Tag Archives: Detroit Lions

1997 Game 157 (Week 12) Minnesota at Detroit

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Lions get back on track with an explosive second half

After a stunning loss last week to the Redskins, the Detroit Lions got back on track Sunday inside the Silver Dome with a huge second half against the Minnesota Vikings to win 29-17.

Trailing 14-6 at halftime, the Lions’ offense exploded behind the running game of Barry Sanders and the passing attack of QB Scott Mitchell. The Lions rolled up 302 yards in the second half alone and scored three touchdowns.

Sanders, the leading rusher in the NFL, had 56 yards at halftime on the ground with a crucial fumble. In the second half, he rushed for 89 yards and scored two touchdowns. He finished the day with 145 yards on 23 carries. On the season, Sanders now has rushed for 1,573 yards and scored 13 TDs. He is on pace to blow away the single-season rushing record. He is on pace for 2,288 yards. Eric Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards in 1984 and has the record.

Mitchell got hot in the second half as well. He threw for 210 yards in the second half and connected with Sanders on a 19-yard scoring strike. Along with his 145 rushing yards, Sanders caught three passes for 31 yards and a TD. WR Johnnie Morton caught nine passes for 129 yards.

On the defensive side, the Lions were dominated by DE Robert Porcher. He had another ½ of a sack on the day giving him 14.5 on the season, which is tops in the NFL. Porcher also tackled Vikings’ RB Robert Smith in the end zone for a safety.

As for the Vikings, their offense fizzled out in the second half. They accumulated 180 yards in the first half and two touchdowns. Chris Carter caught a one-yard pass from Brad Johnson, and Robert Smith plunged in from a yard out to give the Vikings a 17-6 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Vikings mustered up 78 total yards.

The Lions (8-3) have a firm grip on a Wildcard spot in the NFC. They will host the Indianapolis Colts next weekend in the Silver Dome before their Thanksgiving matchup with the Bears. The Vikings won 5 of their last 6 games before the loss in the Silver Dome. They are now 5-6 on the season and are outside looking in at a Wildcard spot. They will travel to New Jersey next weekend to face the Jets.

1997 Game 157 Stats

1997 Game 139 (Week 11) Detroit at Washington

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Redskins take down the red-hot Lions

One of the premiere showdowns of week 11 was a matchup between the red-hot Detroit Lions, who have won four in a row including a huge upset of the World Champion Packers at Lambeau Field, and the NFC East leading Washington Redskins.

Redskins’ head coach Norv Turner had an outstanding gameplan to keep Barry Sanders and the high-flying Lions’ offense off the field…ball possession. Until late in the 4th quarter, the Redskins dominated the time of possession with an effective running attack and an efficient play action passing game. In fact, the Redskins rushed the ball 42 times on Sunday. RB Terry Allen was back in action and carried the ball 27 times for 97 yards.

Redskins’ QB Gus Frerotte threw for 215 yards on 15 of 28 passing with a TD. 13 of his completions were to tight ends and running backs. In fact, Leslie Shepherd was the only wide receiver to catch a ball for the Skins with 2 receptions for 45 yards.

On the defensive side of things, the Redskins held all-world running back Barry Sanders in check as Sanders only rushed the ball 13 times in the game. Sanders is on pace to rush for over two thousand yards, but the Redskins held Sanders to only 81 yards until late in the 4th quarter. Sanders ripped off a 29-yard draw play and that put him to 110 yards on 13 carries on the day. Sanders is on pace to rush for nearly 2,300 yards. He has 1,428 yards through 10 games with 11 TDs.

The worst thing that happened to the Lions was that QB Scott Mitchell came out with a concussion. He was 8 of 14 for 127 yards and a TD when he left the game in the 2nd quarter. Frank Reich replaced Mitchell and he struggled. He went 12 of 35 for 112 yards with an interception. He was also sacked three times.

The Redskins are atop of the NFC East standings at 7-3. They have a great opportunity next Sunday to knock off the Cowboys at Texas Stadium and really damage the Cowboys’ chances at making the playoffs.

The Lions’ loss hurt their chances at catching the Packers atop the NFC Central standings. They are now 7-3 and two games back of the Packers. Next week, the Lions host division-rival the Minnesota Vikings.

1997 Game 139 Stats

1997 Game 134 (Week 10) Detroit at Green Bay

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Lions shock the Packers in OT

The Detroit Lions have proved that they one of the top contenders in the NFL as they shocked the World Champion Green Bay Packers and beat them at Lambeau Field in an instant classic, 38-35 in overtime.

The Lions are now just one game back from the Packers in the NFC Central standings. The Packers are now 8-1 and the Lions are 7-2. The Lions have now won four in a row as the possess one of the top offenses in the NFL with superstars like Barry Sanders, Herman Moore and Scott Mitchell. The Lions ripped up one of the top defenses in the NFL as they racked up 528 total yards on Sunday Night Football.

The Lions shocked the Packers early as they took a 21-7 lead at halftime. Then Brett Favre got hot. The two-time MVP and Lions’ QB Scott Mitchell got into a shootout. With the Lions up 28-14 going into the 4th quarter, Favre brough the Packers back scoring 21 straight points to take a 35-28 lead as it looked like the Packers would stay undefeated.

The Packers could have sealed the game, but Favre’s pass to Antonio Freeman was batted away and the Packers had to punt. Taking over at their own 7-yard line and a 1:15 left, the Lions were in dire straits; however, they got a big play by Glynn Milburn, who caught a 37-yard pass from Mitchell. Then on the play, the Packers were flagged for unnecessary roughing and in one play the Lions were in Packers’ territory.

After a 4-yd gain, the Packers were flagged for a 25-yard defensive pass interference that put the ball at the Packers 10-yard line. From there, TE David Sloan caught a pass from Mitchell and dove into the end zone to tie the game, which sent it to overtime.

Both teams had multiple possessions and that’s when Barry Sanders took over. On a third and 15, Mitchell called a draw play and Sanders broke through the Packers line and got the first down on a 20-yard gain. Later in the drive, Sanders busted loose for 14 yards and 20 yards again to put the ball deep in Packer territory. On the night, Sanders rushed for 207 yards on 28 carries.

Kicker Jason Hanson missed two field goals earlier in the night, so the 29-yarder was not automatic. After a Packer timeout, Hanson didn’t flinch and drilled the 29-yarder to give the Lions the victory and sent the Packers to their first defeat of the season.

Sanders has now rushed for 1,318 yards in 9 games this season. He is on pace to rush for over 2,300 yards. He also has 11 TDs on the season.

Brett Favre had a big night as he threw for 322 yards and 4 TDs. He now has 19 TD passes on the season as Sanders and Favre are battling for the league’s MVP award.

Next week, the Lions will try to keep things rolling as they travel to Washington to take on the Redskins. The Packers will stay home and face the St. Louis Rams.

1997 Game 134 Stats