1993 Detroit Lions season

NFL team season

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The 1993 season was the Detroit Lions' 64th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 60th In Detroit, and their fifth under the head coach Wayne Fontes.The Lions improved upon their 5–11 record from the previous season, after a win against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9, finishing at 10–6 and winning the NFC Central Division for the second time in three years.^[1]

In the playoffs, the Lions were upset in the Wild Card Round at home by the Green Bay Packers on a Brett Favre 40-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Sharpe with 55 seconds left.

The 1993 season was the last time they would win the NFC Central and was their last division championship until 2023.

Offseason

Additions	Subtractions
TE Rodney Holman (Bengals)	DT Jerry Ball (Browns)
T Dave Lutz (Chiefs)	CB Sheldon White (Bengals)
LB Pat Swilling (Saints)
C Mark Rodenhauser (Bears)
G David Richards (Chargers)
G Bill Fralic (Falcons)
LB Burnell Dent (Packers)

NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1993 Detroit Lions draft
2	33	Ryan McNeil *	CB	Miami	from N.Y. Jets
3	62	Antonio London	DT	Alabama
3	68	Mike Compton	C	West Virgniia	from Cleveland
6	147	Greg Jeffries	S	Virginia
7	174	Ty Hallock	LB	Michigan State
8	201	Kevin Miniefield	CB	Arizona State
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

Detroit traded its first- and fourth-round selections (8th and 89th) to New Orleans in exchange for LB Pat Swilling.
Detroit traded up from its second-round selection (36th) with the N.Y. Jets for the Jets' second-round selection (33rd), giving up its fifth-round selection (120th).
Detroit received Cleveland's third-round selection (68th) in return for DT Jerry Ball.

Undrafted free agents

1993 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player	Position	College
Sean Conley	Kicker	Pittsburgh
Demeris Johnson	Wide receiver	Western Illinois
Joe Jacobs	Defensive End	Utah State
Ricky Logo	Defensive tackle	NC State
Kyle Moore	Defensive End	Kansas
Rick Perry	Defensive End	Southwest Missouri State
Larry Ryans	Wide receiver	Clemson
Marty Thompson	Tight end	Fresno State
Mack Travis	Defensive tackle	California
Dwayne Ware	Defensive back	Michigan
Shaumbee Wright-Fair	Running back	Washington State

Personnel

Staff

**1993 Detroit Lions staff**
	Front office Owner and president – William Clay Ford Sr. Executive vice president and chief operating officer – Chuck Schmidt Treasurer – William Clay Ford Jr. Director of player personnel – Ron Hughes Director of pro scouting – Kevin Colbert Head coaches Head coach – Wayne Fontes Assistant head coach – Dave Levy Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Dan Henning Running backs – Billie Matthews Receivers – Charlie Sanders Offensive line – Jerry Wampfler Offensive assistant – Dave Jaumotte			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Hank Bullough Defensive line – Lamar Leachman Inside linebackers – Herb Paterra Outside linebackers – Don Clemons Defensive backs – John Fontes Special teams coaches Special teams – Frank Gansz Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning/defensive assistant – Bert Hill

