2008 Detroit Lions season The 2008 Detroit Lions season was the 79th season for the franchise in the National Football League . Although the Lions had a flawless preseason with a 4 - 0 record , the Lions became the first team in NFL history to compile an 0 - 16 record in regular season play . They were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention after Week 11 . Team president and CEO Matt Millen was fired on September 24 , while head coach Rod Marinelli and most of his assistants were fired the day after the season ended . This season has been framed as the Detroit Lions worst season ever , and the worst season ever in football . To celebrate their 75th year playing as the Lions ( they had been known as the Portsmouth Spartans their first four seasons ) , the Lions wore special throwback uniforms for two home games , a replica of the ones used in 1934 , the first year as the Lions . The uniforms had blue jerseys with silver lettering , solid silver pants , blue socks , and solid silver helmets ( as helmets were leather back then ) . This replaced their black alternate jersey used in the 2005 - 2007 seasons . Offseason . 2008 Draft . < nowiki > * < / nowiki > Due to new rules implemented that year regarding Military athletes by the U . S . Military Academy , Campbell was later ruled ineligible to play professionally until 2010 , and instead had to serve in the Army until then . Schedule . Preseason . Because the Lions went undefeated in exhibition games , they were dubbed by the media as " The Pre - season Champions " . T - shirts were made to reflect this . Game recaps . Week 1 : at Atlanta Falcons . The Lions began their 2008 season at the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons . A pre - season poll on thespread . com said the Falcons ( who finished 11 - 5 before losing in the Wild Card round of the playoffs ) , were less likely ( dead last for that matter ) to make the Super Bowl than the Lions . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed early as QB Matt Ryan completed a 62 - yard TD pass to WR Michael Jenkins , while RB Michael Turner scored twice ; in which he ran a 66 - yard TD run and then a 5 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Lions would respond when rookie RB Kevin Smith scored on a 3 - yard TD run , while QB Jon Kitna completed a 21 - yard TD pass to WR Roy Williams . However , in the third quarter , Atlanta continued its dominant start when kicker Jason Elam completed a 50 - yard field goal , while RB Jerious Norwood scored on a 10 - yard TD run . Detroit would reply when Kitna hooked up with TE Casey FitzSimmons on a 1 - yard TD pass . However , the Falcons sealed the win in the fourth quarter when Elam nailed a 25 - yard field goal . Week 2 : vs . Green Bay Packers . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Falcons , the Lions played their Week 2 home opener against their NFC North foe , the Green Bay Packers . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed as Packers QB Aaron Rodgers completed a 9 - yard TD pass to WR James Jones . In the second quarter , the Lions continued to trail as Rodgers completed a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver and a 29 - yard TD pass to WR Jordy Nelson . Detroit would close out the first half when kicker Jason Hanson completed a 38 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Lions continued to hack away at Green Bay ' s lead with Hanson kicking a 49 - yard and a 53 - yard field goal . The Packers responded when kicker Mason Crosby completed a 25 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Detroit clawed away at the Pack ' s lead when QB Jon Kitna completed a 38 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson . The Lions closed in as the snap to Packers punter Derrick Frost was high , causing it to go through the back of his end zone , giving Detroit a safety . The Lions would take the lead on Kitna ' s 47 - yard TD pass to Calvin Johnson . However , Green Bay rebounded with Crosby ' s 39 - yard field goal , RB Brandon Jackson ' s 19 - yard TD run , CB Charles Woodson ' s 41 - yard interception return for a touchdown , and safety Nick Collins ' 42 - yard interception return for a touchdown . Week 3 : at San Francisco 49ers . Trying to snap a two - game skid , went to Candlestick Park in San Francisco for a Week 3 duel with the 49ers . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed early as 49ers ( and former Lions ) QB J . T . O ' Sullivan completed a 6 - yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce . In the second quarter , San Francisco increased its lead when RB Frank Gore scored on a 4 - yard TD run . The Lions would get on the board when kicker Jason Hanson completed a 44 - yard field goal . The 49ers closed out the half when O ' Sullivan completed a 24 - yard TD pass to TE Delanie Walker . In the third quarter , Detroit tried to rally as Hanson kicked a 51 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , San Francisco increased its lead when CB Allen Rossum scored on a 1 - yard TD run . The Lions tried to come back as QB Jon Kitna completed a 34 - yard TD pass to RB Rudi Johnson , yet the 49ers pulled away when kicker Joe Nedney nailed a 25 - yard field goal . Week 4 : Bye week - Millen fired . In the bye week , team president and CEO Matt Millen was fired after eight years of management in which the team accumulated a league - worst record of 31 wins and 84 losses . Week 5 : vs . Chicago Bears . Coming off their bye week , the Lions played a Week 5 Black and Blue Division duel at home with the Chicago Bears . