The 2016 season was the Detroit Lions' 87th in the National Football League (NFL), their 83rd as the Detroit Lions and their third under head coach Jim Caldwell. This was the first time since 2006 that Calvin Johnson was not on the opening day roster. On January 8, 2016, the Lions hired Bob Quinn as general manager. This was also the first season in over 40 years in which the Lions had an official cheerleading squad.Detroit Lions cheerleaders make official debut this weekend WJBK, September 15, 2016 The Lions improved upon their 7–9 record from 2015, and clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2014—the Lions finished tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last NFC playoff spot, but won the tiebreaker based on their record against common opponents. However, the Lions were defeated by the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round and extended their playoff losing streak to nine games, making it the longest losing streak in the playoffs ever. The Lions did not return to the playoffs until 2023, where they would put an end to nine consecutive postseason losses. This was also the last season the Lions would win their annual Thanksgiving Day game until the 2024 season.
Offseason
Re-signings Date Player Position Contract Source March 4 Tyrunn Walker Defensive tackle 1 year / $1.6 million March 9 Haloti Ngata Defensive tackle 2 years / $12 millionMarch 11 Crezdon Butler Cornerback 1 year / $745,000 Don Muhlbach Long snapper 1 year / $1.05 million Dan Orlovsky Quarterback 1 year / $1.065 million Tahir Whitehead Linebacker 2 years / $8 million March 16 Tim Wright Tight end 1 year / $675,000 October 25 Josh Bynes Linebacker 1 year / $760,000
Arrivals Date Player Position Previous team Contract Source February 11 Jerry Franklin Linebacker New Orleans Saints 1 year / $675,000 February 12 Lamar Holmes Offensive tackle Atlanta Falcons 1 year / $760,000 March 10 Tavon Wilson Safety New England Patriots 2 years / $2.2 millionMarch 11 Johnson Bademosi Cornerback Cleveland Browns 2 years / $4.5 million Stefan Charles Defensive tackle Buffalo Bills 1 year / $1.75 million Marvin Jones Wide receiver Cincinnati Bengals 5 years / $40 million March 12 Rafael Bush Safety New Orleans Saints 1 year / $1.5 million March 21 Jeremy Kerley Wide receiver New York Jets 1 year / $850,000 March 29 Darrin Walls Cornerback New York Jets 1 year / $840,000 March 30 Geoff Schwartz Guard New York Giants 1 year / $840,000April 4 Wallace Gilberry Defensive end Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $1.25 million Matthew Mulligan Tight end Buffalo Bills 1 year / $885,000 April 5 Stevan Ridley Running back New York Jets 1 year / $840,000 April 25 Kyle Christy Punter Florida 1 year / – May 2 Zaviar Gooden Linebacker Tennessee Titans 1 year / $600,000 May 5 Andre Caldwell Wide receiver Denver Broncos 1 year / $885,000May 6 Adairius Barnes Cornerback Louisiana Tech Jace Billingsley Wide receiver Eastern Oregon Quinshad Davis Wide receiver North Carolina James DeLoach Defensive end Georgia Chase Farris Guard Ohio State Adam Fuehne Tight end Southern Illinois Deonte Gibson Defensive end Northwestern Jay Lee Wide receiver Baylor Charles Washington Defensive back Fresno State Ian Wells Cornerback Ohio Cole Wick Tight end Incarnate Word Andrew Zeller Guard Maryland Joe Dahl Guard Washington State 4 years / $2.58 million Taylor Decker Tackle Ohio State 4 years / $10.96 million Graham Glasgow Center Michigan 4 years / $3.032 million Miles Killebrew Safety Southern Utah 4 years / $2.918 million Jimmy Landes Long snapper Baylor 4 years / $2.44 million Jake Rudock Quarterback Michigan 4 years / $2.47 million Dwayne Washington Running back Washington 4 years / $2.415 million Antwione Williams Linebacker Georgia Southern 4 years / $2.54 million Anthony Zettel Defensive tackle Penn State 4 years / $2.46 million May 10 A'Shawn Robinson Defensive tackle Alabama 4 years / $5.233 million May 13 Louis Palmer Defensive end Central Michigan 3 years / $1.62 million May 31 Ben McCord Tight end Central Michigan 1 year / $450,000 June 1 Dominick Jackson Offensive lineman Alabama 1 year / – June 2 Devon Bell Placekicker Mississippi State 1 year / $450,000 June 7 Damian Copeland Wide receiver Jacksonville Jaguars 1 year / $450,000June 13 Keith Lewis Defensive back Kansas City Chiefs 1 year / $450,000 Andre Roberts Wide receiver Washington Redskins 1 year / $760,000 June 16 Orson Charles Tight end New Orleans Saints 1 year / $600,000 July 21 Luke Marquardt Tackle New York Jets 1 year / $450,000 July 28 Anquan Boldin Wide receiver San Francisco 49ers 1 year / $2.75 million August 1 Raphael Kirby Linebacker Miami 1 year / – August 5 Chi Chi Ariguzo Linebacker San Diego Chargers 1 year / $475,000 August 8 Alex Chisum Wide receiver Cincinnati 1 year / – August 10 Rashaad Reynolds Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars 1 year / –August 15 Andrew Quarless Tight end Green Bay Packers 1 year / $760,000 Dominique Tovell Linebacker Atlanta Falcons 3 years / $1.62 million August 17 Lemuel Jeanpierre Center Seattle Seahawks 1 year / $760,000 August 23 Brandon McGee Cornerback Dallas Cowboys 1 year / – September 21 Aaron Dobson Wide receiver New England Patriots 1 year / – October 11 Justin Forsett Running back Baltimore Ravens 1 year / $885,000 December 6 Joique Bell Running back Chicago Bears December 6 Asa Jackson Cornerback Baltimore Ravens
Departures Date Player Position Note New Team SourceFebruary 16 Joique Bell Running back Released Chicago Bears Rashean Mathis Cornerback Retired February 19 C. J. Wilson Defensive tackle Released New Orleans Saints March 8 Calvin Johnson Wide receiver Retired May 5 Darren Keyton Center Released May 13 Lamar Holmes Offensive tackle Released July 5 Stephen Tulloch Linebacker Released Philadelphia Eagles August 22 Andre Caldwell Wide receiver Released August 25 Stevan Ridley Running back ReleasedIndianapolis Colts
Trades On May 9, the Lions traded a conditional seventh-round draft pick in the 2017 NFL draft to the New England Patriots in exchange for linebacker Jon Bostic. On August 29, the Lions traded wide receiver Jeremy Kerley to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for offensive guard Brandon Thomas. On October 25, the Lions traded linebacker Kyle Van Noy and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2017 NFL draft to the New England Patriots, in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2017.