Roster

**1993 Detroit Lions final roster**

	Quarterbacks 12 Erik Kramer 9 Rodney Peete 11 Andre Ware Running backs 43 Gary Anderson 23 Mel Gray KR/PR 26 Eric Lynch 31 Derrick Moore 20 Barry Sanders Wide receivers 40 Reggie Barrett 87 Jeff Campbell 86 Willie Green 83 Aubrey Matthews 84 Herman Moore 80 Brett Perriman Tight ends 49 Ty Hallock 82 Rodney Holman		Offensive linemen 66 Shawn Bouwens G 75 Lomas Brown T 74 Mike Compton G 76 Scott Conover T 79 Bill Fralic G 53 Kevin Glover C 73 Dave Lutz T 67 David Richards G 63 Mark Rodenhauser LS/C 71 Larry Tharpe T Defensive linemen 90 Dan Owens DE 96 Lawrence Pete NT 91 Robert Porcher DE 94 Kelvin Pritchett DE 92 Marc Spindler DE/NT 92 Mack Travis NT		Linebackers 50 Toby Caston ILB 98 Dennis Gibson ILB 99 Tracy Hayworth OLB 58 George Jamison OLB 57 Victor Jones ILB 51 Antonio London OLB 59 Tracy Scroggins OLB 54 Chris Spielman ILB 56 Pat Swilling OLB Defensive backs 36 Bennie Blades FS 32 Willie Clay FS 21 Harry Colon FS 39 Ray Crockett CB 25 Greg Jeffries CB 24 Melvin Jenkins CB 33 Tim McKyer CB 47 Ryan McNeil CB 38 Kevin Scott CB 35 William White SS Special teams 6 Jim Arnold P 4 Jason Hanson K		Reserve lists 55 Mike Cofer LB (PUPTooltip Physically unable to perform) 34 Ed Tillison RB (PUPTooltip Physically unable to perform) Practice squad -- Bob Brasher TE 77 Don Reynolds DE 41 Larry Ryans WR 46 Marty Thompson TE -- Shaumbe Wright-Fair RB Rookies in italics 53 active, 2 inactive, 5 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 5	Atlanta Falcons	W 30–13	1–0	Pontiac Silverdome	56,216
2	September 12	at New England Patriots	W 19–16 (OT)	2–0	Foxboro Stadium	54,151
3	September 19	at New Orleans Saints	L 3–14	2–1	Louisiana Superdome	69,039
4	September 26	Phoenix Cardinals	W 26–20	3–1	Pontiac Silverdome	57,180
5	October 3	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 10–27	3–2	Tampa Stadium	40,794
6	Bye
7	October 17	Seattle Seahawks	W 30–10	4–2	Pontiac Silverdome	60,801
8	October 24	at Los Angeles Rams	W 16–13	5–2	Anaheim Stadium	43,850
9	October 31	at Minnesota Vikings	W 30–27	6–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	53,428
10	November 7	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 23–0	7–2	Pontiac Silverdome	65,295
11	Bye
12	November 21	at Green Bay Packers	L 17–26	7–3	Milwaukee County Stadium	55,119
13	November 25	Chicago Bears	L 6–10	7–4	Pontiac Silverdome	76,699
14	December 5	Minnesota Vikings	L 0–13	7–5	Pontiac Silverdome	63,216
15	December 12	at Phoenix Cardinals	W 21–14	8–5	Sun Devil Stadium	39,393
16	December 19	San Francisco 49ers	L 17–55	8–6	Pontiac Silverdome	77,052
17	December 26	at Chicago Bears	W 20–14	9–6	Soldier Field	43,443
18	January 2	Green Bay Packers	W 30–20	10–6	Pontiac Silverdome	77,510

Season summary

Week 1

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions

	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	3	3	7	13
• Lions	14	10	3	3	30

Date: Sunday, September 5
Location: Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Indoors (dome)

Scoring summary

1	Lions	Barry Sanders 26-yard run (Jason Hanson kick)	Lions 7–0

1	Lions	George Jamison 35-yard interception return (Jason Hanson kick)	Lions 14–0

2	Lions	Jason Hanson 44-yard field goal	Lions 17–0

2	Lions	Herman Moore 21-yard pass from Rodney Peete (Jason Hanson kick)	Lions 24–0

2	Falcons	Norm Johnson 54-yard field goal	Lions 24–3

3	Falcons	Norm Johnson 20-yard field goal	Lions 24–6

3	Lions	Jason Hanson 37-yard field goal	Lions 27–6

4	Falcons	Andre Rison 32-yard pass from Chris Miller (Norm Johnson kick)	Lions 27–13

4	Lions	Jason Hanson 37-yard field goal	Lions 30–13

Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	17	0	3	20
• Lions	6	10	7	3	26

Date: September 26
Location: Pontiac Silverdome
Game weather: Indoors (dome)

