2008 Detroit Lions season

The **2008 Detroit Lions season** was the 79th football season of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). It was their third year under head coach Rod Marinelli. In 2008, the Lions had one of the worst seasons of any major American pro sports team. They lost all 16 of their regular season games. They were the first NFL team to finish a season with no wins and 16 losses after their loss to the Green Bay Packers. They were the second team with no wins after the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Matt Millen was fired during the bye week of the season and the rest of the staff were fired after the season was over.

In 2017, the Cleveland Browns became the second team to lose all 16 regular season games.

## Roster

|colspan="9" style="background-color: #006DB0; color: #C5C7CF; text-align: center;"|**Detroit Lions 2008 final roster**|||||||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|**Quarterbacks** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">11</span> Daunte Culpepper * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">12</span> Drew Henson * <span style="font-family: Courier New;"> 6</span> Dan Orlovsky * <span style="font-family: Courier New;"> 5</span> Drew Stanton **Running Backs** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">36</span> Aveion Cason * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">45</span> _Jerome Felton_ FB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">32</span> Rudi Johnson * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">44</span> Moran Norris FB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">34</span> _Kevin Smith_ **Wide Receivers** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">19</span> Keary Colbert * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">10</span> Chris Hannon * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">80</span> Adam Jennings * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">81</span> Calvin Johnson * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">16</span> John Standeford * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">17</span> Travis Taylor **Tight Ends** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">82</span> Casey FitzSimmons FB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">86</span> Michael Gaines * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">83</span> John Owens|style="width: 25px;"||style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|**Offensive Linemen** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">76</span> Jeff Backus T * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">77</span> _Gosder Cherilus_ T * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">74</span> Damion Cook G/T * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">71</span> Junius Coston G * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">72</span> George Foster T * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">67</span> Andy McCollum C * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">66</span> Stephen Peterman G * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">51</span> Dominic Raiola C * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">63</span> Manny Ramirez G **Defensive Linemen** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">97</span> Ikaika Alama-Francis DE * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">92</span> _Cliff Avril_ DE * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">75</span> Shaun Cody DT * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">98</span> _Landon Cohen_ DT * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">91</span> Chuck Darby DT * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">96</span> _Andre Fluellen_ DT * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">79</span> Langston Moore DT * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">93</span> Corey Smith DE * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">99</span> Dewayne White DE|style="width: 25px;"||style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|**Linebackers** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">46</span> Darnell Bing OLB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">52</span> Anthony Cannon OLB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">53</span> Paris Lenon ILB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">55</span> Ryan Nece OLB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">50</span> Ernie Sims OLB **Defensive Backs** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">28</span> Leigh Bodden CB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">27</span> Daniel Bullocks SS * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">21</span> Travis Fisher CB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">35</span> LaMarcus Hicks SS * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">24</span> Kalvin Pearson FS * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">33</span> Chris Roberson CB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">38</span> Ramzee Robinson CB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">39</span> Stuart Schweigert FS * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">30</span> Dexter Wynn CB **Special Teams** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;"> 4</span> Jason Hanson K * <span style="font-family: Courier New;"> 2</span> Nick Harris P * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">48</span> Don Muhlbach LS|style="width: 25px;"||style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|**Reserve Lists** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">42</span> Gerald Alexander FS <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">13</span> Reggie Ball WR <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">40</span> Jon Bradley FB <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">29</span> Brian Calhoun RB <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">89</span> Dan Campbell TE <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">95</span> Jared DeVries DE <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">57</span> _Jordon Dizon_ ILB <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">74</span> Jon Dunn OT <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">87</span> Mike Furrey WR <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;"> 8</span> Jon Kitna QB <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">60</span> _Shemiah LeGrande_ DT <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">59</span> Alex Lewis OLB <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">84</span> Shaun McDonald WR <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">64</span> Edwin Mulitalo G <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">78</span> Cory Redding DT <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">26</span> Dwight Smith SS <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">23</span> Keith Smith CB <small>(IR)</small> * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">31</span> Stanley Wilson CB <small>(IR)</small> **Practice Squad** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">62</span> Ben Claxton C/G * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">25</span> _Dowayne Davis_ S * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">39</span> _Allen Ervin_ RB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">18</span> Eric Fowler WR * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">54</span> _Chris Graham_ ILB * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">94</span> _Rudolph Hardie_ DE * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">85</span> Jake Nordin TE * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">49</span> Jeff Shoate CB **Unsigned Draft Picks** * <span style="font-family: Courier New;">47</span> _Caleb Campbell_ OLB/S <small>_Rookies in italics_</small>|

