# 1972 Detroit Lions season

The 1972 Detroit Lions season was their 43rd in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on their previous season's output of 7–6–1, winning eight games. The team missed the playoffs for the second straight season. It would also be the team's last winning season until 1980
Linebacker Wayne Walker established a new team record for games played at 200. It was also the final season for longtime defensive back Dick LeBeau.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

1972 Detroit Lions draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 16 | Herb Orvis | DE | Colorado | |
| 3 | 65 | Ken Sanders | DE | Howard Payne | from Philadelphia |
| 6 | 145 | Charles Potts | DB | Purdue | |
| 7 | 172 | Charles Stoudmire | WR | Portland State | |
| 8 | 197 | Henry Stuckey | DB | Missouri | |
| 9 | 224 | Bill McClintock | DB | Drake | |
| 10 | 249 | Jim Teal | LB | Purdue | |
| 11 | 276 | Bob Waldron | DT | Tulane | |
| 12 | 301 | Paul Bradley | WR | SMU | |
| 13 | 328 | John Kirschner | TE | Memphis State | |
| 14 | 353 | Eric Kelley | OT | Whitworth | |
| 15 | 380 | Steve Roach | LB | Kansas | |
| 16 | 405 | Leon Jenkins | DB | West Virginia | |
| 17 | 432 | Mike Tyler | DB | Rice | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||
Notes
* Detroit traded QB Greg Barton to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' second- and third-round selections (40th and 65th) and second-round selection in 1971.
* Detroit traded the 40th selection received from Philadelphia to Atlanta in exchange for RB Paul Gipson.
* Detroit traded its second-round selection (41st) to Atlanta in exchange for CB Rudy Redmond, RB Sonny Campbell and Atlanta's fourth-round selection in 1973.
* Detroit traded its third-round selection (68th) to Philadelphia in exchange for QB Bill Cappleman.
* Detroit traded its fourth-round selection (93rd) to Dallas in exchange for WR Ron Jessie.
* Detroit traded its fifth-round selection (120th) to Los Angeles in exchange for DT Dick Evey.

## Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
| 1 | September 17 | New York Giants | W 30–16 | 54,418 |
| 2 | September 24 | Minnesota Vikings | L 10-34 | 54,418 |
| 3 | October 1 | at Chicago Bears | W 38–24 | 55,701 |
| 4 | October 8 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 26–23 | 58,850 |
| 5 | October 16 | Green Bay Packers | L 23-24 | 54,418 |
| 6 | October 22 | San Diego Chargers | W 34–20 | 54,371 |
| 7 | October 30 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 24-28 | 65,378 |
| 8 | November 5 | Chicago Bears | W 14–0 | 54,418 |
| 9 | November 12 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 14-16 | 49,784 |
| 10 | November 19 | New Orleans Saints | W 27–14 | 53,752 |
| 11 | November 23 | New York Jets | W 37–20 | 54,418 |
| 12 | December 3 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7-33 | 56,263 |
| 13 | December 10 | at Buffalo Bills | T 21–21 | 41,583 |
| 14 | December 17 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 34–17 | 71,761 |

## Season summary
### Week 13 at Bills

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
* Date: December 10
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C)
* Game attendance: 41,583
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
DET – Earl McCullouch 9-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Lions 7–0. Drive:
BUF – J.D. Hill 58-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). Tie 7–7. Drive:
Third quarter
BUF – Bob Chandler 39-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). Bills 14–7. Drive:
DET – Nick Eddy 36-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Tie 14–14. Drive:
Fourth quarter
BUF – Jan White 2-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). Bills 21–14. Drive:
DET – Ron Jessie 37-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Tie 21–21. Drive:
Top passers
DET – Greg Landry – 8/25, 150 yards, 3 TD
BUF – Dennis Shaw – 18/32, 239 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
DET – Greg Landry – 9 rushes, 46 yards
BUF – O.J. Simpson – 27 rushes, 116 yards
Top receivers
DET – Ron Jessie – 2 receptions, 51 yards, TD
BUF – J.D. Hill – 8 receptions, 129 yards, TD :

## Standings

NFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Green Bay Packers | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 5–1 | 8–3 | 304 | 226 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | 2–4 | 6–5 | 339 | 290 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 4–2 | 6–5 | 301 | 252 | L2 |
| Chicago Bears | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | 1–5 | 3–7–1 | 225 | 275 | L1 |