Lions 31 - 34 49ers summary, stats and scores | NFC Championship game
Detroit Lions 31-34 San Francisco 49ers minute by minute
It's Purdy vs. Mahomes. Reid vs. Shanahan. Kittle vs. Kelce. In two weeks time we get a rematch of the Super Bowl from five years ago from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Get ready folks, it's going to be a good one.
Who knows where this Niners team would be if they didn't make the trade for Christian McCaffery last year. Good thing for the faithful in San Fran, they don't have to worry about that. Now the Niners are heading back to the Super Bowl with Run MCM, looking to exact revenge on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Aiyuk had the catch that started it all. He told Erin Andrews after the game he saw a sign that this was going to be a lucky night for him and the Niners.
After two unsuccessful trips to the conference championship in back-to-back years, the Niners are going back to the Super Bowl for the eighth time in franchise history.
Christian McCaffery could have and probably would have punched this TD in for his hat trick in the NFC Championship, but he had a 25 yard run down inside the 5 yard line and took a big shot that forced him out of the game. That allowed Elijah Mitchell to get his first carry of the night and punch it in from three yards out and would close out the Lions to seal the largest second half comeback in conference playoff history.
The Niners would kick another field goal to take a three point lead early in the fourth quarter thanks to Moody's 39 yard go ahead effort. Detroit would have a chance to tie the game up with what would have been a 48 yard field goal but instead, Dan Campbell did what and the Lions have been doing all year long, and that's going for it on 4th down. On 4th and 3 from the SF 30 Jared Goff's pass to St. Brown was incomplete and that allowed the Niners to take the ball back and eventually stretch the lead.
Brock Purdy may have had a first half to forget but it will be a night to remember. When a lot of people look back at this NFC Championship win, they are going to remember Aiyuk's catch off the defender's helmet and Brock Purdy's couple scrambles that kept the Niners drives alive deep in the fourth quarter. The second year QB had 267 yards, one TD and one INT and ran for 48 yards on five carries to take his team to Super Bowl Sunday.
McCaffery tied the game up four plays after the Gibbs fumble for his second TD run of the night. He had 90 yards on the ground and another 42 receiving. The Niners took less than 12 minutes to erase a 17 point lead thanks to a failed fourth down conversion, a 51 yard pass off a defender's helmet into the hands of Aiyuk and a fumble all in a matter of five minutes.
On the very next snap following Aiyuk's TD, Jared Goff mishandled the snap and fumbled the exchange to Gibbs on the handoff. The Lions were killing themselves with self inflicted wounds and the Niners didn't hesitate to put them to the sword.
Brandon Aiyuk has been the unsung hero of this dynamic Niners offense. While Deebo and McCaffery and even Kittle get a lot of the glitz and glam, it's Aiyuk making catches like the one he did against the Packers on the final drive last week, making catches like he did off the defenders helmet to set up this 7 yard TD pass.
The Lions would kick a field goal to close out the half taking a 17 point lead into the break which would make the Niners would have to mount the largest halftime comeback in conference championship history. Nothing was going right in the first half for the home side, but in the second half things started to turn around.
Moody hits a 43 yard field goal and after the Lions elected to go for it of fourth down at the SF 28 midway through the third quarter. Instead of going up by 17 with a field goal, San Fran's defense came up with their first big play forcing an incomplete pass to Josh Reynolds. Shortly after the turnover on downs Brandon Aiyuk made this catch that will go down in NFL post season history.
The offense wasn't flowing and the San Fran defense was allowing big play after big play due to some sloppy tackling, which isn't very 49ers-like. Jahmyr Gibbs took this 15 yard run to the house for the Lions third rushing TD of the first half. Detroit ran for 182 yards and three TDs, but most of those yards came in the opening 30 minutes.
Brock Purdy was coming off an underwhelming performance against Green Bay last week, and the doubters started to sound off on the second year quarterback. The opening half was not the brightest moment of the young gunslingers career, and surely those same doubters were sharpening their knives by the halftime break, but Purdy had some surprises in store.
It took Christian McCaffery a little while to get going, but you knew he was going to show up eventually. Two plays before his first TD, he took a short pass to the flat for 28 yards down to the three. He would cap off the first scoring drive from two yards out.
The Lions doubled their lead after Jake Moody missed a 48 yard field goal on the Niners first drive of the night. Detroit got the ball from their 38 and marched down the field on the shoulders of David Montgomery who led all rushers with 93 yards on 15 carries.
The Lions came out swinging right out of the gate. They hoped out to a 14 point lead in the first quarter, thanks to the running game that went wild against the San Fran Defense. The opening drive took just four plays and two minutes. Three of those four plays went for 10+ yards including this 42 yard TD on the reverse from Jameson Williams.
The San Francisco 49ers are going back to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years after an incredible second half comeback led by Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffery. Purdy had 267 yards and a TD to lead the Niners back from 17 down at the halftime break.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The San Francisco 49ers are going back to the Super Bowl for the second time in five seasons!
