The 2010 season was the Detroit Lions' 81st in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Jim Schwartz. They spent most of the season at the bottom of the NFC North, but with more division wins than the Minnesota Vikings (whose overall record was the same), the Lions ended up at third place on the final day of the season with a victory over that team. They were eliminated from playoff contention after their Thanksgiving Day loss, extending their postseason drought to 11 seasons, tied with the Buffalo Bills for the longest active streak in the NFL. High points of the season included two division wins, the first being a 7–3 victory over the eventual Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers that snapped a 19-game losing streak against division opponents, and a four-game winning streak which included a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that ended their record 26-game road losing streak. The Lions also sent two players to the 2011 Pro Bowl: wide receiver Calvin Johnson and rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
The Lions missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season, tying a record set between 1971 and 1981. After the Week 13 loss to the Chicago Bears, the Lions hit a low point of 5 wins and 47 losses since their 44–7 win against the Denver Broncos in Week 9 of the 2007 season.
Off-season
Roster changes
Free agents
Player 2010 Team Signed ILB Cody Spencer RFA G/T Damion Cook UFA Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) QB Daunte Culpepper UFA Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL) June 7 ILB Larry Foote UFA Pittsburgh Steelers March 15 CB Anthony Henry UFA CB William James UFA San Francisco 49ers May 5 QB Patrick Ramsey UFA Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) June 1 RB Cedric Peerman UFA Cincinnati Bengals April 27WR Michael Ray Garvin UFA Las Vegas Locomotives (UFL) June 2DT Terrance Taylor UFA S DeAngelo Smith UFA Cleveland Browns April 28WR Kole Heckendorf UFA Seattle Seahawks May 12
Releases
Player Released 2010 Team Signed CB Phillip Buchanon March 4 Washington Redskins March 29DT Grady Jackson March 5 DE Dewayne White March 8 Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) June 2OG Daniel Loper April 15 Oakland Raiders May 16S Kalvin Pearson April 16 CB Kevin Hobbs April 16 Miami Dolphins August 12CB Brian Witherspoon April 16 Carolina Panthers April 16SS Daniel Bullocks July 8 Omaha Nighthawks (UFL)
Signings
Player 2009 Team Signed S Jonathan Hefney UFA Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) January 4 LB Ashlee Palmer UFA Buffalo Bills February 18 WR Nate Burleson UFA Seattle Seahawks March 5DT Corey Williams RFA Cleveland Browns March 5 DE Kyle Vanden Bosch UFA Tennessee Titans March 5CB Jonathan Wade UFA St. Louis Rams March 8CB Chris Houston RFA Atlanta Falcons March 8QB Shaun Hill RFA San Francisco 49ers March 14LB Landon Johnson UFA Carolina Panthers March 19OG Rob Sims RFA Seattle Seahawks April 5TE Tony Scheffler RFA Denver Broncos April 19G Trevor Canfield RFA Seattle Seahawks April 19DB C.C. Brown UFA New York Giants May 10LB Isaiah Ekejiuba UFA Oakland Raiders July 23DE Lawrence Jackson RFA Seattle Seahawks August 18CB T. J. Rushing UFA Indianapolis Colts August 18S John Wendling UFA Buffalo Bills August 27TE Spencer Havner UFA Green Bay Packers September 5WR Stefan Logan UFA Pittsburgh Steelers September 5TE J. J. Finley UFA San Francisco 49ers September 8
Trades
On September 4, the Lions traded Dan Gronkowski to Denver for Alphonso Smith.
2010 Draft class
Round Selection Player Position College 1 2 Ndamukong Suh DT Nebraska 1 30 Jahvid Best RB California 3 66 Amari Spievey CB Iowa 4 128 Jason Fox OT Miami (FL)7 213 Willie Young DE North Carolina State7 255 Tim Toone WR Weber State Denver traded its 2010 fifth-round selection and a 2009 seventh-round selection to Detroit for a 2009 sixth-round selection.
The Lions traded their original seventh-round pick to Buffalo for S Ko Simpson.
The Lions traded their 2010 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2011 seventh-round pick to Atlanta for CB Chris Houston.
The Lions traded a 2010 fifth-round pick (the pick they acquired from Denver) to Cleveland for DT Corey Williams and a 2010 seventh-round pick (214).
The Lions traded seventh-round pick 220 to Philadelphia for their 2011 sixth-round selection.
The Lions traded LB Ernie Sims to Philadelphia, the Broncos received a fifth-round pick from Philadelphia, and the Lions received TE Tony Scheffler and a 2010 seventh-round pick 220 from Denver in a three team trade.
The Lions traded their second-round pick, their original fourth-round pick and seventh-round pick 214 to Minnesota for their first-round pick and their fourth-round pick.
The Lions traded their 2010 fifth-round pick and DE Robert Henderson to Seattle for OG Rob Sims and their 2010 seventh-round pick.
Awarded to the Lions as a compensatory pick.
