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{{Infobox NFL season
{{Short description|NFL team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Detroit Lions
| team = Detroit Lions
| year = 1968
| year = 1968
| record = 4–8–2
| record = 4–8–2
| division_place = 4th [[NFC Central|NFL Central]]
| division_place = 4th [[NFC North|NFL Central]]
| coach = [[Joe Schmidt]]
| coach = [[Joe Schmidt (American football)|Joe Schmidt]]
| stadium = [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]
| stadium = [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]
| playoffs = ''did not qualify''
| playoffs = ''Did not qualify''
| shortnavlink = Lions seasons
| shortnavlink = Lions seasons
}}
}}


The '''[[1968 NFL season|1968]] [[Detroit Lions]] season''' was their 39th in the [[National Football League|league]]. The team failed to improve on their [[1967 Detroit Lions season|previous season]]'s output of 5–7–2, winning only four games.<ref>[http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1968.htm 1968 Detroit Lions]</ref> They missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season.
The '''[[1968 NFL season|1968]] [[Detroit Lions]] season''' was their 39th in the [[National Football League|league]]. The team failed to improve on their [[1967 Detroit Lions season|previous season]]'s output of 5–7–2, winning only four games.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1968.htm 1968 Detroit Lions]</ref> They missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season.


==Roster==
== NFL Draft ==
{{Main|1968 NFL/AFL Draft}}
{{NFL team draft start
| year = 1968
| teamname = Detroit Lions
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 1
| pick = 11
| player = [[Greg Landry]]
| position = [[Quarterback|QB]]
| college = [[1967 UMass Redmen football team|Massachusetts]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| probowl = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 1
| pick = 24
| player = [[Earl McCullouch]]
| position = [[Wide receiver|WR]]
| college = [[1967 USC Trojans football team|USC]]
| notes = from Los Angeles
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 2
| pick = 37
| player = [[Jerry DePoyster]]
| position = [[Placekicker|K]]
| college = [[1967 Wyoming Cowboys football team|Wyoming]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 3
| pick = 74
| player = [[Charlie Sanders]]
| position = [[Tight end|TE]]
| college = [[1967 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]]
| notes = from Los Angeles
| maderoster = yes
| probowl = yes
| hof = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 4
| pick = 93
| player = [[Ed Mooney]]
| position = [[Linebacker|LB]]
| college = [[1967 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 5
| pick = 120
| player = [[Phil Odle]]
| position = WR
| college = [[1967 BYU Cougars football team|BYU]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 6
| pick = 148
| player = Mike Spitzer
| position = [[Defensive end|DE]]
| college = [[1967 San Jose State Spartans football team|San Jose State]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 8
| pick = 202
| player = Terry Miller
| position = LB
| college = [[1967 Illinois Fighting Illini football team|Illinois]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 9
| pick = 229
| player = [[Greg Barton (American football)|Greg Barton]]
| position = QB
| college = [[1967 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 10
| pick = 256
| player = [[Granville Liggins]]
| position = LB
| college = [[1967 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 11
| pick = 283
| player = Dwight Little
| position = [[Guard (gridiron football)|G]]
| college = [[1967 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 12
| pick = 310
| player = [[Ed Caruthers]]
| position = [[Defensive back|DB]]
| college = [[1967 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 13
| pick = 337
| player = Chuck Bailey
| position = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|OT]]
| college = [[Humboldt State Lumberjacks football|Cal State-Humboldt]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 14
| pick = 364
| player = [[Richie Davis]]
| position = WR
| college = [[Upsala College|Upsala]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 15
| pick = 391
| player = Jim Oliver
| position = [[Running back|RB]]
| college = [[Colorado State Rams football|Colorado State]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 16
| pick = 418
| player = Bob Rokita
| position = DE
| college = [[1967 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]]
| notes =
| maderoster = no
}}
{{NFL team draft end
| hof = yes
}}

'''Notes'''

* Detroit traded DT [[Roger Brown (defensive tackle)|Roger Brown]] to [[1968 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles]] in exchange for the Rams' first- and third-round selections (24th and 74th) and second-round selection in [[1969 NFL/AFL Draft|1969]].
* Detroit traded its third-round selection (65th) and fourth-round selection in 1969 to [[1968 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]] in exchange for RB [[David Kopay]].
* Detroit traded its seventeenth-round selection (445th) to [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]] in exchange for Minnesota's sixteenth-round selection in 1969.

== Roster ==
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
|-
! colspan="7" style="background-color:#006DB0;" | {{Tnavbar-header|'''Detroit Lions roster'''|Detroit Lions roster|plain=1|fontcolor=#C3C6CC}}
! colspan="7" style="text-align:center;background-color:#006DB0;color:#C3C6CC;" | '''1968 Detroit Lions roster'''
|-
|-
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Quarterbacks'''
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Quarterbacks'''
{{NFLplayer|14|Greg Barton|d=American football|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|11|Greg Landry|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|11|Greg Landry|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|19|Bill Munson}}
{{NFLplayer|19|Bill Munson}}


'''Running Backs'''
'''Running backs'''
{{NFLplayer|21|Mike Campbell|d=running back|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|40|Nick Eddy}}
{{NFLplayer|40|Nick Eddy}}
{{NFLplayer|24|Mel Farr}}
{{NFLplayer|24|Mel Farr}}
{{NFLplayer|43|Dave Kopay}}
{{NFLplayer|43|Dave Kopay}}
{{NFLplayer|35|Tom Nowatzke}}
{{NFLplayer|23|Phil Odle|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|38|Bill Triplett}}


'''Wide Receivers'''
'''Wide receivers'''
{{NFLplayer|25|Earl McCullouch|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|&nbsp;3|Billy Gambrell}}
{{NFLplayer|89|Gail Cogdill}}
{{NFLplayer|81|Bill Malinchak}}
{{NFLplayer|81|Bill Malinchak}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Earl McCullouch|rookie=y}}


'''Tight Ends'''
'''Tight ends'''
{{NFLplayer|81|Charlie Sanders|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|80|Jim Gibbons|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|88|Charlie Sanders|rookie=y}}


| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Offensive Linemen'''
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Offensive linemen'''
{{NFLplayer|79|Charlie Bradshaw|d=offensive tackle|T}}
{{NFLplayer|79|Charlie Bradshaw|d=offensive tackle|T}}
{{NFLplayer|54|Ed Flanagan|d=American football|C}}
{{NFLplayer|54|Ed Flanagan|d=American football|C}}
{{NFLplayer|76|Rocky Freitas|rookie=y|T}}
{{NFLplayer|68|Frank Gallagher|d=American football|G}}
{{NFLplayer|68|Frank Gallagher|d=American football|G}}
{{NFLplayer|66|Bob Kowalkowski|G}}
{{NFLplayer|66|Bob Kowalkowski|G}}
{{NFLplayer|70|Denis Moore|T}}
{{NFLplayer|73|Roger Shoals|T}}
{{NFLplayer|63|Chuck Walton|G}}
{{NFLplayer|52|Bill Cottrell}}


'''Defensive Linemen'''
'''Defensive linemen'''
{{NFLplayer|78|John Baker|d=defensive lineman, born 1935|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|74|Larry Hand|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|85|Lew Kamanu|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|71|Alex Karras|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|71|Alex Karras|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|85|Greg Kent|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|85|Greg Kent|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|70|Denis Moore|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Joe Robb|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Joe Robb|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|82|Jerry Rush|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|82|Jerry Rush|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|61|Chuck Sieminski|DT}}


| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Linebackers'''
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Linebackers'''

{{NFLplayer|53|Mike Lucci}}
{{NFLplayer|53|Mike Lucci}}
{{NFLplayer|62|Ed Mooney|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|50|Paul Naumoff}}
{{NFLplayer|50|Paul Naumoff}}
{{NFLplayer|55|Wayne Walker|d=linebacker}}
{{NFLplayer|51|Bill Swain}}


'''Defensive Backs'''
'''Defensive backs'''
{{NFLplayer|20|Lem Barney|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Lem Barney|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|44|Dick LeBeau|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|44|Dick LeBeau|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|47|Wayne Rasmussen|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|47|Wayne Rasmussen|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|27|Bobby Thompson|d=defensive back|S}}
{{NFLplayer|48|Tom Vaughn|d=American football|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|48|Tom Vaughn|d=American football|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|28|Mike Weger|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|28|Mike Weger|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|46|Jim Welch|S}}

'''Special teams'''
{{NFLplayer|15|Jerry DePoyster|rookie=y|K}}


'''Special Teams'''
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Reserve Lists'''
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Reserve lists'''
* ''Currently vacant''
* ''None - vacant''
'''Practice squad'''
{{NFLplayer|26|Mike Bass|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|&nbsp;1|Garo Yepremian|K}}


<small>''Rookies in italics''</small><br />
<small>'''Note:''' ''rookies in italics''</small><br />
|-
|-
|}
|}


==Schedule==
== Schedule ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1968|border=2}}"| Week
! Week
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1968|border=2}}"| Date
! Date
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1968|border=2}}"| Opponent
! Opponent
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1968|border=2}}"| Result
! Result
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1968|border=2}}"| Record
! Attendance
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1968|border=2}}"| Venue
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1968|border=2}}"| Attendance
| 1
|-style="background:#fcc"
| September 15, 1968
! 1
| at [[Dallas Cowboys]]
| September 15
| L 59–13
| at [[1968 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]
| <center>61,382</center>
| '''L''' 13–59
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| 2
| 0–1
| [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]]
| September 22, 1968
| 61,382
| [[Chicago Bears]]
|-style="background:#cfc"
| W 42–0
! 2
| <center>50,688</center>
| September 22
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| [[1968 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]
| 3
| '''W''' 42–0
| September 29, 1968
| 1–1
| at [[Green Bay Packers]]
| [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]
| W 23–17
| 50,688
| <center>50,681</center>
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|-style="background:#cfc"
| 4
! 3
| September 29
| October 6, 1968
| at [[1968 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]
| at [[Minnesota Vikings]]
| '''W''' 23–17
| L 24–10
| 2–1
| <center>44,289</center>
| [[Lambeau Field]]
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| 5
| 50,681
|-style="background:#fcc"
| October 13, 1968
! 4
| at [[Chicago Bears]]
| October 6
| W 28–10
| at [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
| <center>46,996</center>
| '''L''' 10–24
|-style="background: #ffeeaa;"
| 6
| 2–2
| [[Metropolitan Stadium]]
| October 20, 1968
| 44,289
| [[Green Bay Packers]]
|-style="background:#cfc"
| T 14–14
! 5
| <center>57,302</center>
| October 13
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| at [[1968 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]
| 7
| '''W''' 28–10
| October 27, 1968
| 3–2
| [[San Francisco 49ers]]
| [[Wrigley Field]]
| L 14–7
| 46,996
| <center>53,555</center>
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|-style="background:#ffc"
| 8
! 6
| October 20
| November 3, 1968
| [[1968 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]
| at [[Los Angeles Rams (1946–94)|Los Angeles Rams]]
| '''T''' 14–14
| L 10–7
| 3–2–1
| <center>77,982</center>
| Tiger Stadium
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| 9
| 57,302
|-style="background:#fcc"
| November 10, 1968
! 7
| [[Baltimore Colts]]
| October 27
| L 27–10
| [[1968 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]
| <center>55,170</center>
| '''L''' 7–14
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| 3–3–1
| 10
| Tiger Stadium
| November 17, 1968
| 53,555
| [[Minnesota Vikings]]
|-style="background:#fcc"
| L 13–6
! 8
| <center>46,654</center>
| November 3
|-style="background: #ffeeaa;"
| at [[1968 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]
| 11
| '''L''' 7–10
| November 24, 1968
| 3–4–1
| [[New Orleans Saints]]
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| T 20–20
| 77,982
| <center>46,152</center>
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
| 12
! 9
| November 28, 1968
| November 10
| [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]
| [[Philadelphia Eagles]]
| L 12–0
| '''L''' 10–27
| 3–5–1
| <center>47,909</center>
| Tiger Stadium
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| 13
| 55,170
|-style="background:#fcc"
| December 8, 1968
! 10
| at [[Atlanta Falcons]]
| November 17
| W 24–7
| [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
| <center>49,437</center>
| '''L''' 6–13
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| 3–6–1
| 14
| Tiger Stadium
| December 15, 1968
| 46,654
| at [[Washington Redskins]]
|-style="background:#ffc"
| L 14–3
! 11
| <center>50,123</center>
| November 24
| [[1968 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]
| '''T''' 20–20
| 3–6–2
| Tiger Stadium
| 46,152
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 12
| [[NFL on Thanksgiving Day|November 28]]
| [[1968 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]
| '''L''' 0–12
| 3–7–2
| Tiger Stadium
| 47,909
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 13
| December 8
| at [[1968 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]
| '''W''' 24–7
| 4–7–2
| [[Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium|Atlanta Stadium]]
| 49,437
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 14
| December 15
| at [[1968 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]
| '''L''' 3–14
| 4–8–2
| [[RFK Stadium|D.C. Stadium]]
| 50,123
|}
|}
'''''Note:''''' The October 6 game against Minnesota was originally scheduled to be played in Detroit. The game was switched with the November 17 game due to game 4 of the [[1968 World Series|World Series]].


== Season summary ==
'''''Note:''''' The October 6 game against Minnesota was originally scheduled to be played in Detroit. The game was switched with the November 17 game due to game 4 of the [[1968 World Series|World Series]].


==Season summary==
=== Week 5 ===

===Week 5===
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<ref>[http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810130chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]</ref>
<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810130chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]</ref>


{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}


==Standings==
== Standings ==
{{1968 NFL Central standings}}
{{1968 NFL Central standings}}


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


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[[Category:Detroit Lions seasons]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions seasons]]
[[Category:1968 National Football League season by team|Detroit Lions]]
[[Category:1968 National Football League season by team|Detroit Lions]]
[[Category:1968 in sports in Michigan|Detroit Lions]]
[[Category:1968 in Detroit]]


{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}

Latest revision as of 14:08, 21 August 2024

1968 Detroit Lions season
Head coachJoe Schmidt
Home fieldTiger Stadium
Results
Record4–8–2
Division place4th NFL Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1968 Detroit Lions season was their 39th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 5–7–2, winning only four games.[1] They missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season.

NFL Draft

[edit]
1968 Detroit Lions draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 11 Greg Landry *  QB Massachusetts
1 24 Earl McCullouch  WR USC from Los Angeles
2 37 Jerry DePoyster  K Wyoming
3 74 Charlie Sanders *   TE Minnesota from Los Angeles
4 93 Ed Mooney  LB Texas Tech
5 120 Phil Odle  WR BYU
6 148 Mike Spitzer  DE San Jose State
8 202 Terry Miller  LB Illinois
9 229 Greg Barton  QB Tulsa
10 256 Granville Liggins  LB Oklahoma
11 283 Dwight Little  G Kentucky
12 310 Ed Caruthers  DB Arizona
13 337 Chuck Bailey  OT Cal State-Humboldt
14 364 Richie Davis  WR Upsala
15 391 Jim Oliver  RB Colorado State
16 418 Bob Rokita  DE Arizona State
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

  • Detroit traded DT Roger Brown to Los Angeles in exchange for the Rams' first- and third-round selections (24th and 74th) and second-round selection in 1969.
  • Detroit traded its third-round selection (65th) and fourth-round selection in 1969 to San Francisco in exchange for RB David Kopay.
  • Detroit traded its seventeenth-round selection (445th) to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's sixteenth-round selection in 1969.

Roster

[edit]
1968 Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks


Running backs


Wide receivers


Tight ends


Offensive linemen


Defensive linemen


Linebackers


Defensive backs


Special teams


Reserve lists
  • None - vacant

Practice squad


Note: rookies in italics

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 15 at Dallas Cowboys L 13–59 0–1 Cotton Bowl 61,382
2 September 22 Chicago Bears W 42–0 1–1 Tiger Stadium 50,688
3 September 29 at Green Bay Packers W 23–17 2–1 Lambeau Field 50,681
4 October 6 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–24 2–2 Metropolitan Stadium 44,289
5 October 13 at Chicago Bears W 28–10 3–2 Wrigley Field 46,996
6 October 20 Green Bay Packers T 14–14 3–2–1 Tiger Stadium 57,302
7 October 27 San Francisco 49ers L 7–14 3–3–1 Tiger Stadium 53,555
8 November 3 at Los Angeles Rams L 7–10 3–4–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 77,982
9 November 10 Baltimore Colts L 10–27 3–5–1 Tiger Stadium 55,170
10 November 17 Minnesota Vikings L 6–13 3–6–1 Tiger Stadium 46,654
11 November 24 New Orleans Saints T 20–20 3–6–2 Tiger Stadium 46,152
12 November 28 Philadelphia Eagles L 0–12 3–7–2 Tiger Stadium 47,909
13 December 8 at Atlanta Falcons W 24–7 4–7–2 Atlanta Stadium 49,437
14 December 15 at Washington Redskins L 3–14 4–8–2 D.C. Stadium 50,123

Note: The October 6 game against Minnesota was originally scheduled to be played in Detroit. The game was switched with the November 17 game due to game 4 of the World Series.

Season summary

[edit]

Week 5

[edit]
1 234Total
• Lions 7 777 28
Bears 7 300 10

[2]

Standings

[edit]
NFL Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Minnesota Vikings 8 6 0 .571 4–2 6–4 282 242 W2
Chicago Bears 7 7 0 .500 3–3 5–5 250 333 L1
Green Bay Packers 6 7 1 .462 1–4–1 2–7–1 281 227 W1
Detroit Lions 4 8 2 .333 3–2–1 4–5–1 207 241 L1
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

[edit]