1994 Detroit Lions season
| 1994 Detroit Lions season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Wayne Fontes |
| General manager | Chuck Schmidt |
| Owner | William Clay Ford, Sr. |
| Home field | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–7 |
| Division place | 3rd NFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Lost NFC Wild Card Game (Packers) 16–12 |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | DAL | Alvin Harper 17 yard pass from Troy Aikman (Chris Boniol kick) | DAL 7–0 | |
| Q1 | DET | Jason Hanson 32 yard field goal | DAL 7–3 | |
| Q2 | DET | Brett Perriman 25 yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick) | DET 10–7 | |
| Q3 | DET | Herman Moore 9 yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick) | DET 17–7 | |
| Q3 | DAL | Chris Boniol 19 yard field goal | DET 17–10 | |
| Q4 | DAL | Emmitt Smith 6 yard run (Chris Boniol kick) | Tie 17–17 | |
| OT | DET | Jason Hanson 44 yard field goal | DET 20–17 | |
The 1994 Detroit Lions season was the 65th season in franchise history. It marked the Lions second consecutive playoff appearance. Despite the signing of Scott Mitchell from Miami in the offseason, the Lions would end up making the playoffs with Dave Krieg as the starting quarterback. For the second consecutive year, the Lions lost in the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers.
The Lions opened the 1994 season by hosting the Falcons, who were no longer with the services of defensive back Deion Sanders, now with San Francisco. Scott Mitchell and Jeff George erupted in the second half, combining for six touchdowns as the game lead tied or changed six times. In overtime the Lions drove down for Jason Hanson's winning field goal and a 31-28 final.
Defense was the story as the two teams combined for just 501 yards of offense, four fumbles, two interceptions, 147 yards of penalties, and a 10-3 Vikings win.
Barry Sanders accounted for 194 of the Lions' 379 total yards of offense, while the Cowboys fumbled away the ball three times.
Two Scott Mitchell interceptions proved decisive as the Patriots held on to win 23-17, despite 131 yards and two scores by Barry Sanders, highlighted when he outmaneuvered Harlon Barnett and Myron Guyton on one score; the NFL Films slow-motion clip of the score is the most replayed highlight in retrospectives on Sanders' career.
Scott Mitchell and Derrick Moore rushing touchdowns were the only offense the Lions could generate as the Bucs held on to a 24-14 win.
The Lions suffered their third straight loss despite racing to a 14-0 lead; they sacked Steve Young and Young, suffering a pinched nerve, writhed in pain, his face turning red. He managed to limp to the sidelines; Elvis Grbac came in for one play (an incomplete pass) before Young recovered enough to come back in and lead the Niners to four touchdown drives (marred by a missed PAT) for the 27-21 Niners win.
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