The Niners are going to run the ball for the next couple of plays because they can't kneel it but even if DET get the ball back it will be with a couple seconds left.
SF RECOVER THE ONSIDE KICK!!!
The kick was popped up perfectly and a Lion got a piece of it, but it was touched illegally. Kittle made the recovery in any case.
THE NINERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!
Williams reels it in from the back of the end zone, but the 3rd down run that came up short forced a TO and that means the onside kick is coming after the TD.
TOUCHDOWN DETROIT!!!
Williams makes the catch in the back of the endzone and the Lions are still alive!
SF lead 34-31 with 56 seconds to go!
Montgomery gets the handoff, and he is dropped for a loss of a yard!
4th and Goal from the 4.
Goff finds Fersker and he makes the catch and tried to stretch to the endzone but stepped out at the two.
3rd and Goal from the 3.
Goff finds St. Brown over the middle and he picks up a first down on a 5 yard pick up.
1st and Goal from the 10.
Goff on the right side for LaPorta who makes the catch and gets out of bounds after a gain of 7.
2nd and 3 from the SF 16.
Goff with a dart to Reynolds who makes the snag for a gain of 25 yards!
1st and 10 from the SF 24.
Goff finds LaPorta again, and that goes for 13 yards over the middle. We are at the Two Minute Warning.
1st and 10 from the SF 49.
Goff finds LaPorta and he picks up 9 yards on the pass to the left side.
1st and 10 from the DET 38.
Gibbs with a catch out of the backfield for a gain of 4.
2nd and 6 from the DET 31.
DET start the drive from the 25 and Goff's pass to St. Brown falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the DET 25.
McCaffery set up the TD with a 25 yard run to set up his backfield buddy Elijah Mitchell for the three yard TD and the Niners lead by 10!
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
On his first carry of the night, Mitchell gets the handoff and he punches it in from three yards out!
The Niners have scored 27 straight points and now lead 34-24 with 3:02 left in the fourth quarter.
McCaffery on the run to the right side and he breaks a couple tackles and sprints down the sideline for a gain of 25!
1st and Goal from the DET 3!
Purdy was under pressure again and he tucked it for a gain of 21 and a first down!
1st and 10 from the DET 28!
Purdy finds McCaffery out of the backfield and he gets four yards.
3rd and 4 from the DET 49.
McCaffery gets it back on first down and he is dropped after a short gain of 2.
2nd and 8 from the SF 47.
Purdy with a play action roll out and he finds Deebo on the left sideline for a gain of 8 yards.
1st and 10 from the SF 45.
McCaffery up the middle on first down and he gets 7 yards.
2nd and 3 from the SF 37.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
Goff was pushed out of the pocket, had to roll right and his pass to St. Brown came up short!
SF take over from the SF 30!
Out route from St. Brown and he makes the catch but pushed out of bounds three yards short.
4th and 3 from the 30.
Goff's pass to Gibbs on the right side was too high and it's 3rd and long.
3rd and 10 from the SF 37.
The Lions pull out the flea flicker and Goff looked for Williams in the end zone but that pass falls incomplete thanks to some great coverage.
2nd and 10 from the SF 37.
Montgomery with a run to the left side and he picks up 16 yards on first down!
1st and 10 from the SF 37.
DET get the ball back from the 25 and Goff found Williams who bobbled it, and almost gave up an INT but ripped it out of the hands of Thomas for a gain of 22.
1st and 10 from the DET 47.
FIELD GOAL!!!
The Niners take their first lead of the game thanks to Moody's 33 yard field goal!
SF lead 27-24 with 9:52 to go in the 4th quarter.
Pass over the middle for Deebo and he picked up 7 yards but is well short of a first down and the FG unit will come on from the 15.
Purdy is dropped again, this time by McNeill for a loss of two, and those were the first two sacks of the night for DET.
3rd and 19 from the DET 22.
Purdy held on to it for too long and he was dropped for a 2 yard sack by Melifonwu for a loss of 7 yards.
2nd and 17 from the DET 20.
Purdy didn't have anything down field so he tucked it and ran it up the middle for a 10 yard gain and a first down.
1st and 10 from the DET 13.
McCaffery gets the handoff to the left side and he picks up 4 yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the DET 24.
Kittle on the fade pattern to the left sideline and he reels in the catch for a gain of 28 yards!
1st and 10 from the DET 27.
Purdy to Deebo in the flat and he had his foot wrapped up behind the line of scimmage but fought to not lose a yard.
2nd and 10 from the SF 44.
McCaffery gets it back and gets 6 yards on a run to the left side. That's going to bring us to the end of the third quarter!
1st and 10 from the SF 44.
The Niners scored 17 points to tie the game up at 24-24. We've got 15 minutes from San Fran. Don't go anywhere.
McCaffery with a run up the middle and he picks up 8 yards on first down.
2nd and 2 from the SF 38.
Purdy dipped under a sack, rolled to the left side and found Juszczyk on the sideline for an improbable 10 yard pick up.
1st and 10 from the SF 35.
Goff had Reynolds wide open over the middle and that would have moved the chains but he dropped it after it hit him in the numbers!
4th and 10 from the DET 26 and the Lions will punt.
Goff going over the middle for LaPorta but Gibson jarred it out of his hands with a big hit!
3rd and 9 from the DET 26.
DET get the ball from the 25 and Montgomery is taken down after a gain of one on first down.
2nd and 9 from the DET 26.
Four plays after the fumble McCaffery punches it in for the game tying TD and the Niners have all the momentum!
On the first snap after Aiyuk's touchdown Gibbs fumbles the ball after the exchange from him and Goff was bobbled and just a couple plays later the Niners would take advantage of a huge mistake.
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
McCaffery from a yard out and he punches it in to tie this game up! The Niners have scored 17 points in this third quarter!
It's knotted at 24-24 with 3:02 to go in the third quarter!
Samuel on the end around and he races to the pylon but is taken down at the 1.
2nd and Goal from the 1.
Purdy steps up in the pocket it and he tucks it for a 21 yard scramble!
1st and Goal from the 4.
Pass to the flat for Kittle and he is dropped at the line of scrimmage by Sutton.
2nd and 10 from the DET 25.
FUMBLE!!!
The Lions got the ball from the 25 and Goff mishandled the snap, tried to hand it off to Gibss but he fumbles and the Niners take over from the 24!
Under 5:30 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Purdy and the Niners go 72 yards in 5 plays and just like that we have a ball game in San Fran. Purdy hits Aiyuk in the endzone from 6 yards out.
Fortune may not have been on their side in the first half, but the tides might be turning after watching this catch from Aiyuk. Two plays later he was in the endzone cutting the lead to 7.
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
San Fran is back in this ball game! It's Aiyuk, the man who made the huge play just a few snaps ago, in the end zone making the catch on the slant pattern and we have a one possession game!
DET lead 24-17 with 5:17 to go in this third quarter!
Slant pass from Aiyuk but that pass in the endzone was broken up by Sutton.
3rd and Goal from the 6.
McCaffery is swallowed up on first down for a loss of two on the first down run.
2nd and Goal from the DET 6.
Purdy goes deep to Aiyuk but that pass looked like it was going to be picked by Vildori but it hit off his helmet and Aiyuk made the catch off the ricochet!
1st and Goal from the DEt 4.
Pass to the flat for Samuel and he follows his blockers for a big gain of 17 yards and Levi's Stadium is starting to come to life.
1st and 10 from the SF 45.
St. Brown got the handoff and he was stopped on the end around after a gain of two.
4th and 2 and the Lions are going to go for it on the SF 28.
Goff with a short pass to the left sdie for LaPorta who gets 6 yards and sets up 3rd and medium.
3rd and 4 from the SF 30.
LaPorta stretched out to that deep shot inside the 10 yards line but he couldn't make the diving catch on the throw that was a touch overthrown.
2nd and 10 from the SF 36.
Montgomery moves the chains and he picks up 5 yards on the run to the left side.
1st and 10 from the SF 36.
Montgomery up the middle and he picks up 7 on a run up the middle.
2nd and 3 from the SF 41.
A neutral zone infraction on SF and that will give the Lions a first down!
1st and 10 from the SF 49.
Pitch to Montgomery out of the shotgun and he takes it for 6 yards before getting pushed out of bounds.
2nd and 4 from the DET 47.
DET get the ball from the 25 to start the drive and Goff hits LaPorta for a 16 yard catch and run.
1st and 10 from the DET 41.
FIELD GOAL!!!
The Niners get points to open the second half, but they have to settle for a 43 yard field goal which Moody drilled after missing one from 48 earlier in the game.
DET lead 24-10 with 11:02 left in the third quarter. Still a lot of time in this one.
Purdy looking over the middle for Jennings but that pass sailed on him and that will bring up 4th down!
4th and 8 from the DET 25.
Purdy was under fire and had to get rid of it but his pass to the sideline was too high for Juszczyk.
3rd and 8 from the DET 25.
McCaffery with the carry to the left side and he picks up 2 yards on first down.
2nd and 8 from the DET 25.
Purdy steps up in the pocket moves left, and lobs it over the middle across his body and Jennings skies to make the first down catch with one hand.
1st and 10 from the DET 27.
Reverse set up for Deebo and he is swallowed up for a loss of 2 yards!
3rd and 4 from the DET 35.
Purdy finds Deebo in the flat and he breaks a tackle for a 9 yard gain on the left side.
2nd and 1 from the DET 32.
Purdy with a strike over the middle to Samuel for a gain of 26 and into DET territory!
1st and 10 from the DEt 41.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM SAN FRANCISCO!!!
SF get the ball back to start the third quarter and McCaffery takes a pitch to the right side for 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the SF 34.
The Lions converted two seperate 3rd and longs, one from 12 yards that was converted with a 13 yard run from Gibbs and then on 3rd and 18 Goff hit St. Brown to set up this 15 yard TD run from Gibbs.