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed early as Bears kicker Robbie Gould got a 37 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Lions continued to trail as QB Kyle Orton completed a 9 - yard TD pass to RB Matt Forté and a 12 - yard TD pass to WR / KR Devin Hester . In the third quarter , Chicago continued its domination as Forté got a 1 - yard TD run , and CB Charles Tillman returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown . Afterwards , Detroit got its only score of the game as rookie RB Kevin Smith scored on a 12 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Bears sealed the win when Gould nailed a 45 - yard field goal . Week 6 : at Minnesota Vikings . The Lions traveled to Minneapolis in week 6 to take on the Minnesota Vikings . In the first quarter , Detroit ' s misery continued as Orlovsky unintentionally ran out of the back of his endzone , giving the Vikings a safety . In the second quarter , the Lions got the lead as kicker Jason Hanson got a 40 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Detroit increased its lead as Orlovsky completed a 12 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson . However , Minnesota answered when QB Gus Frerotte completed an 86 - yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian . In the fourth quarter , the Vikings sealed the win when kicker Ryan Longwell nailed the game - winning 26 - yard field goal . Dan Orlovsky ' s run out of the end zone for a safety topped the list of ESPN ' s Not Top 10 of 2008 . Roster moves . On October 14 , The Lions traded wide receiver Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for three picks in the 2009 NFL Draft . The same day , quarterback Jon Kitna was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season , due to chronic back pain . Dan Orlovsky took over his place . Week 7 : at Houston Texans . In week 7 , the Lions flew down to Reliant Stadium for an interconference duel in the Lone Star State with the Houston Texans . In the first quarter , Detroit ' s slow starts continued as Texans QB Matt Schaub completed a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Owen Daniels , along with RB Ahman Green getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , Houston increased their lead as RB Steve Slaton got a 1 - yard TD run . The Lions responded when kicker Jason Hanson completed a 54 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Detroit began to catch up as rookie RB Kevin Smith got a 26 - yard TD run , yet the Texans answered with Schaub completing a 1 - yard TD pass to Daniels . In the fourth quarter , the Lions tried to comeback as QB Dan Orlovsky completed a 96 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson , along with Hanson nailing a 54 - yard field goal . However , Houston ' s defense prevented any comeback from happening . Week 8 : vs . Washington Redskins . The Lions went home for a Week 8 duel with the Washington Redskins . This was the first ever regular season game at Ford Field that had failed to sell out by the 72 - hour deadline and was , therefore , subject to local television blackout . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed early as Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham got a 25 - yard field goal . In what would be the first time in the season the Lions scored during the first quarter , RB Rudi Johnson got an 11 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , Detroit increased its lead as kicker Jason Hanson got a 43 - yard field goal . Washington closed out the half with Suisham getting a 47 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Redskins regained the lead as Suisham made a 45 - yard field goal , along with QB Jason Campbell completing a 50 - yard TD pass to WR Santana Moss . In the fourth quarter , the Lions ' struggles continued as Moss returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown . Detroit tried to rally as QB Dan Orlovsky completed a 17 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson . However , Washington closed out the game with Suisham nailing a 42 - yard field goal . Signing of Daunte Culpepper . On October 28 , the Lions discussed a contract with veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper . He signed with the Lions on November 3 and played 4 games before suffering a shoulder injury . Week 9 : at Chicago Bears . Still trying to get their first win of the season , the Lions traveled to Soldier Field for a Week 9 NFC North rematch with the Chicago Bears . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed early as Bears kicker Robbie Gould got a 36 - yard field goal , along with QB Kyle Orton getting a 5 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Lions greatly responded with rookie RB Kevin Smith getting a 1 - yard TD run ( with a blocked PAT ) , along with QB Dan Orlovsky completing a 17 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson and a 14 - yard TD pass to WR Shaun McDonald . Chicago would respond with Gould getting a 41 - yard field goal , yet Detroit answered with kicker Jason Hanson getting a 52 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Bears began to rally as QB Rex Grossman ( who took over for Orton after he left the game in the second quarter with a right foot sprain ) completed a 6 - yard TD pass to WR Rashied Davis . In the fourth quarter , Chicago completed their rally as Grossman got a 1 - yard TD run . The Lions tried to rally , but the Bears ' defense prevented any possible comeback from happening . With their 9th straight road loss , not only did the Lions fall to 0 - 8 , but they were swept by the Bears for the first time since 2006 . Due to the Bengals ' victory over the Jaguars , the Lions remained the only winless NFL team . Week 10 : vs . Jacksonville Jaguars . In week 10 the Lions went home , donned their throwback uniforms , and played an interconference game against the Jacksonville Jaguars . