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.
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]
| Game
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
Recap
|
Sources
|
| 1
|
September 15
|
at Chicago Cardinals
|
T 0–0
|
0–0–1
|
War Memorial Stadium
|
18,048
|
Recap
|
|
| 2
|
September 22
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
L 7–10
|
0–1–1
|
Dinan Field
|
15,310
|
Recap
|
|
| 3
|
September 29
|
Cleveland Rams
|
W 6–0
|
1–0–1
|
Dinan Field
|
15,347
|
Recap
|
|
| 4
|
October 5
|
Chicago Cardinals
|
W 43–14
|
2–0–1
|
Dinan Field
|
20,619
|
Recap
|
|
| 5
|
October 13
|
at Chicago Bears
|
L 0–7
|
2–1–1
|
Soldier Field
|
34,217
|
Recap
|
|
| 6
|
October 20
|
at Green Bay Packers
|
W 23–14
|
3–1–1
|
City Stadium
|
21,001
|
Recap
|
|
| 7
|
October 27
|
Washington Redskins
|
L 14–20
|
3–3–1
|
Dinan Field
|
28,809
|
Recap
|
|
| 8
|
November 3
|
at Cleveland Rams
|
L 0–24
|
3–4–1
|
Cleveland Stadium
|
18,881
|
Recap
|
|
| 9
|
November 10
|
Chicago Bears
|
W 17–14
|
4–4–1
|
Dinan Field
|
21,735
|
Recap
|
|
| 10
|
November 17
|
at Philadelphia Eagles
|
W 21–0
|
5–4–1
|
Shibe Park
|
6,327
|
Recap
|
|
| 11
|
November 24
|
Green Bay Packers
|
L 7–50
|
5–5–1
|
Briggs Stadium
|
26,019
|
Recap
|
|
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
|
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
- ^ 1940 Detroit Lions
- ^ Charlie Sanders, Larry Paladino, Charlie Sanders's Tales From the Detroit Lions, 2005, p. 150.
