The 2015 season was the Detroit Lions' 86th in the National Football League (NFL), their 82nd as the Detroit Lions and their second under head coach Jim Caldwell. By Week 7 of the season, the Lions had already lost six games, more than they did in the entire 2014 season. This led to the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and two other coaches. After falling to 1–7 the following week, the team fired president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew. On November 19, the Lions named Rod Wood as team president. The Lions were eliminated from playoff contention after their loss to the St. Louis Rams in week 14. The team had a 6–2 record in the second half of the season to finish at 7–9, good for third place in the NFC North. One highlight of the season was the Lions beating the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field for the first time since 1991.
Offseason
Re-signings Date Player Position Contract Source February 27 Don Muhlbach Long snapper 1 year / $1.05 millionMarch 2 Dan Orlovsky Quarterback 1 year / $1.05 million Darryl Tapp Defensive end 1 year / $950,000March 6 Matt Prater Placekicker 3 years / $9 million Kellen Moore Quarterback 2 years / $1.825 million March 10 Josh Bynes Linebacker 2 years / $1.81 million March 11 Isa Abdul-Quddus Safety 1 year / $1.5 million March 19 Rashean Mathis Cornerback 2 years / $3.5 million April 20 Jeremy Ross Return specialist 1 year / $585,000 August 5 DeAndre Levy Linebacker 4 years / $33.72 million
Arrivals Date Player Position Previous team Contract Source February 27 Phillip Hunt Defensive end Indianapolis Colts 1 year / $585,000 March 12 Tyrunn Walker Defensive end New Orleans Saints 1 year / $1.75 million April 3 Josh Wilson Cornerback Atlanta Falcons 1 year / $950,000 April 7 Brandon Copeland Linebacker Tennessee Titans 1 year / $460,000May 2Al BondGuardMemphisAnthony BooneQuarterbackDukeKyle BrindzaPlacekickerNotre DameIsaiah JohnsonSafetyGeorgia TechVernon JohnsonWide receiverTexas A&MDesmond LawrenceWide receiverNorth Carolina A&TCasey PierceTight endKent StateKevin SnyderLinebackerRutgersBrian SuiteSafetyUtah StateRasheed WilliamsRunning backAlfred StateTorrian WilsonOffensive linemanCentral FloridaZach ZennerRunning backSouth Dakota StateMay 8Alex CarterCornerbackStanford4 years / $3.058 millionGabe WrightDefensive tackleAuburn4 years / $2.801 millionMichael BurtonFullbackRutgers4 years / $2.46 millionQuandre DiggsCornerbackTexas4 years / $2.395 millionCorey RobinsonOffensive tackleSouth Carolina4 years / $2.338 millionMay 11Jarred HagginsWide receiverFlorida State3 years / $1.575 millionNathan LindseySafetyFort Hays State1 year / –Erik LoraWide receiverEastern Illinois1 year / –May 12Desmond MartinRunning backWayne State3 years / $1.575 millionLance MooreWide receiverPittsburgh Steelers1 year / $1.05 millionMay 13Greg SalasWide receiverNew York Jets1 year / $745,000Chris OwensCornerbackKansas City Chiefs1 year / –Ameer AbdullahRunning backNebraska4 years / $4.156 million June 10 David Ausberry Tight end Oakland Raiders 1 year / $660,000 June 11 Laken Tomlinson Guard Duke 4 years / $8.55 million June 15 Garrett Gilbert Quarterback New England Patriots 1 year / – June 22 Taylor Mays Safety Minnesota Vikings 1 year / $745,000 July 28 R. J. Stanford Cornerback Miami Dolphins 1 year / – August 4 Ethan Davis Cornerback Troy 1 year / –
Departures Date Player Position Note New Team Source February 25 Reggie Bush Running back ReleasedSan Francisco 49ers March 11 Ndamukong Suh Defensive tackle UFA Miami Dolphins March 12 Jed Collins Fullback UFA Dallas Cowboys March 13 Nick Fairley Defensive tackle UFA St. Louis Rams April 21 Rodney Austin Guard Released May 11 Desmond Lawrence Wide receiver Released May 12 Rasheed Williams Running back Released May 13 Skye Dawson Wide receiver Released Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) June 3 Erik Lora Wide receiver Released June 10 Nathan Lindsey Defensive back Released June 12 Anthony Boone Quarterback Released Montreal Alouettes (CFL) June 17 Rasheed Williams Running back Released August 4 Jerrell Harris Linebacker Released August 8 Ethan Davis Cornerback Waived
Trades On March 10, the Lions traded their fourth and fifth-round picks to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and a seventh-round pick. On April 15, the Lions traded defensive end George Johnson and a seventh-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round pick. On August 3, the Lions traded Mohammed Seisay to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
Draft
2015 Detroit Lions Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 28 Laken Tomlinson G Duke 2 54 Ameer Abdullah RB Nebraska 3 80 Alex Carter CB Stanford 4 113 Gabe Wright DT Auburn 5 168 Michael Burton FB Rutgers 6 200 Quandre Diggs CB Texas 7 240 Corey Robinson OT South Carolina Notes The Lions traded their fourth and fifth-round selections (Nos. 122 and 158 overall, respectively) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and the Ravens' seventh-round selection (No. 231 overall). The Lions traded defensive end George Johnson and their seventh-round selection (No. 231 overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round selection (No. 168 overall). The Lions traded their first-round selection (No. 23 overall) to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Denver's 2015 first and fifth-round selections (Nos. 28 and 143 overall, respectively), their fifth-round selection in the 2016 NFL draft, and guard Manny Ramirez. The Lions traded their third and fifth-round selections (Nos. 88 and 143 overall, respectively) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a third-round selection (No. 80 overall). The Lions traded their third-round selection in the 2016 NFL draft to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round selection (No. 113 overall).