Undrafted free agents
PositionPlayerCollege WR Michael Moore Georgia DT Robert Callaway Saginaw Valley State TE Richard Dickson Louisiana State CB Aaron Berry Pittsburgh S Randy Phillips Miami (FL) DE Korey Bosworth UCLA
Staff Detroit Lions 2010 staff Front office Owner/chairman – William Clay Ford Sr. Vice chairman – William Clay Ford Jr. President – Tom Lewand Senior vice president/general manager – Martin Mayhew Senior personnel executive – James "Shack" Harris Vice president of football operations – Cedric Saunders Vice president of pro personnel – Sheldon White Director of college scouting – Scott McEwen Assistant director of college scouting/national scout – Lance Newmark Assistant director of pro personnel – Miller McCalmon Assistant director of pro personnel – Charlie Sanders
Head coaches Head coach – Jim Schwartz Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator – Gunther Cunningham
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Scott Linehan Assistant quarterbacks – Todd Downing Running backs – Sam Gash Wide receivers – Shawn Jefferson Tight ends – Tim Lappano Offensive line – George Yarno Assistant offensive line – Jeremiah Washburn Defensive coaches Defensive line – Kris Kocurek Linebackers – Matt Burke Secondary – Tim Walton Assistant secondary – Daron Roberts Defensive assistant – Don Clemons
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Danny Crossman Assistant special teams – Bradford Banta
Strength and conditioning Coordinator of physical development – Jason Arapoff Strength and conditioning assistant – Ted Rath
Final roster
Schedule Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 23–7 0–1 Heinz Field Recap 2 at Denver Broncos W 25–20 1–1 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 3 Cleveland Browns W 35–27 2–1 Ford Field Recap 4 Buffalo Bills W 28–23 3–1 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at Chicago Bears L 14–19 0–1 Soldier Field Recap 2 September 19 Philadelphia Eagles L 32–35 0–2 Ford Field Recap 3 September 26 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–24 0–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 4 October 3 at Green Bay Packers L 26–28 0–4 Lambeau Field Recap 5 October 10 St. Louis Rams W 44–6 1–4 Ford Field Recap 6 October 17 at New York Giants L 20–28 1–5 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 7Bye 8 October 31 Washington Redskins W 37–25 2–5 Ford Field Recap 9 November 7 New York Jets L 20–23 2–6 Ford Field Recap 10 November 14 at Buffalo Bills L 12–14 2–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at Dallas Cowboys L 19–35 2–8 Cowboys Stadium Recap November 25 New England Patriots L 24–45 2–9 Ford Field Recap 13 December 5 Chicago Bears L 20–24 2–10 Ford Field Recap 14 December 12 Green Bay Packers W 7–3 3–10 Ford Field Recap 15 December 19 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–20 4–10 Raymond James Stadium Recap 16 December 26 at Miami Dolphins W 34–27 5–10 Sun Life Stadium Recap 17 January 2 Minnesota Vikings W 20–13 6–10 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Indicates that throwback uniforms were worn.
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: at Chicago Bears
The Lions opened the season at Soldier Field against their NFC North foe the Chicago Bears. The Bears took an early lead in the first quarter with a 20-yard field goal by kicker Robbie Gould. The Lions answered with two consecutive touchdowns by rookie running back Jahvid Best: first a 7-yard run, and later in the second quarter with a 4-yard run. The Bears responded with an 89-yard catch and run touchdown by Matt Forté and later with a 31-yard field goal from Gould just before halftime. The only score of the second half was a 28-yard touchdown catch by Forté (with a failed 2-point conversion), giving the Bears a late lead. Late in the game, quarterback Shaun Hill completed what would have been the game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Johnson. A touchdown was initially signaled, but the officials conferred and ruled that Johnson did not "complete the catch during the process of the catch." The play was reviewed and the ruling on the field of an incomplete pass stood.
With the loss, the Lions started their season 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
For their home opener, the Lions hosted the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles scored first midway through the first quarter with a 45-yard touchdown catch by DeSean Jackson. The Lions responded a few minutes later with a 14-yard touchdown run by Jahvid Best. Later in the second quarter the Lions broke the tie with a 49-yard Jason Hanson field goal. They increased their lead with a 75-yard touchdown catch by Jahvid Best. The Eagles answered with 4 consecutive touchdowns. First a 14-yard run by LeSean McCoy. Next a 9-yard run by Jeremy Maclin just before halftime. Midway through the third, Philadelphia added to their lead with 2 touchdowns by LeSean McCoy. First a 4-yard run, then in the 4th quarter one for 46 yards. The Lions then attempted a comeback with 2 consecutive touchdowns late in the game. First a 2-yard touchdown run by Jahvid Best. Then a 19-yard catch by Calvin Johnson with a 2-point conversion tacked on. The Lions completed an onside kick but turned the ball over on downs.
With the loss, the Lions fell to 0–2 for the 3rd straight season.
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
In week 3, the Lions traveled to Minneapolis to take on division rivals the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions took an early lead with a 5-yard touchdown catch by Tony Scheffler. The Vikings tied it up 24-yard catch by Percy Harvin. They then took the lead in the second quarter with a 6-yard run by Adrian Peterson. The Lions responded just before halftime with a 33-yard field goal. Midway through the third quarter the Vikings added to their lead with a 31-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell. A few minutes later they sealed their win with an 80-yard run by Adrian Peterson.
With the loss, the Lions fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at Green Bay Packers
In week 4, the Lions traveled across Lake Michigan to Green Bay, Wisconsin to play division rivals the Green Bay Packers. The Packers started the scoring in the first quarter with a 29-yard TD catch by Donald Driver from Aaron Rodgers. The Lions tied it up in the second quarter with a 23-yard TD catch by Calvin Johnson. The Packers took the lead with a 13-yard catch by Jermichael Finley. They added to their lead 17-yard catch by Greg Jennings. The Lions responded just before halftime with a 21-yard catch by Calvin Johnson. Just after the break, the Packers' Charles Woodson returned an interception for a touchdown. The Lions attempted a comeback with 4 consecutive field goals: from 39 yards and 52 yards in the 3rd quarter, and later from 49 yards and 24 yards in the 4th. With the loss, not only did the Lions fall to 0–4, but it also marked their 19th consecutive loss in Wisconsin.
Week 5: vs. St. Louis Rams