1997 Detroit Lions season

Infobox NFL_season

team = Detroit Lions
year = 1997
record = 9-7
division_place = 3rd NFC Central
coach = Bobby Ross
stadium = Pontiac Silverdome
playoffs = Lost Wild Card PlayoffsThe 1997 season marked the Lions qualifying for the playoffs. Bobby Ross replaced Wayne Fontes as head coach. The highlight of the season was Barry Sanders becoming the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Regular Season

eason Schedule

eason Standings

Roster

Postseason

NFC Wild Card Game

* Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Detroit Lions 10Linescore Amfootball
Road=Lions
R1=0
R2=0
R3=3
R4=7
RT=10
Home=Buccaneers
H1=3
H2=10
H3=7
H4=0
HT=20

"at Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa, Florida"

*Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
*Game weather: convert|57|°F|°C, partly cloudy
*TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
*Referee: Mike Carey
*Game attendance: 73,361

Tampa Bay won their first playoff game since 1979 with quarterback Trent Dilfer's 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Horace Copeland, running back Mike Alstott's 31-yard touchdown run, and two field goals. Their defense limited Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell to just 10 of 25 completions for 78 yards.

Awards and Honors

* Barry Sanders, All-Pro
*Barry Sanders, NFC Pro Bowl Selection
* Barry Sanders, NFL MVP

Milestones

* Barry Sanders, 1st 2000 yard season

Notes and references

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1997.htm?redir Detroit Lions on Pro Football Reference]
* [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1997-det Detroit Lions on jt-sw.com]