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New York Jets W 23–3 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 at Washington Redskins L 17–21 1–1 FedExField Recap 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 22–17 2–1 EverBank Field Recap 4 Buffalo Bills W 17–10 3–1 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 at San Diego Chargers L 28–33 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 September 20 at Minnesota Vikings L 16–26 0–2 TCF Bank Stadium Recap 3 September 27 Denver Broncos L 12–24 0–3 Ford Field Recap 4 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–13 0–4 CenturyLink Field Recap 5 October 11 Arizona Cardinals L 17–42 0–5 Ford Field Recap 6 October 18 Chicago Bears W 37–34 1–5 Ford Field Recap 7 October 25 Minnesota Vikings L 19–28 1–6 Ford Field Recap 8 November 1 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–45 1–7 Wembley Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 15 at Green Bay Packers W 18–16 2–7 Lambeau Field Recap 11 November 22 Oakland Raiders W 18–13 3–7 Ford Field Recap 12 November 26 Philadelphia Eagles W 45–14 4–7 Ford Field Recap 13 Green Bay Packers L 23–27 4–8 Ford Field Recap 14 December 13 at St. Louis Rams L 14–21 4–9 Edward Jones Dome Recap 15 at New Orleans Saints W 35–27 5–9 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 16 December 27 San Francisco 49ers W 32–17 6–9 Ford Field Recap 17 January 3 at Chicago Bears W 24–20 7–9 Soldier Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at San Diego Chargers
The visiting Lions opened the 2015 season at San Diego. Detroit held a 21–3 lead midway through the second quarter, only to see the Chargers reel off 30 unanswered points on their way to a 33–28 victory.
Week 2: at Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings took an early 14–0 lead on the visiting Lions and never looked back, as Detroit struggled to find any offensive consistency, especially in the running game. (Quarterback Matthew Stafford was the leading rusher with only 20 yards.)
Week 3: vs. Denver Broncos
Playing in their home debut, the 0–2 Lions closed the game to 14–12 in the third quarter, but a two-point conversion to tie the score failed. Denver then scored the final 10 points for a 24–12 victory.
Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks
Playing on Monday Night, the Lions had a chance to upset last year's NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. Late in the fourth quarter, Calvin Johnson caught a pass from Matthew Stafford and was headed for a go-ahead touchdown until Kam Chancellor punched the ball from his hands at Seattle's 1-yard line. As the ball bounded into the end zone, K. J. Wright batted the ball across the end line. By NFL rules, the intentional guiding of the ball across the end line should have resulted in a penalty, giving the ball back to the Lions at the spot of the fumble. But the back judge ruled that Wright's act was not blatant, and Seattle was given the ball at their own 20-yard line, after which they proceeded to run out the clock.
Dean Blandino, NFL VP of Officiating, stated after the game that the on-field officials made a mistake, and Detroit should have regained possession at the 1-yard line.
With the loss, the Lions are 0–4, their worst start since 2010. With the Saints' win over the Cowboys on Sunday Night, the Lions are the league's only winless team.
Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals
The highlight of the game was when Calvin Johnson caught his 671st pass with the Lions, breaking Herman Moore's franchise record. Inconsistent play by Matthew Stafford, including throwing 3 interceptions, forced him to the sidelines for the game's remainder. With the blowout loss, the Lions remained winless at 0–5.
This marks the first time the Lions have started a season 0–5 since 2008 (when they went 0-16).
Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears
With an overtime victory over the visiting Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions are no longer winless, improving to 1–5. A 57-yard bomb from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson with under three minutes to play in overtime set up Matt Prater for the game-winning 27-yard field goal.
Week 7: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Despite leading 17–15 at halftime, the Lions only managed to score 2 more points the rest of the game on an intentional safety taken by the Vikings in the closing seconds, losing 28–19 and dropping to 1–6. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was hit 13 times and sacked 7 times. The next day, the Lions fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn and assistant offensive line coach Terry Heffernan. Quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter will take over as offensive coordinator, tight ends coach Ron Prince takes over for Washburn, and special teams assistant Devin Fitzsimmons takes over as the new tight ends coach.
Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
After the blowout overseas loss, the Lions entered their bye week at 1–7, the NFL's worst record so far this season. Despite the changeover in offensive coaches, Matthew Stafford was sacked six more times. On November 5, the Lions fired President Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew. Former vice president of pro personnel Sheldon White will serve as the team's interim general manager.
Week 10: at Green Bay Packers
The 1–7 Lions withstood a late rally to earn an upset win over the 6–2 Packers. This was the first Lions win over Green Bay in Wisconsin since 1991. Ameer Abdullah set up the Lions first touchdown when he returned a kickoff 104 yards, and was stopped at the one-yard line. This tied the record set by Percy Harvin in 2011 for the longest non-scoring play in NFL history.
Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders
The 18–13 win over the visiting Raiders gave the Lions their first back–to–back victories of the season. The Lions became the first team in NFL history to score exactly 18 points in consecutive games.
Week 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles Thanksgiving Day game
Celebrating their 76th Thanksgiving Day game, the Lions routed the Eagles for their third consecutive win. Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes, three of them to Calvin Johnson. Having lost at Ford Field for the first time, the Eagles dropped to 6–1 when playing on Thanksgiving.
Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers