The 1960 Detroit Lions season was the 27th in the Motor City, and 31st season overall in franchise history. The Lions had only one win entering November, but had only one loss in their final seven games and finished at 7–5, one game short of the Western Conference championship (won by Green Bay). However, the Lions won the inaugural third place Playoff Bowl over the Cleveland Browns at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Due to this being the NFL's last 12-game regular season and the addition of the Dallas Cowboys giving the league 13 teams - meaning each team was required to have a bye during the season - the 1960 Lions are the last NFL team that did not play its season opener until October: Detroit drew its bye during Week One, which was in the last week of September.
Ironically, in the next season in which each NFL team had a bye week (in 1966, due to addition of the Atlanta Falcons giving the league 15 teams), the Lions did not have their bye until Week 15 (the last week of that season).
Regular season
Schedule
Thursday (November 24: Thanksgiving) A bye week was necessary in , as the league expanded to an odd-number (13) of teams (Dallas); one team was idle each week.
Game summaries
Week 9
Thanksgiving Day game
Standings
Roster
Playoff Bowl
The first Playoff Bowl game for third place was played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, the week following the NFL Championship game.