The 2000 season was the Detroit Lions' 71st in the National Football League (NFL). After a wildcard playoff appearance with an 8–8 record in 1999, the Lions improved to 9–7 in 2000, but missed the playoffs thanks to a Christmas Eve home loss to the 4–11 Chicago Bears, where they blew a 10-point lead in the second quarter. In the first 12 games, the Lions were 8-4. But, after that, they only won one more time. Nonetheless, this was the Lions' sixth winning season in 10 years, capping one of the best decades in the franchise's history. It was also the franchise's last winning season until 2011.