The 2017 season was the Detroit Lions' 88th in the National Football League (NFL), their 84th as the Detroit Lions, and their fourth and final season under head coach Jim Caldwell. The Lions finished with a 9–7 record, the same record they had in 2016, but unlike the previous year, failed to qualify for the playoffs. After starting the season 3–1, they lost 6 of their next 12 games. They were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 following their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite missing the playoffs, the Lions recorded consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1994–1995. They also won all of their division road games for the first time ever and swept their division rival Green Bay Packers for the first time since 1991. Despite this, Caldwell was dismissed by the Lions after the season, having accumulating a winning record of 36–28 in four seasons (though was 4–25 against teams that finished with winning records), with two playoff appearances but no playoff wins.Jim Caldwell fired after 4 seasons as Detroit Lions coach The Detroit Free Press, January 1, 2018 The team unveiled a new uniform set and logo, which removed the black that had been used a secondary color since 2003, as well an all-gray Color Rush uniform in week 15.
The Lions would not record another winning season until 2022. It would be the final season they started with a win until 2023.
Offseason
Coaching staff On January 4, the Lions announced Jim Caldwell will return as head coach. On February 21, the Lions hired George Godsey as defensive assistant/special projects.
Re-signings Date Player Position Contract Source March 9 Khyri Thornton Defensive tackle 2 years / $3.3 million March 15 Don Muhlbach Long snapper 1 year / $695,000 March 21 Armonty Bryant Defensive end 1 year / $855,000 April 18 Cornelius Lucas Offensive tackle 1 year / $1.797 million August 9 Tim Wright Tight end 1 year / $775,000August 28Matthew StaffordQuarterback5 years / $135 million
Additions Date Player Position Previous team Contract Source February 9 Rolan Milligan Safety Dallas Cowboys 1 year / $465,000 February 23 Pierce Burton Offensive tackle Indianapolis Colts 1 year / $465,000March 10 Rick Wagner Offensive tackle Baltimore Ravens 5 years / $47.5 million Akeem Spence Defensive tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 years / $9 million Cornelius Washington Defensive end Chicago Bears 2 years / $6 million Paul Worrilow Linebacker Atlanta Falcons 1 year / $3 millionMarch 11 D. J. Hayden Cornerback Oakland Raiders 1 year / $3.75 million Darren Fells Tight end Arizona Cardinals 1 year / $1.5 million Keshawn Martin Wide receiver San Francisco 49ers 1 year / $885,000 March 12 T. J. Lang Guard Green Bay Packers 3 years / $28.5 million March 20 Jordan Hill Defensive tackle Jacksonville Jaguars 1 year / $855,000 April 3 Nick Bellore Linebacker San Francisco 49ers 1 year / $855,000 April 25 Kasey Redfern Punter Cleveland Browns 1 year / $465,000May 12 Brandon Barnes Tight end Alabama State Alex Barrett Defensive end San Diego State Dontez Ford Wide receiver Pittsburgh Tion Green Running back Pittsburgh Nick James Defensive tackle Mississippi State Leo Koloamatangi Offensive lineman Hawaii Desmond Lawrence Cornerback North Carolina Storm Norton Tackle Toledo Michael Rector Wide receiver Stanford Maurice Swain Defensive tackle Auburn Noel Thomas Wide receiver UConn Josh Thornton Cornerback Southern Utah Robert Tonyan Tight end Indiana State Jeremiah Valoaga Defensive end UNLV Jamal Agnew Cornerback San Diego 4 years / $2.65 million Jarrad Davis Linebacker Florida 4 years / $10.9 million Brad Kaaya Quarterback Miami 4 years / $2.52 million Jeremiah Ledbetter Defensive end Arkansas 4 years / $2.54 million Pat O'Connor Defensive end Eastern Michigan 4 years / $2.46 million Jalen Reeves-Maybin Linebacker Tennessee 4 years / $3.01 million Michael Roberts Tight end Toledo 4 years / $3 million Teez Tabor Cornerback Florida 4 years / $4.82 million May 15 Arturo Uzdavinis Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars 1 year / –May 30 Matt Asiata Running back Minnesota Vikings 1 year / $615,000 Connor Bozick Guard Delaware 1 year / – June 8 Tony Hills Tackle New Orleans Saints 1 year / $910,000 July 31 Nick Becton Offensive tackle Chicago Bears 1 year / $690,000August 8 Tramain Jacobs Cornerback Toronto Argonauts 1 year / $615,000 Dez Stewart Wide receiver Pittsburgh Steelers 1 year / $465,000 August 21 Scott Orndoff Tight end Pittsburgh Steelers 1 year / $465,000 August 27 Derrick Lott Defensive tackle Saskatchewan Roughriders 1 year / –
Departures Date Player Position Note New Team SourceMarch 9 DeAndre Levy Linebacker Released Riley Reiff Offensive tackle UFA Minnesota Vikings Larry Warford Guard UFA New Orleans Saints March 11 Stefan Charles Defensive tackle UFA Jacksonville Jaguars March 14 Andre Roberts Wide receiver UFA Atlanta Falcons March 23 Tyrunn Walker Defensive end UFA Los Angeles Rams March 30 Rafael Bush Safety UFA New Orleans Saints April 20 Jon Bostic Linebacker UFA Indianapolis Colts May 14 Clay Harbor Tight end UFA New Orleans Saints May 24 Devin Taylor Defensive end UFA New York Giants June 1 Orson Charles Tight end UFA Kansas City Chiefs July 20 Dan Orlovsky Quarterback UFA Los Angeles Rams August 5 Josh Bynes Linebacker UFA Arizona Cardinals August 7 Anquan Boldin Wide receiver UFA Buffalo Bills August 8 Asa Jackson Cornerback UFA San Francisco 49ers
Trades On June 15, the Lions acquired offensive tackle Greg Robinson from Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL draft. On August 31, the Lions traded offensive guard Laken Tomlinson to the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
Draft
2017 Detroit Lions Draft Round Selection Player Position College Source 1 21 Jarrad Davis LB Florida 2 53 Teez Tabor CB Florida 3 96 Kenny Golladay WR Northern Illinois 4 124 Jalen Reeves-Maybin LB Tennessee 127 Michael Roberts TE Toledo 5 165 Jamal Agnew CB San Diego 6 205 Jeremiah Ledbetter DE Arkansas 215 Brad Kaaya QB Miami 7 250 Pat O'Connor DE Eastern Michigan Notes The Lions made two separate trades with the New England Patriots — acquiring an additional sixth-round selection (No. 215 overall) in exchange for linebacker Kyle Van Noy and their original seventh-round selection (No. 239 overall); and acquiring an additional seventh-round selection (No. 250 overall) in exchange for tight end Michael Williams. The Lions traded their original third-round selection (No. 85 overall) to the Patriots in exchange for the Patriots' third-round selection (No. 96 overall) and their fourth-round selection (No. 124 overall).
