The2021 season was theDetroit Lions' 92nd season in theNational Football League (NFL), the 20th playing their home games atFord Field and their first under thehead coach/general manager tandem ofDan Campbell andBrad Holmes.[1][2] The Lions finished 3–13–1, failing to improve upon their 5–11 record from theprevious season. The Lions began their season 0–8 before tying with thePittsburgh Steelers in Week 10, in which they nearly beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the first time since1955. However, the Lions would not win a game until Week 13 against the division rivalMinnesota Vikings, ending a 15-game, 364-day winless streak. In Week 14, the Lions were eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive year.[3] They finished the season at the bottom of the NFC North for the fourth consecutive season. However they ended the season on a high note, upsetting two playoff bound teams; theArizona Cardinals in Week 15 and the top-seededGreen Bay Packers in Week 18.
With theCincinnati Bengals defeating theLas Vegas Raiders in the postseason, the Lions officially held the longest playoff victory drought in the NFL, not winning a playoff game since the1991 season.[5] As of the2024 season, this is the most recent season the Lions have finished with a losing record and in last place in the NFC North.
January 29:Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant.[13]
February 3:Todd Wash as defensive line coach,Kelvin Sheppard and Brian Duker as defensive assistants, andSeth Ryan as assistant wide receivers coach.[14]
The Lions hosted theSan Francisco 49ers to kick off the regular season. The 49ers opened the scoring in the first quarter via a five-yard touchdown pass fromTrey Lance toTrent Sherfield. The Lions responded with a six-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toT. J. Hockenson to tie the game. The 49ers added 24 points in the second quarter via a 38-yard touchdown run fromElijah Mitchell, a three-yard touchdown run fromJaMycal Hasty, a 39-yard interception return byDre Greenlaw and a 40-yard field goal byRobbie Gould. The Lions added 49-yard field goal byAustin Seibert, making the score 31–10 in favor of San Francisco at half-time. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter, first a 79-yard touchdown pass fromJimmy Garoppolo toDeebo Samuel for San Francisco, then a 43-yard touchdown pass from Goff toD'Andre Swift. The 49ers extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 52-yard field goal by Gouble. The Lions added 16 points via a one-yard touchdown run fromJamaal Williams and a two-point conversion pass from Goff to Hockenson, and a two-yard touchdown pass from Goff toQuintez Cephus and a two-point conversion pass from Goff to Cephus. The Lions' attempted comeback failed when they failed to convert from the 49ers' 19-yard line late in the fourth quarter, making the final score 41–33 in favor of San Francisco.
In week 2, the Lions visited theirdivisional rival theGreen Bay Packers onMonday Night Football. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a five-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toQuintez Cephus. The Packers responded with a four-yard touchdown pass fromAaron Rodgers toAaron Jones to tie the game. The Lions regained the lead in the second quarter via an eight-yard touchdown pass from Goff toT. J. Hockenson. The Packers again tied the game via a one-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jones. The Lions responded with a 43-yard field goal byAustin Seibert, making the score 17–14 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Lions were held scoreless in the second half. The Packers scored 14 points in the third quarter via a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers toRobert Tonyan, and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jones. The Packers extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Jones, making the final score 35–17 in favor of Green Bay.
In week 3, the Lions hosted theBaltimore Ravens. After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens scored ten points in the second quarter via a 39-yard field goal byJustin Tucker and a 19-yard touchdown pass fromLamar Jackson toDevin Duvernay, making the score 10–0 in favor of Baltimore at half-time. The Ravens extended their lead in the third quarter via two field goals by Tucker, from 50-yards, and 32-yards, respectively. The Lions finally got on the board via a two-yard touchdown run fromD'Andre Swift. The Lions added ten points in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run fromJamaal Williams, and a 35-yard field goal byRyan Santoso, giving the Lions their first lead of the game. The Ravens responded with an NFL-record 66-yard field goal by Tucker, making the final score 19–17 in favor of Baltimore. After the game, controversy arose when it was shown that the officials failed to call adelay of game on the Ravens at the Lions' 48 yard line with seven seconds left in the game, which would've pushed the Ravens to their own 47 yard line. Had the officials called the delay of game, the Ravens would've attempted a 71-yard field goal or had a 10-second runoff called against them.[55]
In week 4, the Lions visited theirdivisional rival theChicago Bears. The Bears opened the scoring in the first quarter via a four-yard touchdown run fromDavid Montgomery. The Bears scored the only points of the second quarter via a nine-yard touchdown run from Montgomery, making the score 14–0 in favor of Chicago at half-time. The Bears scored ten points in the third quarter via a four-yard touchdown run fromDamien Williams and a 33-yard field goal byCairo Santos. The Lions finally got on the board via a four-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toKalif Raymond. The Lions scored the only points of the fourth quarter via a 25-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Raymond, making the final score 24–14 in favor of Chicago.
In week 5, the Lions visited theirdivisional rival theMinnesota Vikings. The teams exchanged field goals in the first quarter, first a 39-yard field goal byAustin Seibert for the Lions, then a 38-yard field goal byGreg Joseph for the Vikings. The Vikings added 10 points in the second quarter via a 38-yard field goal by Joseph, and a 15-yard touchdown pass fromKirk Cousins toAlexander Mattison. The Lions responded with a 52-yard field goal by Seibert, making the score 13–6 in favor of Minnesota at half-time. After a scoreless third quarter, the Vikings extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 55-yard field goal by Joseph. The Lions responded with 11 points via a 40-yard field goal by Seibert and a seven-yard touchdown run fromD'Andre Swift and a two-point conversion pass fromJared Goff toKhaDarel Hodge, giving the Lions the lead with 37 seconds left in the quarter. The Vikings responded with a 54-yard field goal by Joseph as time expired, making the final score 19–17 in favor of Minnesota.
In week 6, the Lions hosted theCincinnati Bengals. The Bengals opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 24-yard touchdown pass fromJoe Burrow toChris Evans. The Bengals extended their lead in the second quarter via a 38-yard field goal byEvan McPherson, making the score 10–0 in favor of Cincinnati at half-time. The Bengals added 10 points in the third quarter via a 40-yard touchdown pass from Burrow toJoe Mixon and a 40-yard field goal by McPherson. The Bengals extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a two-yard touchdown pass from Burrow toC. J. Uzomah. The Lions finally got on the board via a 35-yard field goalAustin Seibert. The teams exchanged touchdowns, first a seven-yard touchdown pass fromBrandon Allen toAuden Tate for the Bengals, then a one-yard touchdown run fromD'Andre Swift and a two-point conversion pass fromJared Goff toAmon-Ra St. Brown for the Lions, making the final score 34–11 in favor of Cincinnati. With the loss, the Lions fell to 0–6 to start the season for the first time since2008 when they finished the season 0–16. With theJaguars' first win over theDolphins earlier in the day, the Lions became the NFL's lone winless team.[56] The Lions once again failed to beat the Bengals, not having done so since1992, and extended their losing streak against them to 7 games.
In week 7, the Lions visited theLos Angeles Rams. The Lions faced their former quarterback,Matthew Stafford, for the first time since being traded in the offseason, while current Lions quarterbackJared Goff also faced his former team. It was also the Lions' first game atSoFi Stadium. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 63-yard touchdown pass from Goff toD'Andre Swift. The Lions extended their lead via a 37-yard field goal byAustin Seibert. The Rams responded with a 33-yard field goal byMatt Gay. The Lions extended their lead in the second quarter via a 47-yard field goal by Seibert. The Rams responded with 14 points via an 11-yard touchdown pass fromMatthew Stafford toVan Jefferson and a two-yard touchdown pass from Stafford toCooper Kupp, giving the Rams their first lead of the game. The Lions responded with a 41-yard field goal by Seibert, making the score 17–16 in favor of Los Angeles at half-time. The Lions scored the only points of the third quarter via a 31-yard field goal by Seibert to regain the lead. In the fourth quarter, the Rams responded with a five-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Kupp and a two-point conversion pass from Stafford toRobert Woods to regain the lead. The Lions' attempted comeback failed following an interception by Goff toJalen Ramsey in thered zone. The Rams extended their lead via a 47-yard field goal by Gay, making the final score 28–19 in favor of Los Angeles.
In week 8, the Lions hosted thePhiladelphia Eagles. The Eagles opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run fromBoston Scott. The Eagles added 10 points in the second quarter via a 43-yard field goal byJake Elliott and a four-yard touchdown run fromJordan Howard, making the score 17–0 in favor of Philadelphia at half-time. The Eagles added 21 points in the third quarter via a three-yard touchdown run from Scott, a two-yard touchdown run from Howard and a 33-yard fumble recovery byDarius Slay. The Eagles added six points in the fourth quarter via two field goals by Elliott from 26-yards, and 41-yards, respectively. The Lions finally got on the board via an eight-yard touchdown run fromJermar Jefferson, making the final score 44–6 in favor of Philadelphia. With the loss, the Lions went into their bye week with an 0–8 record.
In week 10, the Lions visited thePittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers opened the scoring in the first quarter via a nine-yard touchdown pass fromMason Rudolph toJames Washington. In the second quarter the Lions responded with a 28-yard touchdown run fromJermar Jefferson to tie the game. The teams then exchanged field goals, first a 20-yard field goal byChris Boswell for the Steelers, then a 20-yard field goal byRyan Santoso for the Lions, making the score 10–10 at half-time. In the third quarter the Lions took their first lead of the game via a 42-yard touchdown run fromGodwin Igwebuike and a missed extra point by Santoso. The Steelers responded with a 23-yard field goal by Boswell. The Steelers scored the only points of the fourth quarter via a 51-yard field goal by Boswell to tie the game and force overtime. After neither team scored in overtime, the game resulted in a 16–16 tie.
In week 11 the Lions visited theCleveland Browns. After a scoreless first quarter, the Browns scored 13 points in the second quarter via a 16-yard touchdown run fromJarvis Landry and a five-yard touchdown pass fromBaker Mayfield toNick Chubb, making the score 13–0 in favor of Cleveland at half-time. The Lions finally got on the board in the third quarter via a 57-yard touchdown run fromD'Andre Swift. The Lions scored the only points of the fourth quarter via a 43-yard field goal byAldrick Rosas, making the final score 13–10 in favor of Cleveland. The Lions lost their first game in Cleveland since2001.
For their annualThanksgiving Day game, the Lions hosted a rematch against theirdivisional rival theChicago Bears. The Lions unsuccessfully attempted to win their first game on Thanksgiving since2016, as well as end their 14-game non-winning streak dating back to week 13 of the 2020 season, which was also against the Bears. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 39-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toJosh Reynolds. The Bears scored 13 points in the second quarter via a 28-yard field goal byCairo Santos, a 17-yard touchdown pass fromAndy Dalton toJimmy Graham, and a 43-yard field goal by Santos, which made the score 13–7 in favor of Chicago at half-time. The Lions scored the only points of the third quarter via a 17-yard touchdown pass from Goff toT. J. Hockenson to regain the lead. The Bears responded with a 28-yard field goal by Santos as time expired, making the final score 16–14 in favor of Chicago.
In week 13, the Lions hosted a rematch against theirdivisional rival theMinnesota Vikings. The Vikings scored six points in the first quarter via two field goals byGreg Joseph, from 41-yards, and 31-yards, respectively. The Lions scored 20 points in the second quarter via a nine-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toT. J. Hockenson, a 23-yard touchdown pass from Goff toBrock Wright, and two field goals byRiley Patterson, from 31-yards, and 41-yards, respectively, making the score 20–6 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Vikings scored nine points in the third quarter via a 31-yard field goal by Joseph, and an eight-yard touchdown run fromAlexander Mattison. The Lions extended their lead via a 49-yard field goal by Patterson. The Vikings regained the lead in the fourth quarter after they scored 12 points via a five-yard touchdown pass fromKirk Cousins toK. J. Osborn, and a three-yard touchdown pass from Cousins toJustin Jefferson. The Lions responded with a game-winning drive down the field, and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Goff toAmon-Ra St. Brown as time expired, making the final score 29–27 in favor of Detroit, ending the Lions' 15 game winless streak, their last win being 364 days before.[57] The Lions dedicated the win to the four victims who were killed in the2021 Oxford High School shooting.[58]
In week 14, the Lions visited theDenver Broncos. The Broncos scored 14 points in the first quarter via a five-yard touchdown run fromJavonte Williams and a one-yard touchdown run fromMelvin Gordon. The Lions scored 10 points in the second quarter via a seven-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toKalif Raymond and a 36-yard field goal byRiley Patterson. The Broncos responded with a 52-yard field goal byBrandon McManus, which made the score 17–10 in favor of Denver at half-time. The Lions were held scoreless in the second half. The Broncos scored 14 points in the third quarter via a 10-yard touchdown pass fromTeddy Bridgewater to Williams and a 14-yard touchdown run from Gordon. The Broncos scored the only points of the fourth quarter via a four-yard touchdown pass from Bridgewater toAlbert Okwuegbunam, making the final score 38–10 in favor of Denver. With the loss, the Lions were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth straight year.
