1942 Detroit Lions...why so bad?

[Bryan]

1941 Lions...4-6-1 with 121 PF and 195 PA. 1943 Lions...3-6-1 with 178 PF and 218 PA. Seems like a run of mediocrity, below average but nothing too special in terms of NFL history.

1942 Lions....0-11 with 38(!!) PF and 263 PA. Some interesting tidbits...the Lions game high point total was 7...they were shutout in 5 of 11 games...The 1941 Bears scored almost 10 times more points on the year (376 vs. 38)...the Lions passing game had 1 TD against 33 interceptions for a team passer rating of 8.2.

[JuggernautJ]

I am guessing that the war might've had a disproportionate effect on the Lions in 1942.

Following hot on the heels of the United State's entry into World War II the 1942 season was a chaotic one for the NFL as team scrambled to find players during the shortage caused by enlistment and the draft.

The Bears did a great job of securing/acquiring players and were 11-0. The lions not-so-much and were 0-11.
(And wow, 38 points for a season... is that the record low? If so I am sure it will stand for... forever.)

Wheh. That Lions team had 9 players attempt a pass and finished with an 8.2 QB rating....

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... t/1942.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1942_Detroit_Lions_season

[rhickok1109]

Could it have been as simple as losing Whizzer White, who led the team in passing, rushing, and receiving in 1941.

In 1943, they added Frank Sinkwich, who was a pretty good replacement for White.