In Bill Mariucci's first season as head coach, the 2003 Detroit Lions showed improvement by finishing with a 5-11 record, highlighted by a season-opening 42-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The season featured the emergence of cornerback Dré Bly, who earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after recording six interceptions, and notable home wins against division rivals Green Bay and Chicago. Despite facing significant injuries, the team remained competitive at Ford Field and established a foundation for the new coaching era. In their second season under head coach Steve Mariucci, the 2004 Detroit Lions showed significant progress by improving to a 6-10 record, highlighted by snapping a record 24-game road losing streak in their season opener. The year featured the emergence of rookie running back Kevin Jones, who rushed for 1,133 yards, and Pro Bowl performances from Dre' Bly, Eddie Drummond, and Shaun Rogers. The third overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft and a former Heisman Trophy finalist at Oregon, Joey Harrington was a quarterback for the Detroit Lions who recorded over 10,000 passing yards and 60 touchdowns during his four seasons with the franchise.