1991 Detroit Lions season

Infobox NFL_season

team = Detroit Lions
year = 1991
record = 12-4
division_place = 1st NFC Central
coach = Wayne Fontes
stadium = Pontiac Silverdome
playoffs = Appeared in NFC Championship GameThe 1991 season was the Lions first playoff appearance since 1983. The Lions were shocked by an accident that occurred in a game against the Los Angeles Rams. Offensive Lineman Mike Utley suffered a blow to the head and was paralyzed. Two years after drafting Barry Sanders, the Lions drafted another offensive superstar in Herman Moore. Another highlight of the season would be the emergence of journeyman quarterback Erik Kramer, who would replace an injured Rodney Peete and get the Lions into the postseason. The Lions season would begin and end in RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. In week 1, the Lions were trounced by the Redskins 45-0. Despite the poor start, the Lions rebounded to win the NFC Central and appear in the NFC Championship Game. Once more, the Lions would face off against the Redskins and emerge on the losing side.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Round one

Roster

Postseason

NFC Divisional Playoff

* Detroit Lions 38, Dallas Cowboys 6Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cowboys
R1=3
R2=3
R3=0
R4=0
RT=6
Home=Lions
H1=7
H2=10
H3=14
H4=7
HT=38

"at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan"

*Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
*Game weather: Played indoors, domed stadium
*TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
*Referee: Gordon McCarter
*Game attendance: 79,835

Quarterback Erik Kramer led the Lions to their first postseason victory since 1957 by completing 29 out of 38 passes for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns.

NFC Championship Game

* Washington Redskins 41, Detroit Lions 10Linescore Amfootball
Road=Lions
R1=0
R2=10
R3=0
R4=0
RT=10
Home=Redskins
H1=10
H2=7
H3=10
H4=14
HT=41

"at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C."

*Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
*Game weather: convert|40|°F|°C, clear
*TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
*Referee: Bob McElwee
*Game attendance: 55,585

The Redskins crushed the Lions, 41-10, as quarterback Mark Rypien completed 12 out of 17 passes for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns. Detroit quarterback Erik Kramer was sacked 5 times, three of them by Washington linebacker Wilber Marshall. Lions future hall of fame running back Barry Sanders, who rushed for 1,548 yards during the season, was held to just 44 yards on 11 carries.

Awards and Honors

*Mel Gray, NFL Kickoff Return Leader
* Barry Sanders, All-Pro
* Barry Sanders, NFC Pro Bowl Selection
* Barry Sanders, Bert Bell Award

Notes and references

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1991.htm?redir Detroit Lions on Pro Football Reference]
* [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1991-det Detroit Lions on jt-sw.com]