In week 15, the Lions hosted theArizona Cardinals. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 37-yard field goal byRiley Patterson. The Lions scored 14 points in the second quarter via a 37-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toAmon-Ra St. Brown and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Goff toJosh Reynolds, which made the score 17–0 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Cardinals finally got on the board in the third quarter via a 29-yard field goal byMatt Prater. The Lions extended their lead via a six-yard touchdown pass from Goff toJason Cabinda. The Cardinals responded with a 29-yard field goal by Prater. The Lions extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 47-yard field goal by Patterson. The Cardinals responded with a 26-yard touchdown pass fromKyler Murray toChristian Kirk. The Lions scored the final points of the game via a 45-yard field goal by Patterson, making the final score 30–12 in favor of Detroit.
In week 16, the Lions visited theAtlanta Falcons. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 26-yard field goal byRiley Patterson. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the second quarter, first a six-yard touchdown run fromCordarrelle Patterson for the Falcons, then a 20-yard touchdown pass fromTim Boyle toAmon-Ra St. Brown for the Lions. The Falcons scored the final points of the half via a 53-yard field goal byYounghoe Koo, tying the score at 10–10 at half-time. The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, first a 48-yard field goal by Koo for the Falcons, then a 37-yard field goal by Patterson for the Lions. The Falcons took their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter via a 12-yard touchdown pass fromMatt Ryan toHayden Hurst. The Lions responded with a 26-yard field goal by Patterson, making the final score 20–16 in favor of Atlanta.
In week 17, the Lions visited theSeattle Seahawks. The Seahawks scored ten points in the first quarter via a 15-yard touchdown run fromRashaad Penny and a 51-yard field goal byJason Myers. The Lions finally got on the board in the second quarter via a 26-yard touchdown run fromAmon-Ra St. Brown. The Seahawks scored 21 points in the quarter via a six-yard touchdown run from Penny, a 13-yard touchdown pass fromRussell Wilson toDK Metcalf and a one-yard touchdown pass from Wilson toTyler Lockett, which made the score 31–7 in favor of Seattle at half-time. The Seahawks extended their lead in the third quarter via a 13-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Metcalf. The Lions responded with 15 points via a one-yard touchdown run fromJamaal Williams and two-point conversion pass fromTim Boyle to St. Brown, and a six-yard touchdown pass from Boyle toTaylor Decker. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the fourth quarter, first a one-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Metcalf for the Seahawks, then a one-yard touchdown run from Williams for the Lions. The Seahawks extended their lead via two field goals by Myers from 36-yards, and 42-yards, respectively, making the final score 51–29 in favor of Seattle. The loss also meant the Lions finished last in the NFC for the fourth consecutive year.
To finish their season, the Lions hosted a rematch with theirdivisional rival, theGreen Bay Packers. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the first quarter, first a one-yard touchdown pass fromAaron Rodgers toAllen Lazard for the Packers, then a 75-yard touchdown pass fromTom Kennedy toKalif Raymond for the Lions. The Lions took their first lead of the game in the second quarter via a two-yard touchdown pass fromJared Goff toAmon-Ra St. Brown. The Packers responded with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Lazard, and a missed extra point byMason Crosby. The Lions scored the final points of the half via a 34-yard field goal byRiley Patterson, which made the score 17–13 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Lions extended their lead in the third quarter via a 36-yard touchdown pass from Goff toBrock Wright. The Packers responded with a 36-yard field goal by Crosby. The Packers scored 14 points in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run fromPatrick Taylor and a failed two-point conversion attempt, then a 62-yard touchdown pass fromJordan Love toJosiah Deguara and a two-point conversion run from Love to regain the lead for the first time since the first quarter. The Lions scored 13 points in the quarter via a 36-yard field goal by Patterson, a 14-yard touchdown run fromD'Andre Swift and a 27-yard field goal by Patterson, making the final score 37–30 in favor of Detroit.
^abGreen Bay finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on conference record (9–3 vs. 8–4), claiming the No. 1 seed.
^abDallas claimed the No. 3 seed over LA Rams based on conference record (10–2 vs. 8–4).
^abPhiladelphia finished ahead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
^abcWashington finished ahead of Atlanta and Seattle based on head-to-head victories.
^abSeattle finished ahead of Atlanta based on win percentage in common games (4–2 vs. 3–3 against: San Francisco, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Washington, and Detroit).
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