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 13 at Indianapolis Colts W 24–10 1–0 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 New York Jets W 16–6 2–0 Ford Field Recap 3 New England Patriots L 28–30 2–1 Ford Field Recap 4 at Buffalo Bills L 17–27 2–2 New Era Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 Arizona Cardinals W 35–23 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 at New York Giants W 24–10 2–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 3 September 24 Atlanta Falcons L 26–30 2–1 Ford Field Recap 4 October 1 at Minnesota VikingsW 14–7 3–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 5 October 8 Carolina Panthers L 24–27 3–2 Ford Field Recap 6 October 15 at New Orleans Saints L 38–52 3–3 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 7Bye 8 October 29 Pittsburgh Steelers L 15–20 3–4 Ford Field Recap 9 at Green Bay Packers W 30–17 4–4 Lambeau Field Recap 10 November 12 Cleveland Browns W 38–24 5–4 Ford Field Recap 11 November 19 at Chicago Bears W 27–24 6–4 Soldier Field Recap 12 November 23 Minnesota Vikings L 23–30 6–5 Ford Field Recap 13 December 3 at Baltimore Ravens L 20–44 6–6 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 14 December 10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–21 7–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 15 Chicago Bears W 20–10 8–6 Ford Field Recap 16 December 24 at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–26 8–7 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 17 December 31 Green Bay Packers W 35–11 9–7 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals
To open the regular season, the Lions hosted the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals took an early lead in the first quarter with an 82-yard interception return from Justin Bethel, followed by a 24-yard field goal from Phil Dawson. The Lions got on the board in the second quarter with a six-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Marvin Jones Jr., and a 58-yard field goal from Matt Prater to make the score 10–9 in favor of Arizona at half-time. In the third quarter, the Cardinals added to their lead with a three-yard touchdown run from Kerwynn Williams, but the Lions responded with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Theo Riddick. In the final quarter, the Lions took their first lead with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kenny Golladay. Stafford connected with Golladay again minutes later with a 45-yard touchdown pass, then Miles Killebrew returned an interception 35 yards for the Lions' final points. The Cardinals scored with a one-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to J. J. Nelson, making the final score 35–23 in favor of Detroit. It was Matthew Stafford's 27th fourth quarter or overtime comeback since 2011, the most in the league.Lions prep for Giants with Odell Beckham Jr. Fox Sports, September 19, 2017
Week 2: at New York Giants
In week 2, the Lions visited the New York Giants to play on Monday Night Football. The Lions took an early lead in the first quarter with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Marvin Jones. The Giants tied the game in the second quarter with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Evan Engram, but the Lions took the lead back (which they kept for the rest of the game) with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Eric Ebron, and a 56-yard field goal by Matt Prater to make the score 17–7 in favor of Detroit at half-time. Each team only scored once in the second half: first the Giants with a 25-yard field goal by Aldrick Rosas in the third quarter, then the Lions with an 88-yard punt return by Jamal Agnew in the fourth quarter, making the final score 24–10 for the Lions' second consecutive win. The Lions started the season 2–0 for the first time since 2011, and won both games by double digits for the first time since 1980. Stafford threw his 193rd touchdown, passing Bob Griese for the 48th spot on the all-time list.Matthew Stafford fights off apparent eye poke to pass Bob Griese on TD list ESPN.com, September 18, 2017
Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons
In week 3, the Lions hosted the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons took an early lead in the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Mohamed Sanu. The Falcons scored 13 points in the second quarter via a 36-yard field goal from Matt Bryant, a one-yard touchdown run from Devonta Freeman, and a 48-yard field goal from Bryant. The Lions also scored 13 points in the second quarter via a 55-yard field goal from Matt Prater, a 40-yard field goal from Prater, and a 37-yard interception return from Glover Quin, to make the score 20–13 in favor of Atlanta at half-time. The Falcons extended their lead in the third quarter via a 40-yard field goal from Bryant. The Lions responded with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Golden Tate, and a 35-yard field goal from Prater to tie the game at 23. The Falcons regained the lead in the fourth quarter via a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Taylor Gabriel. The Lions reduced the Falcons lead to four points with a 57-yard field goal from Prater. The Lions' attempted comeback failed when a touchdown pass from Stafford to Tate was overturned with eight seconds remaining in the game. Due to Tate being ruled down in the field of play and the Lions having no timeouts left, the ten-second runoff rule was invoked, ending the game and giving the Lions their first loss of the season.
Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings