Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
SANTA CLARA, CA, Jan. 28, 2024 ~ The San Fransisco 49ers crushed the Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl hopes after defeating them in the NFC Championship game, ending a historic season for Detroit in heartbreak.
The game, which took place Sunday at Levis Stadium, was all Detroit in the first half, who scored four out of their five possessions in the first half. With gaining momentum, Detroit forced a 49er missed field goal on their opening drive. The Lions’ David Montgomery ended the quarter at 14-0 with a touchdown.
PODCASTS:
Jan. 29, 2024 ~ The Detroit Lions magical playoff run came to an end at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, falling 34-31 in the NFC Championship Game. Longtime Vice President of Public Relations Bill Keenist talks with 760 WJR‘s Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds about the spirit of Detroit fans. Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA Today Network
Jan. 29, 2024 ~Fans will debate the calls and plays for years, as the Detroit Lions fell to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, 34-31. Detroit Lions Radio Analyst Lomas Brown talks with 760 WJR‘s Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds about some of Dan Campbell‘s decisions. Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA Today Network
Jan. 29, 2024 ~ The Lions lost 34-31 to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. WJR Sports Analyst Steve Courtney joins Kevin Dietz and Tom Jordan on “All Talk with Jordan and Dietz” to discuss what went wrong. Dave Riger also calls in from San Francisco to shed light on the atmosphere in Levi Stadium.
PHOTOS:
Jan 28, 2024 ~ Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs celebrates a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers with quarterback Jared Goff during the first half of the NFC Championship Game at Levi‘s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA Today Network
(CONTINUED) The 49ers were able to put a drive together to start the second quarter with 49ers running back Christian McCaffery plowing his way through defenders for a touchdown. The Lions did not put points on the board on their following drive, giving the ball back to the 49ers. On San Fransisco’s drive, Brock Purdy threw an interception to Lions’ linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, giving the football back to Detroit with only about half the field to go.
Lions’ running back Jahmyr Gibbs found the endzone off a 15-yard rush putting Detroit up 21-7 with just under 6 minutes remaining in the half. Detroit’s defense continued to restrain the San Fransisco offense holding them to another drive with no points, closing out the half with a field goal at 24-7.
The Lions would force a San Fransisco field goal to start the second half. The team opened the second half offensively with a four-and-out after a failed fourth-down execution, losing all momentum gathered to that point. Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers’ wide receiver, made an unbelievable catch getting San Fransisco inside Detroit’s five-yard line. Aiyuk scored a couple of plays later, making the score 24-17.
Gibbs fumbled on the first play of Detroit’s following drive, setting San Fransisco up on Detroit’s 25-yard line. McCaffery entered the endzone for his second touchdown of the day, tying the score 24-24. As soon as the Lions got the ball back, it returned it to the hands of the 49ers.
The 49ers would take their first lead of the day with a field goal as the game transitioned into its fourth quarter, making the score 27-24. The Lions, in the face of adversity, got the ball down to San Fransisco’s 30-yard line. With a choice on fourth down to either go for it or kick a field goal, Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell decided to go for it, resulting in a Detroit incompletion. With the ball back in the 49er’s hands, San Fransisco’s quarterback Brock Purdy put together a drive of excellent rushes and completions. Aided by hard runs from McCaffery, San Fransisco would get the ball on Detroit’s three-yard line. Elijah Mitchell of the 49ers ended the drive with a touchdown off a hard three-yard run, making the score 34-24 in favor of the 49ers.
With just about three minutes to play, Lions quarterback Jared Goff allowed Williams to find the endzone again, capping off a 75-yard drive with just about a minute remaining in the ball game. However, the Lions wasted too much time as the 49ers ran out the clock.
The Super Bowl between San Fransisco and the Kansas City Chiefs will take place at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 11 inside Allegiance Stadium in Las Vegas.
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