The1951Detroit Lions season was their 22nd in theleague. It was the first season underBuddy Parker as head coach. They were 7–4–1, tied for second in the National Conference, a half game behind theLos Angeles Rams. A loss atSan Francisco in the regular season finale cost the Lions the conference title,[1][2] and they failed to qualify for the playoffs for a sixteenth consecutive season. The team improved on theirprevious season's output of 6–6.[3]
In their 52–35 win over theGreen Bay Packers onThanksgiving, Detroit became the first team in NFL history to score three touchdowns of 70 yards or more in one quarter (a run and two punt returns in the third period).[4][5][6][7] It was the first of thirteen consecutive appearances for the Packers in Detroit on Thanksgiving, through1963.
According to the team, a total of 10,094 season tickets were sold by the Lions for the 1951 campaign.[8] The Lions played their home games inBriggs Stadium (Tiger Stadium), which had a regular listed seating capacity of 46,194, with an additional 7,000 bleacher seats for football to bring total capacity to 53,194.[8]