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed early as Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee got a 34 - yard field goal . The Lions would respond as QB Drew Stanton made his NFL debut and completed a 1 - yard TD pass to TE John Owens on his first NFL pass . In the second quarter , Jacksonville took a huge lead as RB Maurice Jones - Drew got a 6 - yard , a 1 - yard , and an 8 - yard TD run . In the third quarter , Detroit ' s misery continued as Jaguars QB David Garrard completed a 7 - yard TD pass to WR Jerry Porter . In the fourth quarter , Jacksonville pulled away as Garrard completed a 10 - yard TD pass to WR Troy Williamson . The Lions would end the game when rookie RB Kevin Smith scored on a 1 - yard TD run . Week 11 : at Carolina Panthers . The still winless Lions next went to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte , Charlotte for a Week 11 duel with the Carolina Panthers . In the first quarter , Detroit struck first as QB Daunte Culpepper completed a 29 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson . In the second quarter , the Lions increased their lead when kicker Jason Hanson got a 40 - yard field goal . The Panthers responded when QB Jake Delhomme completed a 15 - yard TD pass to TE Jeff King . Detroit answered when Hanson completed a 56 - yard field goal , yet Carolina took the lead as RB DeAngelo Williams scored a long 56 - yard TD run . Later , Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart scored on a 22 - yard TD run . The Lions closed out the half as Hanson completed a 27 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Panthers increased their lead when kicker John Kasay nailed a 29 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Detroit tried to comeback as Culpepper got a 1 - yard TD run ( with a failed 2 - point conversion due to a missed facemask call against Carolina ) , but Carolina pulled away as Williams scored on a 4 - yard TD run . Week 12 : vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers . In week 11 , the Lions went home for a Week 12 duel with another NFC South team , the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . In the first quarter , Detroit struck first as QB Daunte Culpepper completed a 15 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson . The Lions continued their early success as safety Daniel Bullocks returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown , while kicker Jason Hanson got a 38 - yard field goal . Although the 17 - 0 early advantage was the largest lead the Lions would have all year , it didn ' t even last until halftime . In the second quarter , the Buccaneers ' RB Warrick Dunn got a 13 - yard TD run , while QB Jeff Garcia completed a 36 - yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard and a 24 - yard TD pass to TE Jerramy Stevens . In the third quarter , Tampa Bay added onto their lead as RB Clifton Smith returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown , along with CB Ronde Barber returning an interception 65 yards for a touchdown . Detroit scored when Hanson got a 40 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , only the Buccaneers scored when kicker Matt Bryant nailed a 48 - yard field goal . Week 13 : vs . Tennessee Titans ( Thanksgiving Classic ) . Later that week , the Lions stayed at home , donned their throwback uniforms again , and played their 69th Annual Thanksgiving Day game against the then 10 - 1 Tennessee Titans . It was the only nationally televised game of the regular season and the only one of the final six home games that wasn ' t blacked out , although the Lions needed a 24 - hour extension to sell out Ford Field . In the first quarter , Detroit trailed early as Titans RB Chris Johnson got a 6 - yard TD run . The Lions would respond with kicker Jason Hanson getting a 53 - yard field goal . Tennessee would answer with Johnson getting a 58 - yard TD run , along with DE Dave Ball returning an interception 15 yards for a touchdown . In the second quarter , Detroit ' s misery continued as RB LenDale White got a 6 - yard TD run and a 2 - yard TD run . Detroit would end the half with QB Daunte Culpepper completing a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Michael Gaines . In the third quarter , the Titans continued to pull away as kicker Rob Bironas got a 49 - yard and a 41 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Tennessee scored two more times when Bironas nailed a 45 - yard and a 43 - yard field goal . Singer Jesse McCartney performed during halftime . The 47 points were most points that Detroit had ever given up on Thanksgiving Day as they fell to 0 - 12 . It also became the 2nd straight NFL season to have a team start out 0 - 12 after the Dolphins in 2007 . Week 14 : vs . Minnesota Vikings . Next , the Lions stayed at home for a Week 15 NFC North rematch with newly signed veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper ' s former team the Minnesota Vikings . In the first quarter , Detroit was on the board first as kicker Jason Hanson got a 25 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Lions increased their lead as Hanson got a 23 - yard field goal . The Vikings would close out the half as kicker Ryan Longwell