### Preseason

|rowspan="2"|Week|rowspan="2"|Date|rowspan="2"|Kickoff|rowspan="2"|Opponent|colspan="2"|Results|rowspan="2"|Game Site|rowspan="2"|TV|rowspan="2"|NFL Recap|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|August 7, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|7:00 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|New York Giants|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|**W 13–10**|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|1–0|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Lions TV Network|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|August 17, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|7:30 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|at Cincinnati Bengals|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|**W 27–10**|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|2–0|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Paul Brown Stadium|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Lions TV Network|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|August 23, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|4:00 PM|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Cleveland Browns|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|**W 26–6**|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|3–0|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Lions TV Network|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|August 28, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|6:30 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|at Buffalo Bills|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|**W 14–6**|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|4–0|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Ralph Wilson Stadium|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Lions TV Network|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|Recap|

### Regular season

|rowspan="2"|Week|rowspan="2"|Date|rowspan="2"|Kickoff|rowspan="2"|Opponent|colspan="2"|Results|rowspan="2"|Game Site|rowspan="2"|TV|rowspan="2"|NFL Recap|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|September 7, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at Atlanta Falcons|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 34–21**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–1|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Georgia Dome|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|September 14, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Green Bay Packers|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 48–25**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–2|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|September 21, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|4:05 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at San Francisco 49ers|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 31–13**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–3|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Candlestick Park|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|colspan="8" align="center" valign="middle"|_Bye_|||||||||||||||
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|October 5, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Chicago Bears|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 34–7**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–4|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|October 12, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at Minnesota Vikings|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 12–10**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–5|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|October 19, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|4:05 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at Houston Texans|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 28–21**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–6|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Reliant Stadium|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|October 26, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EDT|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Washington Redskins|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 25–17**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–7|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX <small> x</small>|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|November 2, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at Chicago Bears|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 27–23**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–8|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Soldier Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|November 9, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Jacksonville Jaguars|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 38–14**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–9|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|CBS <small> x</small>|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|November 16, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at Carolina Panthers|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 31–22**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–10|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Bank of America Stadium|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|November 23, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Tampa Bay Buccaneers|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 38–20**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–11|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX <small> x</small>|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|November 27, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|12:30 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Tennessee Titans|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 47–10**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–12|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|CBS|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|December 7, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Minnesota Vikings|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 20–16**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–13|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX <small> x</small>|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|December 14, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at Indianapolis Colts|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 31–21**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–14|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Lucas Oil Stadium|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|December 21, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|New Orleans Saints|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 42–7**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–15|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Ford Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX <small> x</small>|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|
|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|December 28, 2008|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|1:00 PM EST|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|at Green Bay Packers|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|**L 31–21**|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|0–16|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Lambeau Field|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|FOX|align="center" style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recap|

**COLOR KEY AND NOTES:**

- <small> x</small> Means game was blacked out locally
- Means the game was nationally televised

## Season facts

- Three people who were on the 2008 Lions played in Super Bowl 48. They were Manny Ramirez and Paris Lenon of the Denver Broncos and Cliff Avril for the Seattle Seahawks, who won the Super Bowl.
- First 0-16 team in NFL history after loss to the Green Bay Packers
- The team won all 4 preseason games.
- After losing to the New Orleans Saints in week 16 (7-42), they became the first 0-15 team. They also became the first team to lose 15 straight games since the 2001 Panthers
- Gave up 517 points during the season
- Third team to lose 14 games, after the 1980 Saints and the 1976 Buccaneers
- In week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota, it was the first game where the Lions lost by 2.
- In week 13 against the Tennessee Titans, the team gave up 47 points as the team lost 10-47. They fell to 0-12. It would also be the 2nd straight season a NFL team has started 0-12 after the 2007 Miami Dolphins, who finished the year 1-15.

## Infobox (nfl season)

- **team**: Detroit Lions
- **year**: 2008
- **record**: 0-16
- **division place**: 4th NFC North
- **coach**: Rod Marinelli
_(3rd season)_
- **general manager**: Matt Millen
_(7th season)_
- **owner**: William Clay Ford, Sr
- **stadium**: Ford Field
- **playoffs**: Did not qualify
- **next**: 2009 Detroit Lions season, 2009 Detroit Lions