, April 27, 2013Marvin BookerDefensive endRutgers
Retirements Date Player Position SourceMarch 14Jeff BackusOffensive tackleJeff Backus retires from Detroit Lions after 12 NFL seasons MLive.com, March 14, 2013April 4Jason HansonPlacekickerDetroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson retires after 21 seasons MLive.com, April 4, 2013
Departures Date Player Position Note New team SourceFebruary 4Titus YoungWide receiverReleasedMarch 12Gosder CherilusOffensive tackleUFAIndianapolis ColtsReport: Colts reach agreement with OT Gosder Cherilus CBS Sports, March 12, 2013March 13Drayton FlorenceCornerbackUFACarolina PanthersPanthers sign veteran Drayton Florence NBC Sports, March 13, 2013Sammie Lee HillDefensive tackleUFATennessee TitansSammie Lee Hill, Tennessee Titans strike 3-year dealMarch 25Kevin BarnesCornerbackUFACleveland BrownsMarch 26Justin DurantLinebackerUFADallas CowboysApril 27Stephen PetermanOffensive guardReleasedNew York JetsApril 28Cliff AvrilDefensive endUFASeattle SeahawksSpirits high with Vikings Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, April 28, 2013Kyle Vanden BoschDefensive endUFALawrence JacksonDefensive endUFAMinnesota VikingsJuly 17Jahvid BestRunning backReleased
2013 Draft class
Draft order Player name Position College Contract Notes Source Round Choice Overall155Ezekiel AnsahDefensive endBYU5 years /Detroit Lions select Ezekiel Ansah in first round of 2013 NFL draft MLive.com, April 26, 20132436Darius SlayDefensive backMississippi State4 years /Detroit Lions select Mississippi State CB Darius Slay in second round of 2013 NFL draft MLive.com, April 27, 20133365 Larry Warford Offensive lineman Kentucky4 years /Detroit Lions fill massive need with massive guard prospect Larry Warford MLive.com, April 27, 201345102Traded to the Minnesota VikingsVikings traded to Patriots35132Devin TaylorDefensive endSouth Carolina4 years /CompensatoryDetroit Lions draft South Carolina defensive end Devin Taylor in fourth round MLive.com, April 27, 201354137Traded to the Seattle Seahawks32165Sam MartinPunterAppalachian State4 years /from SeahawksDetroit Lions select Appalachian State punter Sam Martin in the fifth round MLive.com, April 27, 201363171Corey FullerWide receiverVirginia Tech4 years / $2.283 millionDetroit Lions select Virginia Tech WR Corey Fuller in sixth round of 2013 NFL draft MLive.com, April 27, 201331199Theo RiddickRunning back5 ft 10 in205 lbsNotre Dame4 years / $2.25 millionfrom 49ers via SeahawksDetroit Lions add Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick with pick No. 199 MLive.com, April 27, 201375211Michael WilliamsTight endAlabama4 years / $2.22 millionDetroit Lions select Alabama TE Michael Williams in seventh round of 2013 NFL draft MLive.com, April39245Brandon HepburnLinebackerFlorida A&M4 years / $2.205 millionCompensatoryDetroit Lions draft biochemist Brandon Hepburn with final 2013 draft pick MLive.com, April 28, 2013
Notes The Lions traded their original fourth-round selection (No. 102 overall) along with a 2012 seventh-round selection to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the Vikings' 2012 fifth- and seventh-round selections. The Lions received two compensatory selections – Nos. 132 and 245 overall.
Final roster
Staff
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New York Jets W 26–17 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 at Cleveland Browns L 6–24 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 New England Patriots W 40–9 2–1 Ford Field Recap 4 at Buffalo Bills W 35–13 3–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 Minnesota Vikings W 34–24 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 September 15 at Arizona Cardinals L 21–25 1–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 3 September 22 at Washington Redskins W 27–20 2–1 FedExField Recap 4 September 29 Chicago Bears W 40–32 3–1 Ford Field Recap 5 October 6 at Green Bay Packers L 9–22 3–2 Lambeau Field Recap 6 October 13 at Cleveland Browns W 31–17 4–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 7 October 20 Cincinnati Bengals L 24–27 4–3 Ford Field Recap 8 October 27 Dallas Cowboys W 31–30 5–3 Ford Field Recap 9Bye 10 November 10 at Chicago Bears W 21–19 6–3 Soldier Field Recap 11 November 17 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 27–37 6–4 Heinz Field Recap 12 November 24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 21–24 6–5 Ford Field Recap 13 November 28 Green Bay Packers W 40–10 7–5 Ford Field Recap 14 December 8 at Philadelphia Eagles L 20–34 7–6 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 15 Baltimore Ravens L 16–18 7–7 Ford Field Recap 16 December 22 New York Giants L 20–23 7–8 Ford Field Recap 17 December 29 at Minnesota Vikings L 13–14 7–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings scored first, and quickly. After the Lions failed on a field goal attempt when new punter/holder Sam Martin fumbled the snap, the Vikings took over on their own 22. On the first play from scrimmage, Adrian Peterson scampered 78 yards for a touchdown. David Akers made it 7–3 on a 33-yard field goal, though the Lions missed out on seven points that series when a touchdown reception by Calvin Johnson was reversed. In the second quarter, Akers connected on a 42-yard field goal to make the score 7–6. The Vikings responded with a 65-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 4-yard TD run from Peterson, to go up 14–6. The Lions closed the gap late in the half when Joique Bell finished off a 70-yard drive with a 1-yard run to make it 14–13. Bell plunged over from the 1-yard line again in the third quarter to put the Lions up for the first time in the game, 20–14. The Vikings' Blair Walsh narrowed the lead to 20–17 with a 52-yard field goal. The Lions then went up 27–17 when Matthew Stafford and new acquisition Reggie Bush connected on a 77-yard pass play. Adrian Peterson scored his third touchdown of the day, on a 4-yard pass from Christian Ponder, to put the Vikings within 3 points again, 27–24. The Lions got the only score of the fourth quarter, a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to rookie tight end Joseph Fauria, making the final score Detroit 34, Minnesota 24. Reggie Bush had 191 yards from scrimmage on the afternoon (90 rushing, 101 receiving), while Matthew Stafford was 28-of-43 passing for 357 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. After Adrian Peterson's opening 78-yard run, the Lions defense held him to just 15 yards on 17 carries.
Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals