1956 Detroit Lions season

The 1956 Detroit Lions season was their 27th in the league. The team improved on their previous season's output of 3–9, winning nine games.[1] Despite the improvement, they missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

1956 Detroit Lions season
Head coachBuddy Parker
Home fieldBriggs Stadium
Results
Record9–3
Division place2nd NFL Western
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Detroit held the top spot by a half game in the Western Conference entering the final game of the season against the Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field, which the Lions lost, 38–21. After completing a handoff early in the second quarter, Detroit quarterback Bobby Layne was concussed and removed from the game, due to an unsportsmanlike conduct foul by Ed Meadows, for which Meadows was ejected.[2][3][4]

The following season, the Lions won the Western Conference and the NFL championship, their third of the decade. The Lions won the NFL title in 1952 and 1953, and were runners-up in 1954.

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 September 30 at Green Bay Packers W 20–16 1–0
24,668
2 October 6 at Baltimore Colts W 31–14 2–0
42,622
3 October 14 Los Angeles Rams W 24–21 3–0
56,281
4 October 21 San Francisco 49ers W 20–17 4–0
55,662
5 October 28 at Los Angeles Rams W 16–7 5–0
76,758
6 November 4 at San Francisco 49ers W 17–13 6–0
46,708
7 November 11 at Washington Redskins L 18–17 6–1
28,003
8 November 18 Baltimore Colts W 27–3 7–1
55,788
9 November 22 Green Bay Packers L 24–20 7–2
54,087
10 December 2 Chicago Bears W 42–10 8–2
57,024
11 December 9 Pittsburgh Steelers W 45–7 9–2
52,124
12 December 16 at Chicago Bears L 38–21 9–3
49,086

Standings
NFL Western Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Chicago Bears 9 2 1 .818 8–2 363 246 W2
Detroit Lions 9 3 0 .750 8–2 300 188 L1
San Francisco 49ers 5 6 1 .455 5–5 233 284 W3
Baltimore Colts 5 7 0 .417 3–7 270 322 W1
Los Angeles Rams 4 8 0 .333 3–7 291 307 W2
Green Bay Packers 4 8 0 .333 3–7 264 342 L2

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References
  1. 1956 Detroit Lions
  2. Strickler, George (December 17, 1956). "Bears win West title; beat Lions, 38-21". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 4.
  3. Lea, Bud (December 17, 1956). "Bears win Western crown, 38-21". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 2, part 2.
  4. "Lions charge Bears 'play dirty'". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. December 17, 1956. p. 20.
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