Tags: National Football League Season.
The 1997 season marked the Lions qualifying for the playoffs. Bobby Ross replaced Wayne Fontes as head coach. The highlight of the season was Barry Sanders becoming the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 2000 yards in a season. Sanders shared the 1997 Associated Press MVP Award with Packers quarterback Brett Favre.As a team the Lions set an NFL rushing record gaining 5.51 yards per rushing attempt. The Lions scored 379 points in 1997 the fourth-most of any team in the league.