2005 Detroit Lions season

The 2005 season was the Detroit Lions' 76th in the National Football League (NFL) and the third and final under head coach Steve Mariucci. The Lions failed to improve on their 6–10 record from 2004.

2005 Detroit Lions season
Owner	William Clay Ford Sr.
General manager	Matt Millen
Head coach	Steve Mariucci (fired on November 28, 4-7 record) Dick Jauron (interim, 1-4 record)
Offensive coordinator	Ted Tollner
Defensive coordinator	Dick Jauron
Home stadium	Ford Field
Results
Record	5–11
Division place	3rd NFC North
Playoffs	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	DT Shaun Rogers
Uniform
← 2004 Lions seasons 2006 →

The Lions began their 2005 season with a 17–3 win over the rival Green Bay Packers. However, the next week, the Lions were throttled, 38–6, by the Chicago Bears in Chicago. By week 10, the Lions had a 4–5 record after they had defeated the Arizona Cardinals 29–21 at home. However, the Lions lost five consecutive games following that win, and were eliminated from the playoffs with a 16–13 overtime loss to the Packers. The Lions would win one more game for the rest of the season, which was a 13–12 win over the New Orleans Saints. The season concluded with a 35–21 loss to the eventual Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

During the season, after the Lions lost 27–7 on Thanksgiving Day to the Atlanta Falcons, the Lions fired Steve Mariucci, and made defensive coordinator Dick Jauron to be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Offseason

Additions	Subtractions
QB Jeff Garcia (Browns)	QB Mike McMahon (Eagles)
TE Marcus Pollard (Colts)	TE Stephen Alexander (Broncos)
G Rick DeMulling (Colts)	T Stockar McDougle (Dolphins)
S Jon McGraw (Jets)	WR Az-Zahir Hakim (Saints)
G Kyle Kosier (49ers)	WR Reggie Swinton (Texans)
CB R. W. McQuarters (Bears)	S Brock Marion (retired)
C Brock Gutierrez (49ers)	DT Kelvin Pritchett (retired)
S Kenoy Kennedy (Broncos)

Draft

Main article: 2005 NFL draft

2005 Detroit Lions draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	10	Mike Williams	Wide receiver	USC
2	37	Shaun Cody	Defensive tackle	USC
3	72	Stanley Wilson	Cornerback	Stanford
5	145	Dan Orlovsky	Quarterback	Connecticut	from Arizona via New England
6	184	Bill Swancutt	Defensive end	Oregon State
6	206	Johnathan Goddard	Linebacker	Marshall
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

2005 undrafted free agents of note

Player	Position	College
Adam Anderson	Punter	Western Michigan
Chip Cox	Safety	Ohio
Andrew Guman	Safety	Penn State
Paris Hamilton	Wide receiver	Minnesota
Greg Hanoian	Fullback	Syracuse
Howard Jackson	Running back	UTEP
Marcus Jasmin	Defensive end	Texas A&M
Tim Kaleita	Tackle	Eastern Michigan
Ryan Killeen	Kicker	USC
Will Matthews	Fullback	Texas
Todd Mortensen	Quarterback	San Diego
Levi Newton	Guard	South Florida
Brandon Payne	Cornerback	New Mexico
Cory Procter	Guard	Montana
Jason Randall	Tight end	Michigan State
Steven Savoy	Wide receiver	Utah
Robert Valenzuela	Defensive end	Oregon

Staff

2005 Detroit Lions staff

Front office Owner and chairman – William Clay Ford Sr. Vice chairman – William Clay Ford Jr. President and chief executive officer – Matt Millen Executive vice president and chief operating officer – Tom Lewand Senior vice president and assistant general manager – Martin Mayhew Director of pro personnel – Sheldon White Director of college scouting – Scott McEwen Assistant director of pro personnel – Charlie Sanders Head coaches Head coach – Steve Mariucci Interim head coach/defensive coordinator – Dick Jauron Assistant to the head coach – Kevin Lartigue Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Ted Tollner Quarterbacks – Greg Olson Running backs – Tom Rathman Wide receivers – Fred Graves Tight ends – Andy Sugarman Offensive line – Pat Morris Assistant offensive line/tight ends – Sean Kugler Offensive assistant – Adam Gase Coaching assistant – Shawn Jefferson

Defensive coaches Defensive line – Larry Brooks Linebackers – Johnny Holland Defensive backs – George Catavolos Defensive assistant – Don Clemons Defensive assistant – Phil Snow Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Chuck Priefer Assistant special teams – Stan Kwan Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jason Arapoff Strength and conditioning – Malcolm Blacken Assistant strength and conditioning – Mondray Gee

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Roster

2005 Detroit Lions roster

Quarterbacks (QB)  5 Jeff Garcia  3 Joey Harrington  9 Dan Orlovsky Running backs (RB) 24 Shawn Bryson 34 Kevin Jones 21 Artose Pinner 30 Cory Schlesinger FB 27 Paul Smith FB Wide receivers (WR) 18 Eddie Drummond 16 Troy Edwards 80 Charles Rogers 10 Scottie Vines 88 Mike Williams 11 Roy Williams Tight ends (TE) 82 Casey FitzSimmons 49 Sean McHugh 81 Marcus Pollard

Offensive linemen (OL) 76 Jeff Backus T 79 Kelly Butler T 64 Rick DeMulling G 63 Brock Gutierrez C 69 Kyle Kosier G 51 Dominic Raiola C 71 Victor Rogers T 65 Damien Woody G Defensive linemen (DL) 94 Marcus Bell DT 75 Shaun Cody DT 95 Jared DeVries DE 98 Kalimba Edwards DE 96 James Hall DE 78 Cory Redding DE 92 Shaun Rogers DT 90 Bill Swancutt DE 72 Dan Wilkinson DT

Linebackers (LB) 55 Donté Curry 52 James Davis OLB 48 Matt Grootegoed OLB 58 Wali Rainer OLB 53 Nate Wayne OLB 57 LeVar Woods MLB Defensive backs (DB) 32 Dré Bly CB 36 Vernon Fox SS 35 André Goodman CB 26 Kenoy Kennedy SS 44 Scott McGarrahan FS 40 Jon McGraw FS 31 R. W. McQuarters 38 Keith Smith CB 28 Bracy Walker FS 29 Stanley Wilson Jr. CB Special teams (ST)  4 Jason Hanson K  2 Nick Harris P 67 Don Muhlbach LS

Practice squad 99 Sarth Benoit LB 77 Kevin Carberry DT 86 Paris Hamilton WR (IR) 12 Glenn Martinez WR 43 Will Matthews FB (IR) 74 Levi Newton G 60 Dave Pearson C 89 Jason Randall TE 15 DeAndrew Rubin WR 73 Clint Stickdorn T Reserve 97 Boss Bailey LB (IR) 25 Fernando Bryant CB (IR) 50 Earl Holmes LB (IR) 42 Terrence Holt FS (IR) -- Cliff Johnson S (NF-Inj.) 85 Kevin Johnson WR (IR) 54 Teddy Lehman LB (IR) 59 Alex Lewis LB (IR) 62 David Loverne G (IR) -- Robby Valenzuela T (IR) Rookies in italics 53 active, 12 reserve, 8 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 11	Green Bay Packers	W 17–3	1–0	Ford Field	61,877
2	September 18	at Chicago Bears	L 6–38	1–1	Soldier Field	62,019
3	Bye
4	October 2	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 13–17	1–2	Raymond James Stadium	64,994
5	October 9	Baltimore Ravens	W 35–17	2–2	Ford Field	61,201
6	October 16	Carolina Panthers	L 20–21	2–3	Ford Field	61,083
7	October 23	at Cleveland Browns	W 13–10	3–3	Cleveland Browns Stadium	72,923
8	October 30	Chicago Bears	L 13–19 (OT)	3–4	Ford Field	61,814
9	November 6	at Minnesota Vikings	L 14–27	3–5	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	63,813
10	November 13	Arizona Cardinals	W 29–21	4–5	Ford Field	61,091
11	November 20	at Dallas Cowboys	L 7–20	4–6	Texas Stadium	62,670
12	November 24	Atlanta Falcons	L 7–27	4–7	Ford Field	62,390
13	December 4	Minnesota Vikings	L 16–21	4–8	Ford Field	61,375
14	December 11	at Green Bay Packers	L 13–16 (OT)	4–9	Lambeau Field	70,019
15	December 18	Cincinnati Bengals	L 17–41	4–10	Ford Field	61,749
16	December 24	at New Orleans Saints	W 13–12	5–10	Alamodome	63,747
17	January 1	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 21–35	5–11	Heinz Field	63,794

Game summaries

Week 1

Week 1: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	3	0	0	3
Lions	7	0	3	7	17

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

• Date: September 11
• Game time: 4:15 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 61,877
• Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
• TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger, and Chris Myers
• Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter DET – Marcus Pollard 9-yard pass from Joey Harrington (Jason Hanson kick), 4:56. Lions 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:54. Second quarter GB – Ryan Longwell 50-yard field goal, 2:59. Lions 7–3. Drive: 11 plays, 37 yards, 4:51. Third quarter DET – Jason Hanson 21-yard field goal, 8:34. Lions 10–3. Drive: 10 plays, 31 yards, 4:44. Fourth quarter DET – Mike Williams 3-yard pass from Joey Harrington (Jason Hanson kick), 4:13. Lions 17–3. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 3:22. Top passers GB – Brett Favre – 27/44, 201 yards, 2 INT DET – Joey Harrington – 15/28, 167 yards, 2 TD Top rushers GB – Ahman Green – 12 rushes, 58 yards DET – Kevin Jones – 25 rushes, 87 yards Top receivers GB – Donald Driver – 4 receptions, 48 yards DET – Marcus Pollard – 5 receptions, 58 yards, TD

Standings

NFC North
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(2) Chicago Bears	11	5	0	.688	5–1	10–2	260	202	L1
Minnesota Vikings	9	7	0	.563	5–1	8–4	306	344	W1
Detroit Lions	5	11	0	.313	1–5	3–9	254	345	L1
Green Bay Packers	4	12	0	.250	1–5	4–8	298	344	W1