Purdy is 7/15 with 93 yards and this INT, and this the second straight rough game the second year QB is struggling in. There could be some chatter about his job security in the offseason if the Niners don't pull this game out.
The Niners have 131 yards after two quarters, most of them came off of their TD drive that was started and ended by McCaffery. He's been the only bright spot for San Fran so far today.
The Niners were held to a field goal on their first possession, but Moody missed it and Detroit would take advantage of their good field position with second TD in as many drives. This time it was Montgomery from a yard out.
The Lions got the ball first after San Fran decided to kick the ball to start the game and Detroit went down the field and scored in four plays. Three of those plays went for 10 yards or more, including this 42 yarder to get the Lions day started.
The Kickoff is take to the 35 but that is going to take us to the first half that was dominated by Detroit.
Lions lead 24-7 at half!
FIELD GOAL!!!
The Lions make the conventional decision, taking the field goal and Badgley knocks home from 21 yards.
DET leads 24-7 with 7 seconds left in the half.
Goff to Gibbs out of the backfield and he is stopped at the three yard line!
4th and Goal and what do the Lions do here with 10 on the clock? They love to go for it, but they have a chance to take a three possession lead with a FG.
Gibbs up the middle and he is stopped after a gain of 1.
3rd and Goal from the 6.
Goff's pass to LaPorta in the end zone is incomplete.
2nd and Goal from the 7.
WR screen set up for St. Brown and he moves the chains with a 9 yard run inside the 10.
1st and Goal from the 7.
Goff's pass to Gibbs in the end zone is incomplete and that will stop the clock and bring up 3rd down!
3rd and 7 from the SF 26 with 33 to go in the half.
Gibbs up the middle on first down and he picks up 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the SF 16.
Goff over the middle with a dart to St. Brown who reels it in and makes the catch for 23 yards on another 3rd and long conversion!
1st and 10 from the SF 19.
Draw play to Gibbs and he is wrapped up at the line of scrimmage.
3rd and 18 and the Niners take their second timeout with 1:38 to go.
Goff on the play action but Bosa was there to drop him on an 8 yard sack!
2nd and 18 from the SF 42. Timeout SF with 1:44 to go.
Handoff to Gibbs on 3rd and long and he races to the sideline for a first down on a 13 yard pick up!
1st and 10 from the SF 34.
Goff looking left to LaPorta but his deep pass is too high for the TE.
3rd and 12 from the SF 47.
Handoff to Gibbs and he is dragged down for a loss of two.
2nd and 2 from the SF 47 and that will take us to the Two Minute Warning.
Play action and Goff hits Montgomery over the middle for a gain of 6 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the SF 45.
Montgomery with a third straight handoff, this time up the middle, for a gain of 9.
2nd and 1 from the DET 49
Montgomery again, this time to the left side and he moves the chains on a 6 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the DET 40.
DET gets the ball back from their 29 and Montgomery picks up 5 yards on the run up the middle.
2nd and 5 from the DET 34.
Purdy rolls to the right side and looks down field to Aiyuk who couldn't make the diving catch to extend the drive!
4th and 10 from the SF 25.
McCaffery gets the handoff out of the shotgun and is stopped at the line of scrimmage.
3rd and 10 from the SF 25.
SF start from the 25 and Purdy's pass to McCaffery is broken up on the left side.
2nd and 10 from the SF 25.
The Lions are 3/4 to start this game. All three of their TDs have come on the ground. This one from the rookie Gibbs from 15 yards out.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!
Gibbs gets the pitch to the right side and he breaks a tackle on the edge, jukes a defender and takes it to the house on a 15 yard run!
DET isn't slowing down! They are up 21-7 with under 6:00 to go in the first half!
Goff looking over the middle for St. Brown and he spun back to make the catch that was a bit behind him.
1st and 10 from the DET 15.
Gibbs up the middle and he picks up 3 yards on first down.
2nd and 7 from the SF 32.
Goff looks over the middle to LaPorta who makes the catch and runs for a first down!
1st and 10 from the SF 35.
Pitch to Gibbs on the right side and he is dropped by Warner for a loss of 5 yards.
2nd and 15 from the DEt 49.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Purdy was pressured and had his hand hit as he released the pass which was picked off by Rodriguez who took it down to the 21 but a block in the back will bring the Lions back to the SF 46.
1st and 10 Lions with under 8:00 to go.
Purdy looking back to Aiyuk, this time on the left sideline but that pass was overthrown after the pressure came and affected that pass.
3rd and 10 from the SF 24.
Purdy looking on the left sideline for Aiyuk but that overthrown.
2nd and 10 from the SF 24.
Samuel gets the end around and he picks up the first down after cutting into the middle for a gain of 7 yards.
1st and 10 from the SF 24.
SF get the ball from the 12 yard line and Purdy finds McCaffery for a gain of 5 yards over the middle on first down.
2nd and 5 from the SF 17.
Goff over the middle and he finds LaPorta who landed a big blow on Greenlaw who made the tackle short of the marker but paid the price. He goes to the sideline for some medical attention.
4th and 6 from the SF 46.
Bosa came off the edge just as Goff pump faked, and that gave him time to drag the QB down for a 5 yard sack!
3rd and 15 from the DET 45.
Montgomery on the pitch to the right side and he is up ended at the line of scrimmage.
2nd and 10 from the 50.
St. Brown on the stop route but he was short of the marker! He had to step back shake a tackle and dive through a couple defenders for a first down!
1st and 10 from the 50.
Goff over the middle for St. Brown but that was jarred out of his hands by Warner.
3rd and 10 from the DET 39.
Lions going to the trick book, and the pass back to Goff from Montgomery had the defense off balance but his deep pass to Reynolds came up well short.
2nd and 10 from the DET 39.
DET get the ball back from the 25 and Montgomery slices down the right side for a 14 yard pick up!
1st and 10 from the DET 39.
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
McCaffery and the Niners punch right back with a quick scoring drive polished off with a Run MCM TD from two yards out!
DET lead 14-7 with 13:49 to go in the second quarter.
Juszczyk gets the handoff and he gets three yards up the middle on first down.
2nd and Goal from the 2.
McCaffery makes the catch in the flat and he breaks a couple tackles and takes it to the five yard line!
1st and Goal from the 5.
The Lions couldn't have drawn up a better start to this game! Montgomery with the 1 yard TD after the missed field goal from Moody.
McCaffery gets it back and he moves the chains with a 6 yard pick up on the final play of the 1st quarter!
DET lead 14-0 after fifteen minutes. 1st and 10 from the DET 32 to start the second.
McCaffery up the middle and he picks up 4 more yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 2 from the DET 38.
McCaffery gets four yards on the run to the right side.
2nd and 4 from the DET 42.
Purdy rolled left off the play action roll out and had to shift around a couple of defenders before he fired it over the middle for Juszczyk for 23 yards!
1st and 10 from the DET 46.
SF get the ball back from their 25 down by 14.
Samuel with an end around to the left side and he picks up 6 yards before running out of bounds.
2nd and 4 from the DET 31.
TOUCHDOWN DETROIT!!!
The Lions double their lead with a one yard run up the middle from Montgomery!
DET lead 14-0 with 2:34 to go in the 1st Quarter!!!
Montgomery up the middle and he takes it all the way down to the one!
2nd and Goal from the 1
Gibbs had nothing up the middle so he popped it to the right side, got to the edge and picked up the first down!
1st and Goal from the SF 7.
Goff had some time in the pocket but his pass to St. Brown over the middle was too far out infront of the WR.
2nd and 10 from the SF 17.
WR screen set up to St. Brown on the left side and he extends the drive with a 13 yard pick up after following his blockers inside the 20.
1st and 10 from the SF 17.
Gibbs with the run up the middle and he is swallowed up after a gain of 1.
3rd and 9 from the SF 30.
Goff's pass to Gibbs was a little short and falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the SF 31.
Goff finds Montgomery out of the backfield, this time on the right side and he picks up 14 on the catch and run.
1st and 10 from the SF 31.
Pass to the right side for Gibbs out of the backfield and he gets pushed out of bounds after four yards.
2nd and 6 from the SF 45.
Gibbs gets the handoff to the left side and he finds a hole and moves the chains with a 7 yard run.
1st and 10 from the SF 39.
Goff goes to the air on first down and he finds LaPorta for a gain of 6 yards over the middle.
2nd and 4 from the DET 44.
MISSED FIELD GOAL!!!
Moody pushes the kick from 48 yards wide right and the Lions are off to a perfect start!
1st and 10 DET from their own 38!
Purdy with the pass over the middle and he finds McCaffery who is bundled up well short of the marker.
4th and 6 and the FG unti comes on from the 30.
Purdy with the play action and that pass is batted down at the line and it was Hutchinson again!
3rd and 11 from the DET 35.
Pitch to McCaffery on the right side and he is swallowed up for a loss of a yard.
2nd and 11 from th DET 35.
McCaffery up the middle and he moves the chains with a 7 yard pick up.
1st and 10 from the DET 34.
McCaffery with another pitch to the left side and he picks up 5 yards to bring up third and short. It's four down territory, we'll see what SF does if they can't pick it up here.
3rd and 3 from the DET 41.
McCaffrey gets the pitch to the left side but he's dragged down after a short gain of 2.
2nd and 8 from the DET 46.
Purdy got crushed as he let go of the pass over the middle and he finds Samuel for a gain of 16 and a first down!
1st and 10 from the DET 48.
Purdy goes deep for Aiyuk down the left sideline and that was almost picked by Sutton but Aiyuk was there to knock the overthrown pass out of his hands.
2nd and 10 from the SF 37.
Aiyuk with the out route to the left sideline and he got two feet down after Purdy laid a dime for 11 yards.
1st and 10 from the SF 37.
