1966 Detroit Lions season
The 1966 Detroit Lions season was their 37th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6–7–1, winning only four games.[1] They missed the playoffs for the ninth straight season and incurred their second losing record in a row.
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 11 |
Chicago Bears |
W 14–3 |
1–0 |
52,225 |
| 2 |
September 18 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 17–3 |
1–1 |
35,473 |
| 3 |
September 25 |
Atlanta Falcons |
W 28–10 |
2–1 |
47,615 |
| 4 |
October 2 |
at Green Bay Packers |
L 23–14 |
2–2 |
50,861 |
| 5 |
October 9 |
Los Angeles Rams |
L 14–7 |
2–3 |
52,793 |
| 6 |
October 16 |
at Baltimore Colts |
L 45–14 |
2–4 |
60,238 |
| 7 |
October 23 |
at San Francisco 49ers |
L 27–24 |
2–5 |
36,745 |
| 8 |
October 30 |
Green Bay Packers |
L 31–7 |
2–6 |
56,954 |
| 9 |
November 6 |
at Chicago Bears |
T 10–10 |
2–6–1 |
47,041 |
| 10 |
November 13 |
at Minnesota Vikings |
W 32–31 |
3–6–1 |
43,939 |
| 11 |
November 20 |
Baltimore Colts |
W 20–14 |
4–6–1 |
52,383 |
| 12 |
November 24 |
San Francisco 49ers |
L 41–14 |
4–7–1 |
53,189 |
| 13 |
December 4 |
at Los Angeles Rams |
L 23–3 |
4–8–1 |
40,039 |
| 14 |
December 11 |
Minnesota Vikings |
L 28–16 |
4–9–1 |
43,022 |
| 15 |
December 18 |
Bye |
- A bye week was necessary in 1966, as the league expanded to an odd-number (15) of teams (Atlanta); one team was idle each week.
Game summaries
Week 1
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Bears |
3 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
3 |
| • Lions |
0 |
14 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| Q1 |
| CHI | LeClerc 38 yard field goal | CHI 3–0 |
|
| Q2 |
| DET | Nowatzke 6 yard run (Walker kick) | DET 7–3 |
|
| Q2 |
| DET | Studstill 25 yard pass from Plum (Walker kick) | DET 14–3 |
|
[2]
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
References
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| Division championships (4) | |
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| Conference championships (4) | |
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| League championships (4) | |
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| Broadcasters | |
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| Current league affiliations | |
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| Seasons (87) | |
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Championship seasons in bold |