Scoring summary

Q1	13:16	DET	Hanson 44 yard field goal	DET 3–0

Q1	5:57	DET	Hanson 22 yard field goal	DET 6–0

Q2	12:59	PHO	Proehl 51 yard pass from Beuerlein (Davis kick)	PHO 7–6

Q2	10:11	DET	Hanson 33 yard field goal	DET 9–7

Q2	8:43	DET	D. Moore 1 yard run (Hanson kick)	DET 16–7

Q2	1:13	PHO	Reeves 2 yard pass from Beuerlein (Davis kick)	DET 16–14

Q2	0:00	PHO	Davis 54 yard field goal	PHO 17–16

Q3	12:00	DET	Perriman 9 yard pass from Ware (Hanson kick)	DET 23–17

Q4	14:01	PHO	Davis 30 yard field goal	DET 23–20

Q4	8:02	DET	Hanson 38 yard field goal	DET 26–20

^[2]

Standings

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
⁽³⁾ Detroit Lions	10	6	0	.625	298	292	W2
⁽⁵⁾ Minnesota Vikings	9	7	0	.563	277	290	W3
⁽⁶⁾ Green Bay Packers	9	7	0	.563	340	282	L1
Chicago Bears	7	9	0	.438	234	230	L4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	11	0	.313	237	376	L1

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Wild Card	January 8, 1994	Green Bay Packers	L 28–24	68,479

NFC Wild Card Game: vs Green Bay Packers

NFC Wild Card Game: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	7	14	7	28
Lions	3	7	7	7	24

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

Date: January 8, 1994
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Played indoors (Dome)
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401080det.htm

Game information

First quarter

DET – Jason Hanson 47 yard field goal. Lions 3–0

Second quarter

GB – Sterling Sharpe 12 yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick). Packers 7–3
DET – Brett Perriman 1 yard pass from Erik Kramer. (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 10–7

Third quarter

DET – Mel Jenkins 15 yard interception return (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 17–7
GB – Sterling Sharpe 28 yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick). Lions 17–14
GB – George Teague 101 yard interception return (Chris Jacke kick). Packers 21–17

Fourth quarter

DET – Derrick Moore 5 yard rush (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 24–21
GB – Sterling Sharpe 40 yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick). Packers 28–24

Top passers

GB – Brett Favre – 15/26, 204 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
DET – Erik Kramer – 21/31, 248 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

GB – Darrell Thompson – 12 rushes, 41 yards
DET – Barry Sanders – 27 rushes, 169 yards

Top receivers

GB – Sterling Sharpe – 5 rec, 101 yards, 3 TD
DET – Brett Perriman – 10 rec, 150 yards, 1 TD

Turnovers

GB – 1
DET – 2

Awards and records

Jason Hanson, Club Record, 34 Field Goals in One Season.^[3]

References

^ "1993 Detroit Lions Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2019-December-09.
^ "Detroit Lions Single-Season Kicking Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.

External links

1993 Detroit Lions at Pro-Football-Reference.com

v t e Detroit Lions
Founded in 1928 Formerly the Portsmouth Spartans (1928–1933) Based in Detroit, Michigan Headquartered in Allen Park, Michigan
Franchise	Ownership: William Clay Martha Firestone Ford Sheila Ford Hamp Franchise overview Team history in Portsmouth, Ohio
Records	Coaches First-round draft picks Players Pride of the Lions Pro Bowlers Pro Football Hall of Famers Retired numbers 7 20 20 20 22 37 56 85 Seasons Starting quarterbacks
Stadiums	Universal Stadium University of Detroit Stadium Tiger Stadium Pontiac Silverdome Ford Field
Culture	NFL on Thanksgiving Day Paper Lion (film) "What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye song) Home Improvement Beverly Hills Cop Cheerleaders
Lore	1932 NFL Playoff Game Curse of Bobby Layne 0–16 Miracle in Motown
Rivalries	Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings
Division championships (9)	1935 1952 1953 1954 1957 1983 1991 1993 2023
League championships (4)	1935 1952 1953 1957
Media	Broadcasters Radio: Radio network Dan Miller Lomas Brown WXYT-FM TV: Television network WJBK Bally Sports Detroit
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1930–present) Conference: National Football Conference (1970–present) Division: North Division (2002–present)

v t e Detroit Lions seasons
Formerly the Portsmouth Spartans (1930–1933)
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance

1993 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Buffalo	Cincinnati	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta
Indianapolis	Cleveland	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	LA Rams
Miami	Houston	LA Raiders	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Pittsburgh	San Diego	Phoenix	Minnesota	San Francisco
NY Jets		Seattle	Washington	Tampa Bay