got a 35 - yard field goal . During the first half , Moran Norris was ejected by referee Jerome Boger for throwing a punch at Minnesota ' s Napolean Harris . In the third quarter , Minnesota took the lead as RB Chester Taylor got a 17 - yard TD run . Detroit would reply with former Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper completing a 70 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson . However , Minnesota got the lead again as QB Tarvaris Jackson completed an 11 - yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe . In the fourth quarter , the Lions tried to rally as Hanson made a 39 - yard field goal . However , the Vikings pulled away as Longwell nailed a 50 - yard field goal . Week 15 : at Indianapolis Colts . In the last interconference duel of the season , the Lions traveled to their neighbors in Indianapolis , Indiana to take on the Indianapolis Colts . The Colts struck first when Dominic Rhodes ran in a TD from 1 yard out midway through the first quarter . The Lions would respond a few minutes later with a 51 yard field goal by Jason Hanson . With just under 6 minutes left in the half , Chad Simpson of the Colts ran in a TD from 2 yards out . Calvin Johnson of the Lions responded a few minutes later by catching a 33 yard TD pass . The Colts struck back with just under a minute in the half , when Dallas Clark caught a 3 yard TD pass . The only points for either team in the 3rd quarter was a Jason Hanson 30 yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Kevin Smith ran in a TD from 1 yard out . The Lions decided to go for the 2 point conversion to tie it up and were successful when Casey Fitzsimmons caught a pass and ran it in . The Colts responded with another Dominic Rhodes 1 yard TD run . They put it away with a 31 yard Adam Vinatieri field goal . With the loss to the Colts , the Lions became the third team ( after the 1976 Buccaneers and the 1980 Saints ) to lose the first 14 games of the regular season . With their 11th straight road loss , the Lions fell to 0 - 14 and 0 - 4 against AFC Opponents . Week 16 : vs New Orleans Saints . For their last home game of the season , the Lions took on the New Orleans Saints . Detroit trailed early in the first quarter as Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem got a 20 - yard touchdown run , along with running back Deuce McAllister getting a 2 - yard touchdown run . The Lions would respond in the second quarter with rookie running back Kevin Smith getting a 1 - yard touchdown run . However , New Orleans answered with running back Mike Bell getting a 1 - yard touchdown run , along with running back Pierre Thomas getting a 2 - yard touchdown run . The Saints would then close out the game ' s scoring in the third quarter quarterback Drew Brees completing a 6 - yard and a 3 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston . With the loss , the Lions became the first team in NFL history to have a record of 0 - 15 . They also became the first team to lose 15 straight in a single season since the 2001 Carolina Panthers , who won their first game , then lost the remaining 15 to go 1 - 15 . Week 17 : at Green Bay Packers . For their last chance to avoid becoming the first 0 - 16 team in NFL history , the Lions traveled to Green Bay , Wisconsin to take on division rivals the Green Bay Packers ( who Detroit had not beaten on the road since 1991 ) . The Packers struck first midway through the first quarter when Deshawn Wynn ran in a career long 73 yard TD . They made it 14 - 0 when Jermichael Finley caught a 3 yard TD pass near the end of the first quarter . The Lions got on the board in the second quarter when Calvin Johnson caught a 9 yard TD pass . At the end of the half , Will Blackmon called a fair catch as time expired , allowing Mason Crosby to attempt a rare 69 yard field goal . Crosby kicked it accurately but it fell just a yard short with the wind blowing against him . Before the game , Crosby also attempted a 64 yard field goal . Calvin Johnson scored another TD to tie it up in the 3rd quarter when he caught a 14 yard pass . The Packers responded just after the start of the 4th quarter with a 36 yard Mason Crosby field goal , and later with a John Kuhn 5 yard TD catch . The Lions responded less than a minute later with a Kevin Smith 9 yard TD run . The Packers sealed the Lions ' fate though with a 71 yard TD pass caught by Donald Driver . With the loss , the Lions became only the second NFL team of the post - merger era to go winless without a tie in the regular season , and the first to go 0 - 16 . ( The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers also went winless , but that was when the regular season only had 14 games . ) The Lions ended 2008 having lost 23 of their last 24 regular - season games , going back to the previous season . The Lions also finished 2008 with 17 consecutive regular season losses ( the NFL record is 26 by the Buccaneers , who lost the next twelve games after their winless season ) . After allowing 31 points to the Packers , it brought their season total points allowed to 517 . This is the second highest point total allowed in a single season in NFL history , trailing only the 533 allowed by the 1981 Baltimore Colts . Notable reactions . After the final game of the season , Lions ' radio play - by - play announcer Dan Miller summed up the whole year in a few sentences : On the NFL Network ' s " Top 10 Worst Teams of All Time " , the 2008 Lions were recently placed at # 1 , with the 0 - 14 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers falling to # 2 .