The 2019 season was the Detroit Lions' 90th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second year under head coach Matt Patricia. The Lions had a promising start to the season with a 2–0–1 record. However, they lost 12 of their last 13 games, with 8 of those 12 losses being decided by a touchdown or less, and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention following a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Chicago Bears in week 13. After franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford broke his backbone in a Week 9 loss to the Oakland Raiders, the Lions were forced to turn to former Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Jeff Driskel and later undrafted free agent David Blough, neither of whom was able to lead the Lions to a single win. The Lions failed to improve on their 6–10 record from last season, finishing the season with a 3–12–1 record and nine consecutive losses. This resulted in the 3rd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. They also posted consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2012–2013. Not only that, they also got swept by their division rivals for the first time since 2012.
Offseason Coaching changes On January 1, the Lions announced that Jim Bob Cooter would not return as offensive coordinator. On January 16, the Lions hired Darrell Bevell as offensive coordinator. On January 22, the Lions hired John Bonamego as special teams coordinator. On February 26, the Lions hired Kyle Caskey as running backs coach. On March 11, the Lions hired Stephen Thomas as defensive quality control coach, Rodney Hill as assistant strength and performance coach, Leon Washington as WCF minority coaching assistantship/offense and special teams coach, and Marquice Williams as assistant special teams coach.
Additions Date Player Position Previous team Contract Source January 1 Connor Cook Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $645,000 March 11 Danny Amendola Wide receiver Miami Dolphins 1 year / $5.75 million March 14 Justin Coleman Cornerback Seattle Seahawks 4 years / $36 million Trey Flowers Defensive end New England Patriots 5 years / $90 million Jesse James Tight end Pittsburgh Steelers 4 years / $22.6 million Oday Aboushi Guard Arizona Cardinals 1 year / $2 million Andrew Adams Safety Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 year / $920,000 March 19 Tommylee Lewis Wide receiver New Orleans Saints 1 year / $920,000 March 21 Logan Thomas Tight end Buffalo Bills 1 year / $895,000 March 23 Rashaan Melvin Cornerback Oakland Raiders 1 year / $2.15 million April 5 C. J. Anderson Running back Los Angeles Rams 1 year / $1.5 million April 9 Tom Savage Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $895,000 May 9 T. J. Hockenson Tight end Iowa 4 year / $19.82 million Amani Oruwariye Cornerback Penn State 4 year / $2.84 million Jahlani Tavai Linebacker Hawaii 4 year / $6.89 million May 10 Nate Becker Tight end Miami Undrafted FA Beau Benzschawel Guard Wisconsin Malik Carney Linebacker North Carolina Jonathan Duhart Wide receiver Old Dominion Tre Lamar Linebacker Clemson C. J. Moore Safety Mississippi Matt Nelson Tackle Iowa Donald Parham Tight end Stetson Anthony Pittman Linebacker Wayne State Ryan Pope Tackle San Diego State Ray Smith Defensive tackle Boston College Micah St. Andrew Guard Fresno State Kevin Strong Defensive tackle UTSA May 12 Tom Kennedy Wide receiver Bryant University 3 year / $1.755 million Jordan Smallwood Wide receiver Kansas City Chiefs 1 year / – May 13 Austin Bryant Defensive end Clemson 4 year / $3.24 million P. J. Johnson Defensive tackle Arizona 4 year / $2.616 million Ty Johnson Running back Maryland 4 year / $2.69 million Isaac Nauta Tight end Georgia 4 year / $2.62 million Juwon Young Linebacker Marshall 1 year / – May 14 Travis Fulgham Wide receiver Old Dominion 4 year / $2.698 million June 3 Will Harris Safety Boston College 4 year / $3.472 million Brandon Reilly Wide receiver Dallas Cowboys 2 year / $1.23 million June 6 Jermaine Kearse Wide receiver New York Jets 1 year / $1.35 million June 10 Luke Bowanko Center Washington Redskins 1 year / – David Fales Quarterback Miami Dolphins 1 year / – July 22 Austin Traylor Tight end Salt Lake Stallions 1 year / $570,000 July 26 Mike Daniels Defensive tackle Green Bay Packers 1 year / $9.1 million July 30 Fred Jones Defensive tackle New York Jets 1 year / $495,000 August 4 Tarvarus McFadden Cornerback San Francisco 49ers 1 year / $495,000 August 28 James Williams Running back Washington State Undrafted FA
Departures Date Player Position Note New Team Source February 15 Glover Quin Safety Retired Bruce Ellington Wide receiver Released New England Patriots Nicholas Grigsby Linebacker Released Baltimore Ravens March 8 T. J. Lang Guard Retired March 10 Nevin Lawson Cornerback Released Oakland Raiders March 11 Trevor Bates Linebacker Released March 18 Kerry Hyder Defensive end UFA Dallas Cowboys March 29 Luke Willson Tight end UFA Oakland Raiders April 10 Eli Harold Defensive end UFA Buffalo Bills May 8 Ezekiel Ansah Defensive end UFA Seattle Seahawks May 9 Nick Bellore Fullback UFA Seattle Seahawks May 15 Levine Toilolo Tight end UFA San Francisco 49ers June 10 Connor Cook Quarterback Released June 14 Michael Roberts Tight end Released Green Bay Packers July 27 Theo Riddick Running back Released Denver Broncos August 4 Deontez Alexander Wide receiver Released August 27 Zach Zenner Running back Released
Re-signings Date Player Position Contract Source February 13 Don Muhlbach Long snapper 1 year / $1.12 million March 1 Romeo Okwara Defensive end 2 years / $6.8 million March 12 Zach Zenner Running back 1 year / – March 18 Marcus Cooper Cornerback 1 year / $895,000 March 22 Andrew Donnal Offensive tackle 1 year / $845,000
