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The Top 5 Detroit Lions teams of the last 25 years

By Payne Schanski

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 24: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions slaps hands with teammate Ndamukong Suh #90 after a NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Ford Field on December 24, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions won 38-10. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 24: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions slaps hands with teammate Ndamukong Suh #90 after a NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Ford Field on December 24, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions won 38-10. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck
Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /

3. The 1995 Detroit Lions

Record: 7

The first ten win team on this countdown, the ’95 Lions recovered from a 3-6 start, winning their final seven regular season games to snag a Wild Card spot against Philly (don’t ask how that one went)

Achievements: 7.5

  • Ten wins and a playoff berth
  • Seven game win streak leading into the playoffs
  • Thanksgiving Day win over Minnesota
  • Scott Mitchell sets the single season franchise record for touchdown passes
  • 1,500 rushing yards from Barry Sanders, nearly 1,700 receiving yards from Herman Moore
  • The 2nd ranked scoring offense in the NFL

Star Power: 8.5

  • Prime Barry Sanders, first team All-Pro
  • Peak Herman Moore, first team All-Pro with 1,686 yards and 14 receiving TDs
  • Peak Scott Mitchell (you know, that one year where he was actually kind of good)

Entertainment Value: 8.5

  • Another vintage, job-saving late season run from a Wayne Fontes-coached Lions team
  • A lights out offense that finished second in the NFL in scoring
    • Barry, Herman Moore, and Brett Perriman combined for over 5,100 yards of total offense
  • Memories of the winning streak are dampened by an absolutely humiliating playoff performance (It was 51-7 early in the third quarter), but for a while everything came together and this was finally looking like “the year” around the Silverdome

Total Score: 31.5

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