Purdy's pass is batted at the line and the Niners are facing third and long early.
3rd and 9 from the SF 26.
The Niners get the ball from the 25 to start their day, looking to respond after an early punch in the mouth.
McCaffery gets the carry on first down and gets just a yard on a run up the middle.
2nd and 9 from the SF 26.
It took the LIons just four plays, three of those going for over 10 yards, and this one from Williams went to the house on the reverse.
TOUCHDOWN DETROIT!!!
Williams gets the reverse from left to right and he cuts up the sideline, checks inside, breaks a couple of tackles and takes it to the house for a 42 yard TD!
DET lead 7-0 less than two minutes into this one.
Goff goes to the air for the first time and finds LaPorta in the flat who takes it for 14 yards up the left sideline.
1st and 10 from the SF 42.
Montgomery up the middle and he breaks it for 15 yards and a first down!
1st and 10 from the DET 44.
Montgomery gets the pitch to the left side and takes it for four yards before getting pushed out of bounds.
2nd and 4 from the DET 29.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM SAN FRANCISCO!!!
The Lions get the ball to start the day, after the Niners won the toss and differed.
The Fonz singing the anthem
In special games like the one tonight, it’s always great to have a big name sing the national anthem to get everyone ready for kickoff. Tonight Luis Fonzi is going to be singing the national anthem. Even if you aren’t too informed the world of Latin Music, you are going to remember the voice of “Despacito.”
Goff's GF
There has been about as much coverage on football as there has been on football players girlfriends, or one football’s players girlfriend to be specific. So with that in mind, we present you to Christen Harper, Jared Goff’s main squeeze.
Two of the most valuable
There are likely to be two MVP candidates on the field tonight. Both will be playing for the Niners, but both are likely to lose out to the Baltimore Ravens QB. Both Christian McCaffery and Brock Purdy have been in the discussion for MVP all year long, but both are likely to lose to Lamar Jackson who destroyed the Ravens in Week 16 here from San Francisco. They may not win the MVP but if they are hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the year, they will be fine with falling short of the MVP honor.
CHIEFS WIN!!!
The Kansas City Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl after beating the Ravens in Baltimore! This play by L'Jarius Sneed is the play that is moving the Chiefs on and send the Ravens packing!
A star named Hutch
There are plenty of key match ups to keep an eye on tonight, but one of the main match ups when the Niners have the ball is going to be Aidan Hutchinson taking on Colton McKivitz. The Chiefs guard is in charge keeping Brock Purdy safe, but he has given up nine sacks this season. Hutchinson is a Michgan kid who is a fan favorite at Ford Field. In his second season out of the University of Michigan he has 11 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception.
Red Fever
The Detroit Lions have become one of the best offenses in the league for a few reasons. The main reason is their quarterback, Jared Goff, who had 30 TDs and over 4,500 yards passing. Another is because of their Rhythm and Blues duo of Montgomery and Gibbs in the backfield. But the main reason this team is among the top scoring teams in the league is because of their ability to score in the red zone. They are the number two team in the redzone, converting on 66.2% of their drives inside he 20. The only team that has a better percentage is the team they play tonight, who is 67.65% in the redzone.
Purdy's picks
After all that Brock Purdy has been through in his young career, we tend to forget the San Fran QB is only in his second year. He doesn’t make many mistakes but there are games in which we see the wheels occasionally fall off the bus. The key to the Niners and Purdy’s success is reducing turnovers, and especially when it comes to the passing game. San Fran is undefeated in games that their quarterback doesn’t through an interception. Purdy has 31 TDs and just 11 picks this season. Those 11 picks came in six games, the only game the Niners won that he threw a pick in was their first match up against the Seahawks. He threw a pick but the Niners cruised to victory, beating their division rivals 31-13.
The Alley Aiyuk
There is a whole lot of talk surrounding the Niners weapons on the offensive end. Most of that talk surround Run MCM or Deebo or Kittle, but the unsung hero of this offense is Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk went for more than 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns with seven games of 100+ yards. He didn’t get targeted much last week, but on one of the biggest plays of the game he came up with a 3rd down conversion around midfield to set up the go ahead TD in the 4th quarter.
Father son Super Bowl winners
There have been a few legacies in the NFL over the long history of professional football. Of all of the father son duo to have won Super Bowls in their careers, there has never been a duo of head coaches to win a Super Bowl. The Gieses’s, Colquitt’s, Davis’s and the Long’s are just a few of the coach player duos or player player duos to win the Super Bowl, but Mike and Kyle Shanahan could become the first father son duo to win it as head coaches.
Lombardi's predecessor
We all know the name of the trophy that Super Bowl Champions hoist under the rainfall of confetti on Super Sunday, but here’s a question for all you NFL buffs. What is the name of the NFC Championship trophy? Click here to find out.
Ertz not activated
It’s a miracle that Sam LaPorta has been featured in each of the Lions last two playoff games considering the hit he took in Week 18 of the regular season. He had a bone bruise and a hyperextended knee and the rookie was in serious jeopardy of missing the Wild Card round matchup against the Rams. The Lions picked up three time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Zach Ertz right before the playoffs started just incase their first year tight end couldn’t suit up in the playoffs. LaPorta will play which means Erzt was not activated for tonight’s game.
Captain Sanders
Who better to have as a part of the team, and an honorary captain then the most legendary Detroit Lion of all time? Barry Sanders is arguably the greatest running back of all time. In the biggest game of Lions history it’s only right that they have the most important player to put on the blue and silver on their side to start the game. The question is, will he call the coin toss?
What's the deal with the Lions of Detroit?
No, there are no lions in Detroit. So how exactly did the Lions get their name? More than an animal native to the city, they went with an animal that represents the city. It’s a city full of fighters, that persevere, and stand with their team through thick and thin and it’s a team that is hoping to be on top of the food chain when the season ends.
Playoff Power Rankkngs
If you haven’t been following our Power Rankings throughout the season, shame on you. Our latest edition of Power Rankings came out on Monday and will give you a bit of recent history on both of these teams. If you have been keeping up with them, we thank you, and add this link as a reminder of who the hottest teams are coming into today.
Last match up
It was Jared Goff’s first game as a Detroit Lion, and he had a pretty good debut if you look at his numbers. It was Week 1 two years ago, and Goff went for 338 yards and 3 TDs, but most of that came in the second half of a game that the Niners went up 28-0 in the first half and coasted to victory. Jimmy Garoppolo was still the QB, going for for 300+ and a TD, while Deebo went for 189 yard receiving and a TD. The Lions would make a comeback attempt but never got close enough to worry Kyle Shannahan’s team in the 41-33 win to start the season.
Live feed in Spanish
If you would like to keep up with the live feed in Spanish our friends at AS USA have you covered. You can follow all the action here.
LIONS FANS, FORD FIELD
It had been a long time since Lions fans got to watch a playoff football game at home. In fact I’m willing to bet around half of the people who were in Ford Field over the last two weeks weren’t even alive when the Lions had their last playoff game in the early 90s. The Lions won’t have home field advantage or 70,000 fans cheering them on tonight, but they will carry the spirit of their city with them to the Bay Area.
Lions on the road
The Lions showed us they are going to be a contender in the first week of the season when they went into Kansas City and knocked off the defending champion Chiefs. They went 6-3 on the road this season, which is one of the best road records in the league. They lost to the Ravens a month and a half into the season, but who doesn’t lose to the Ravens in Baltimore? Then they got run over by Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears, and then had their hearts broken by the Cowboys, and more specifically an illegal touching flag on a two point conversion that would have won the game for the Lions. This is their first game on the road since that loss to Dallas in the second to last week of the season.
Niners aren't invincible at Levi's
With how good the Niners have looked at times you would think they are close to invincible when at Levi’s Stadium, but that hasn’t quite been the case this season. Three of their five losses this year came at home. They lost to the Bengals in the last game of their three game mid season slide. They got wiped out by the Baltimore Ravens in the third to last week of the season in a potential Super Bowl preview. The third and last game they lost at home really shouldn’t could considering it was on the last week of the season with the one seed wrapped up and the starters on the sidelines.
The Deebo effect
It’s no secret that when Deebo is on the field, it makes the Niners that much more dangerous. We saw it last week against Green Bay. Deebo went out and the Niners offense looked like a shade of itself. Samuel’s affect is easy to see when you’re watching the game, but if you need the statistical support to go along with it, here you go. According to Next Gen stats, with Deebo on the field the offense averages 7.3 yards per play with a 52.6% success rate. Without him, they average 6.9 yards and with a 45.4%, success rate.
Injury report for San Fran
It’s not very typical to have just one player on the injury report coming into a conference championship game, but somehow the Niners have managed to do so. Deebo Samuel took a shot to his shoulder in the first quarter of last week’s game against the Packers, and missed the rest of the game. This week he was listed on the injury report, but Deebo said there is no way he’s missing this game, saying he is going to “put everything on the line” tonight in the Niners.
Lions injury report
The Lions are a little more banged up than the Niners are coming into what will be their third game of the postseason. Guard Jonah Jackson and WR Kahlif Raymond have been ruled out with knee injuries while center Frank Ragnow is dealing with a knee injury which means that Lions might have a tough time running the ball with one O lineman out and another on a banged up knee. Cornerback Chase Lucas has been battling an illness all week and Alex Anzalone went down with an injury to his shoulder and ribs last week but both are expected to play.
Niners Dominant D
The Niners have been able to rely on their dominant defense for the last few years. Led by Fred Warner and Joey Bosa with a handful of killers in the secondary that can make a QB’s life awfully difficult, the Niners defense got used to bailing their offense out of a corner by keeping the San in the game but now the offense can move the ball on their own and score at any given time. This defense was good coming into this year, but since their midseason trade that brought in Chase Young the D has become even more dangerous. He hasn’t had the best of seasons statistically, but just his presence on the other side of Bosa means that the O line has to be weary of him and that opens up space for the line backers line Warner and Greenlaw.