Trades On June 13, the Lions originally traded tight end Michael Roberts to the New England Patriots in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. The trade was rescinded the next day, and Roberts was subsequently released by the Lions. On October 22, the Lions traded safety Quandre Diggs and a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft to the Seattle Seahawks for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.Lions trade Quandre Diggs to Seahawks Pro Football Talk (NBC Sports), October 22, 2019
NFL draft
Draft trades The Lions acquired a fourth-round selection (No. 114) from the New England Patriots in the 2018 draft in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2019 draft. The Lions received a third round selection from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Golden Tate.Wide receiver Golden Tate heading from Lions to Eagles ESPN, October 30, 2018 The Lions acquired a third-round selection (No. 81) from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for their original third-round selection (No. 88) and a sixth-round selection (No. 204). The Lions acquired a fourth-round selection (No. 117) and a sixth-round selection (No. 186) from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for their original fourth-round selection (No. 111). The Miami Dolphins traded a conditional seventh-round selection to Detroit in exchange for defensive tackle Akeem Spence.Lions trade DT Akeem Spence to Dolphins ESPN, May 3, 2018 Detroit traded a fifth-round selection to the New York Giants in exchange for defensive tackle Damon Harrison. The condition was that the Giants would receive the higher of Detroit or San Francisco's 5th round selections. The San Francisco 49ers traded their fifth-round selection to Detroit in exchange for guard Laken Tomlinson.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New England Patriots L 3–31 0–1 Ford Field Recap 2 at Houston Texans L 23–30 0–2 NRG Stadium Recap 3 Buffalo BillsL 20–24 0–3 Ford Field Recap 4 at Cleveland Browns L 16–20 0–4 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 at Arizona Cardinals T 27–27 0–0–1 State Farm Stadium Recap 2 September 15 Los Angeles Chargers W 13–10 1–0–1 Ford Field Recap 3 September 22 at Philadelphia Eagles W 27–24 2–0–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 September 29 Kansas City Chiefs L 30–34 2–1–1 Ford Field Recap 5Bye 6 at Green Bay Packers L 22–23 2–2–1 Lambeau Field Recap 7 October 20 Minnesota Vikings L 30–42 2–3–1 Ford Field Recap 8 October 27 New York Giants W 31–26 3–3–1 Ford Field Recap 9 November 3 at Oakland Raiders L 24–31 3–4–1 RingCentral Coliseum Recap 10 November 10 at Chicago Bears L 13–20 3–5–1 Soldier Field Recap 11 November 17 Dallas Cowboys L 27–35 3–6–1 Ford Field Recap 12 November 24 at Washington Redskins L 16–19 3–7–1 FedExField Recap 13 November 28 Chicago Bears L 20–24 3–8–1 Ford Field Recap 14 December 8 at Minnesota Vikings L 7–20 3–9–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 15 December 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–38 3–10–1 Ford Field Recap 16 December 22 at Denver Broncos L 17–27 3–11–1 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 17 December 29 Green Bay Packers L 20–23 3–12–1 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
The Lions began the regular season on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. After a scoreless first quarter, the Lions took a big lead by scoring 17 points in the second quarter via a 55-yard field goal by Matt Prater, a 47-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Danny Amendola and a nine-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kenny Golladay. Arizona responded with a 20-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez to make the score 17–3 in favor of Detroit at half-time. Arizona scored the only points of the third quarter via a 42-yard field goal by Gonzalez. Detroit extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 23-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to T. J. Hockenson. The Cardinals responded with 18 points in the fourth quarter, via a 34-yard field goal by Gonzalez, a 27-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to David Johnson, and a four-yard touchdown pass from Murray to Larry Fitzgerald, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Murray to Christian Kirk to tie the game and force overtime. In overtime, the Cardinals scored via a 28-yard field goal by Gonzalez, and the Lions scored via a 33-yard field goal by Prater to re-tie the score before time expired. This was the first tie by the Lions since 1984 against the Philadelphia Eagles.Detroit Lions tie for first time since 1984, last blew 18-point lead in 2015 MLive.com, September 8, 2019
Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
In week 2, the Lions began their home schedule against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers took an early lead in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Austin Ekeler. The Lions responded with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Kerryon Johnson, and after a failed extra point conversion, the Lions trailed by a point. The Chargers extended their lead in the second quarter via a 39-yard field goal by Ty Long, making the score 10–6 in favor of Los Angeles at half-time. After a scoreless third quarter, Detroit scored the only points of the second half via a 31-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kenny Golladay to take a 13–10 lead. The Chargers' attempted comeback failed when a Philip Rivers pass was intercepted by Darius Slay in the end zone with 1:03 to play in the game, giving the Lions their first win of the season.
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles