1940 Detroit Lions season

The 1940 Detroit Lions season was their 11th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6–5, winning only five games.[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

1940 Detroit Lions season
Head coach	Potsy Clark
Home field	University of Detroit Stadium
Results
Record	5–5–1
Division place	3rd NFL Western
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

Due to a dispute between new Lions owner Fred Mandel and Detroit Tigers owner Walter Briggs, the Lions played the entire 1940 home schedule at University of Detroit Stadium.[2]

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result
1	September 15, 1940	at Chicago Cardinals	T 0–0
2	September 22, 1940	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 10–7
3	September 29, 1940	Cleveland Rams	W 6–0
4	October 5, 1940	Chicago Cardinals	W 43–14
5	October 13, 1940	at Chicago Bears	L 7–0
6	October 20, 1940	at Green Bay Packers	W 23–14
7	October 27, 1940	Washington Redskins	L 20–14
8	November 3, 1940	at Cleveland Rams	L 24–0
9	November 10, 1940	Chicago Bears	W 17–14
10	November 17, 1940	at Philadelphia Eagles	W 21–0
11	November 24, 1940	Green Bay Packers	L 50–7

Standings

NFL Western Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
Chicago Bears	8	3	0	.727	6–2	238	152	W2
Green Bay Packers	6	4	1	.600	4–3–1	238	155	T1
Detroit Lions	5	5	1	.500	4–3–1	138	153	L1
Cleveland Rams	4	6	1	.400	2–5–1	171	191	T1
Chicago Cardinals	2	7	2	.222	2–5–1	139	222	L3

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

References

1. 1940 Detroit Lions
2. Charlie Sanders, Larry Paladino, Charlie Sanders's Tales From the Detroit Lions, 2005, p. 150.