The 1970 Detroit Lions season was the 41st season in franchise history. With a record of 10–4, their best in eight years, the Lions finished in second place in the NFC Central and qualified for the playoffs as the NFC's first ever Wildcard team. Detroit made the postseason for the first time since their championship season in 1957 (they played in three post-season runner-up games (Playoff Bowl) in 1960, 1961, and 1962 and won all three).
One unusual loss during the regular season was at New Orleans in Week 8. The Lions led by a point with only two seconds left, but Saints kicker Tom Dempsey booted a then-record 63-yard field goal as time expired to give the Saints a 19–17 win.
In the divisional round of the playoffs at the Cotton Bowl, the Lions fell 5–0 to the Dallas Cowboys in the lowest scoring game in NFL playoff history, and the first without a touchdown in twenty years.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Roster 1970 Detroit Lions roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams Reserve lists
Taxi squad
39 active, 8 reserve, 5 taxi / practice squad
Rookies in italics
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 20 at Green Bay Packers W 40–0 1–0 Lambeau Field 56,263 Recap 2 September 27 Cincinnati Bengals W 38–3 2–0 Tiger Stadium 58,202 Recap 3 Chicago Bears W 28–14 3–0 Tiger Stadium 58,210 Recap 4 October 11 at Washington Redskins L 10–31 3–1 RFK Stadium 50,414 Recap 5 October 18 at Cleveland Browns W 41–24 4–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 83,577 Recap 6 October 25 at Chicago Bears W 16–10 5–1 Wrigley Field 45,632 Recap 7 November 1 Minnesota Vikings L 17–30 5–2 Tiger Stadium 58,210 Recap 8 November 8 at New Orleans Saints L 17–19 5–3 Tulane Stadium 66,910 Recap 9 November 15 at Minnesota Vikings L 20–24 5–4 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 Recap 10 November 22 San Francisco 49ers W 28–7 6–4 Tiger Stadium 56,232 Recap 11 November 26 Oakland Raiders W 28–14 7–4 Tiger Stadium 56,597 Recap 12 December 6 St. Louis Cardinals W 16–3 8–4 Tiger Stadium 56,362 Recap 13 at Los Angeles Rams W 28–23 9–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 79,441 Recap 14 December 20 Green Bay Packers W 20–0 10–4 Tiger Stadium 57,387 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Season summary
Week 3
Standings
Playoffs
References
Detroit Lions on Pro Football Reference Detroit Lions on jt-sw.com Detroit Lions on The Football Database