The 1985 Detroit Lions season was their 56th in the National Football League. In Darryl Rogers first year as head coach, the team improved upon their previous season's output of 4–11–1, winning seven games. The Lions beat four playoff teams at home, Dallas, San Francisco, Miami, and the N.Y. Jets, but lost to Tampa Bay and Indianapolis on the road. Despite the improvement, the team went winless in December (0-3) and missed the playoffs for the second straight year with a 7-9 record.