The 2003 season was the Detroit Lions' 74th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 70th as the Detroit Lions, and their first under head coach Steve Mariucci. The team improved upon their 3–13 record from the previous season but missed the postseason for the fourth consecutive season and finished last in their division for the third straight season.
The Lions selected Charles Rogers with the second overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft and brought in a number of defensive free agents, including cornerback Dré Bly on a five-year deal. However, injuries to the defense would hinder the Lions as they finished with the 25th ranked defense in points allowed.
Offseason
Coaching changes
After the 2002 season, general manager Matt Millen said that head coach Marty Mornhinweg would return in 2003 despite compiling a 5–27 record.[1] However, Mornhinweg was fired 27 days later. The team hired former San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci to a five-year, $25 million contract. Mariccui was fired after the 49ers loss in the postseason; he compiled a 57–39 record with the team and two division titles.[2] The hiring process drew allegations that the team violated NFL's policy of considering at least one minority candidate.[3] The league investigated and fined general manager Matt Millen $200,000 "failing to interview a minority head coaching candidate." Owner William Clay Ford Sr. said that Commissioner Paul Tagliabue was "singling out the Lions" and that he had "lost a lot of respect for [him]."[4]
Offensive coordinator and running backs coach Maurice Carthon was hired by the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions hired Sherman Lewis as their offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, while hiring Bobby Williams as their running backs coach.[6]
Free agency
The Lions signed cornerback Dré Bly, a highly touted free agent, to a five-year, $24.5 million contract.
The Lions bolstered their defense by signing linebackers Earl Holmes and Wali Rainer, defensive lineman Dan Wilkinson, and cornerbacks Dré Bly and Otis Smith. After losing linebacker Chris Claiborne, the Lions signed Rainer and Holmes, signing to one-year and three-year contracts respectively, with Holmes coming in as a seven-year veteran and signed a three-year contract.[7][8] Wilkinson was signed after starting tackle Luther Elliss suffered a torn pectoral.[9] Bly signed a five-year, $24.5 million deal and was rated as the best corner in free agency.[10]
Adding to their offense, they signed wide receiver Shawn Jefferson to a one-year deal.[11] They also signed fullback Cory Schlesinger to a two-year extension.[12]
Rookies in italics
53 active, 15 inactive, 5 practice squad
Regular season
Overview
The Lions were plagued with injuries before the regular season began. In May, wide receiver Scotty Anderson was stabbed outside a nightclub alongside his brother.[15] Starting defensive tackle Luther Elliss suffered a torn pectoral in July, although it wouldn't require surgery and he would be back on the field before the regular season started.[16] Two rookies were injured; Charles Rogers dislocated his finger in training camp and required stitches and James Davis injured his ribs.[17][18] Two starters were lost to season ending injuries: James Stewart and Chris Cash to shoulder and knee injuries respectively.[18][19] After the regular season began, injuries still piled up. Charles Rogers broke his collarbone in practice on October 7, ending his rookie season.[20] They also lost punter John Jett to a calf injury and signed Nick Harris.[21] During the Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, Andre Goodman dislocated his shoulder and was out for the season.[22] Dré Bly, Robert Porcher, Rod Babers, and Jimmy Wyrick dealt with injuries. Victor Rogers and Chris Watson suffered back injuries and were put on injured reserve.[23][24]
The Lions began their season 1–6 and finished 5–11, the fourth in the NFC North and thirteenth in the NFC and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14.[25] The offense finished dead last in the league for yards and 26th in points scored. The passing game had the fourth most attempts but finished 24th in passing yards. The rushing game was the league's worst; 32nd in both rushing attempts and yards, and 30th in rushing touchdowns. The defense finished 25th and 24th in points allowed and yards allowed respectively. The passing defense was 28th and 29th in yards and touchdowns allowed. The rushing defense was in the middle of the league at 15th in rushing yards allowed.[26]
Schedule
In addition to their regular games with NFC North divisional rivals, the Lions played teams from the NFC West and AFC West according to the NFL's schedule rotation, and also played games against the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys, who had finished fourth in their respective divisions in 2002.
For their season and home opener, the Lions hosted the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions took the opening kickoff and stalled, punting. The Cardinals took their first drive 11 plays to reach the endzone on an Anquan Boldin pass from Jeff Blake. The Lions responded with a touchdown of their own from Joey Harrington to Charles Rogers to tie the game at 7 apiece. A short Cardinals punt left the Lions with great field position, which they capitalized on with a Harrington touchdown pass to Rogers to go up 14–7. The Cardinals responded with another long scoring drive when Freddie Jones brought in a 12-yard touchdown pass to put the score at 14–14 going into halftime.[28]
The Cardinals took the second half kickoff and scored with a Blake 71-yard pass to Boldin. The Lions punted on the responding drive. The Lions defense held the Cardinals to a three-and-out. On the punt return, Eddie Drummond returned the punt 57-yards for the touchdown to tie the game again at 21–21. The Cardinals failed to respond and punted. The Lions were held to a three-and-out and punted. On the catch, Boldin muffed the ball and it was recovered by Donté Curry. The Lions capitalized with a Cory Schlesinger 8-yard pass from Harrington to give the Lions their first lead of the day at 28–21. The Cardinals responded with a field goal drive to bring them within 4 at 28–24. The Lions punted on their next drive. On the first play of the next Cardinals drive, Blake was strip sacked which was recovered by James Hall. The Lions once again capitalized with a Bill Schroeder 5-yard score. The Cardinals failed to respond when Blake threw an errant pass that was intercepted by Dré Bly and returned 48 yards for the touchdown to bring the Lions lead to 42–24. The Cardinals had two drives to score but punted on each, sealing the Lions' first win of the season.[28]
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
Week 2: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
For their first road game of the season, the Lions visited the Green Bay Packers. The Packers took the opening kickoff and scored on the third play with an Ahman Green 65-yard rushing touchdown. The Lions were held to a three-and-out before the Packers scored again on a Brett Favre pass to Tony Fisher. After three straight punts, the Lions scored on a Jason Hanson 22-yard field goal. The Packers responded with a 46-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell. After five more punts, Dré Bly nabbed an interception from Favre with 0:33 left in the first half. The Lions scored with a Hanson 52-yard field goal to end the first half.[29]
The Lions opened the second half with the ball, but gave it away on a Harrington interception. The Packers were held to a three-and-out and punted, but got it right back when Harrington threw another interception. The Packers capitalized with a Favre pass to Robert Ferguson. Six drives with no scores preceded an Al Harris 56-yard interception return touchdown to put the Packers up 31–6. The Lions failed to score on their last two drives to solidify their 6–31 loss and dropped to 1–1.[29]
Week 3: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
In Week 3, the Lions hosted the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions took the opening kickoff and scored with a Shawn Bryson 5-yard run. The Vikings responded by driving down field and attempting a 37-yard field goal, but Aaron Elling missed it wide right. Both teams punted before the Lions began their next drive with great field position after an Eddie Drummond return. The Lions settled for a Jason Hanson 27-yard field goal, which was made to bring the Lions' lead to 10–0. After two punts, the Vikings ended the shutout with a Daunte Culpepper 14-yard rushing touchdown, which, after a bad snap on the extra point, brought the score to 10–6. Joey Harrington threw an interception on the next drive, and the Vikings capitalized by taking the lead with a Culpepper 2-yard rushing touchdown. On that touchdown, Culpepper was injured and ruled out. After a Lions punt, the Vikings extended their lead with an Elling field goal to bring the halftime score to 16–10.[30]
The second half began with a Gus Frerotte interception which the Lions capitalized on with a 37-yard field goal to bring the score to 16–13. The Vikings responded with a Kelly Campbell 72-yard touchdown pass that put the score at 23–13. On their next five drives, the Lions failed to score as Harrington was intercepted twice, the team punted twice, and one turnover on downs as the Lions lost to drop to 1–2.
Week 4: at Denver Broncos
Week 4: Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos – Game summary
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