Draft
Notes The Lions traded their original third-round selection (number 77 overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Eagles' 2015 fourth-round selection (number 111 overall). The Lions acquired an additional fifth-round selection (number 169 overall) as part of a trade that sent their 2015 first-round selection to the Denver Broncos. The Lions acquired an additional sixth-round selection (number 202 overall) in a trade that sent cornerback Mohammed Seisay to the Seattle Seahawks.
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 30–17 1–0 Heinz Field Recap 2 Cincinnati Bengals L 14–30 1–1 Ford Field Recap 3 at Baltimore Ravens L 9–30 1–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 Buffalo Bills W 31–0 2–2 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 at Indianapolis Colts W 39–35 1–0 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 September 18 Tennessee Titans L 15–16 1–1 Ford Field Recap 3 September 25 at Green Bay Packers L 27–34 1–2 Lambeau Field Recap 4 October 2 at Chicago Bears L 14–17 1–3 Soldier Field Recap 5 October 9 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–23 2–3 Ford Field Recap 6 October 16 Los Angeles Rams W 31–28 3–3 Ford Field Recap 7 October 23 Washington Redskins W 20–17 4–3 Ford Field Recap 8 October 30 at Houston Texans L 13–20 4–4 NRG Stadium Recap 9 November 6 at Minnesota Vikings W 22–16 5–4 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 20 Jacksonville Jaguars W 26–19 6–4 Ford Field Recap 12 November 24 Minnesota Vikings W 16–13 7–4 Ford Field Recap 13 December 4 at New Orleans Saints W 28–13 8–4 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 14 December 11 Chicago Bears W 20–17 9–4 Ford Field Recap 15 December 18 at New York Giants L 6–17 9–5 MetLife Stadium Recap 16 at Dallas Cowboys L 21–42 9–6 AT&T Stadium Recap 17 January 1 Green Bay Packers L 24–31 9–7 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card at Seattle Seahawks (3) L 6–26 0–1 CenturyLink Field Recap
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at Indianapolis Colts
The Lions opened the regular season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts, and came away with a close victory. The Lions jumped out to a 14–0 lead before Indianapolis got on the board. Theo Riddick had a 21-yard touchdown run on the Lions' opening drive, and rookie running back Dwayne Washington scored on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter. The Colts got on the board with a 50-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal, but the Lions went up 21–3 on its next possession when Matthew Stafford hit Eric Ebron for a six-yard touchdown pass. Indianapolis closed to 21–10 near the end of the first half after Andrew Luck tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief. The Colts got within a field goal early in the third quarter with a 19-yard scoring strike from Luck to Dwayne Allen and a successful 2-point conversion. On Detroit's next drive, Stafford connected with Ameer Abdullah on an 11-yard touchdown pass to put his team back up, 28–18. The Colts scored the next ten points early in the fourth quarter on a 40-yard Vinatieri field goal and a 16-yard scoring pass from Luck to Jack Doyle, knotting the game at 28. The Lions regained the lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Riddick, but Matt Prater missed the extra point. That allowed Indianapolis to take a 35–34 lead on its next possession, when Luck again connected with Doyle, this time on a six-yard touchdown pass. Detroit got the ball back with 37 seconds left in the game, and on three plays moved into range for Matt Prater's go-ahead 43-yard field goal with four seconds on the clock. The Lions earned a safety on the final play of the game when the Colts were called for an illegal forward pass in the end zone, making the final score 39–35. This was the first time the Lions defeated the Colts since 1997. This game was head coach Jim Caldwell's return to Indianapolis; he was the Colts' assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach from 2002 to 2008, and their head coach from 2009 to 2011.
Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans
For their home opener, the Lions hosted the Tennessee Titans. The Lions had led for most of the game, accumulating 12 points in the first half with an end zone tackle of DeMarco Murray by Devin Taylor for a safety, a 24-yard touchdown catch by Anquan Boldin from Matthew Stafford, and a 42-yard Matt Prater field goal, while holding the Titans to only a 46-yard field goal by Ryan Succop before the break. Detroit lost steam after intermission and only managed to score a single 27-yard Prater field goal in the third quarter. After Tennessee gained a 16–15 lead late in the fourth quarter on touchdown passes from Marcus Mariota to Delanie Walker and Andre Johnson, from 30 and nine-yards respectively, an attempted Detroit comeback failed when Matthew Stafford was picked off by Perrish Cox in the closing seconds, giving the Lions their first loss of the season. The game was marred by 29 penalties, 17 on the Lions. Detroit had three touchdowns (two on the same drive) called back due to penalties.
Week 3: at Green Bay Packers