Detroit Dan
There are a few candidates that you could nominate for Coach of the Year. Kevin Stefanski did a great job in Cleveland after having to use four different quarterbacks to get the Browns to the playoffs. Kevin O’Connell did the same thing with the Vikings although Minnesota failed to make the playoffs. While the Lions were expected to be good, Dan Campbell certainly deserves to be mentioned in that nomination list, and might deserve the award more than any coach in the league. Whether it’s his speeches in preseason pleading the guys to just trust him and the process, or shedding tears a few years ago after another close loss during a miserable 3-13 season. He has earned the trust of the players, front office and the city, and look where that has taken this team.
What a rookie year
In Mo Town they have a name for their dynamic duo of running backs. David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs have won the hearts of Lions fans with their different styles of running the ball, and have earned the nickname Rhythm and Bruise. Montgomery is a big bruising back that doesn’t mind running between the tackles while Gibbs is dangerous in the open field when he gets a chance to turn the corner like he did against the Bucs last week. In his rookie year Gibbs went for 945 yards and 10 TDs on the ground while catching 52 passes for 316 yards and a TD.
San Fran weather
Weather has been a huge factor in this year’s edition of the NFL Postseason. It’s been the AFC that has had to deal with the majority of the extreme conditions while the NFC teams have either had to play in Dallas, Detroit or San Fran. The games in Buffalo and Kansas City were down right apocalyptic as fans and players had to weather frigid temperatures while fighting off frostbite and hypothermia. The weather is going to be perfect from San Fran this afternoon with temperatures expected in the high 60’s and partly sunny.
Battle of the Xs and O-ffenses
Expect fireworks tonight from San Fran. Sure the Niners have had one of the most ferocious defenses in the league for the last few years, and that hasn’t changed but the offense finally has a quarterback that can use all of the weapons around him to their full potential. The Niners have the second best offense in the league behind the Miami Dolphins who went crashing out of the playoffs in the Divisional Round. The Niners averaged 398.4 yards of total offense, which was three yards less than the Dolphins, and the Lions finished the regular season in third with 394.8 yards a game. San Fran was third in scoring, posting 28.9 ppg, behind the Cowboys at 29.9 and the Dolphins at 29.2 while the Lions finished fifth at 27.1 ppg.
How and where to watch
If for some reason this live feed doesn’t cut it for you, and you actually want to watch the action live I wouldn’t be mad at you. Just as long as you keep up with our updates, stats and analysis. Click on this link to know exactly, how, when and where to watch tonight’s NFC Championship from Levi’s Stadium.
The other game
I know we are pumped for the NFC Championship to kick off from Levi's Stadium, it's halftime in Baltimore and the Ravens are currently trailing the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7. Patrick Mahomes has been brilliant in yet another AFC Championship. He's got 161 yards and a TD to Kelce, while Pacheco has the other.
Purdy darn good
Brock Purdy knows what it’s like to get to the NFC Championship, but he barely knows what it’s like to play in an NFC Championship. He and the Niners got this far last year, but he was knocked out of the game after taking a big hit that tore his UCL joint in his throwing arm and rendered him useless in the passing game for the rest of the game. After undergoing surgery and rehab in the offseason, he was back under center in Week 1 and had the Niners offense rolling to start the year. Purdy picked up where he left off and looked even better than he did in his brilliant rookie year, drawing some MVP consideration but he knows more than anyone that the pressure is on tonight in the biggest night of his young career.
Go off Goff
The Lions turnaround over the last two years starts with their coach, Dan Campbell, and trickles down to everyone on the team. One of the Lions who has benefited most from Campbell’s style of coaching and his trust in his players is QB Jared Goff. Goff took the Rams to a Super Bowl a few years, ago but then was dumped by LA as they went all in on Matthew Stafford, dealing Goff to Detroit for the former Lions QB. It wasn’t an easy start, but at the end of last year you could start to see just how good this team could potentially be. Goff has become the leader in the locker room and is having one of his best seasons ever. Tonight the Lions are going to need him to be at his best with one of the league’s most dangerous defenses on the other side of the ball.
Niners last game
After enjoying a week off in the Wild Card Round courtesy of a first place finish in the NFC, the Niners looked a little rusty. Brock Purdy didn’t look his best and the Packers contained Christian McCaffery on the ground as well as they could. Jordan Love looked like anything but a first year QB playing in just his second playoff game and had the Packers in the lead for 14 of the final 15 minutes of the game. A two yard TD pass from Love to Tucker Kraft put the Pack up 21-14, but Purdy would add to his already impressive legacy with a game winning drive late in the final quarter. Down by four, he marched the Niners down the field completing 6/7 passes before McCaffery punched in a 6 yard TD run with 1:07 to go to put the Niners up 24-21. Love had a chance to put his team in FG range but forced a throw across his body that was picked off by Dre Greenlaw to keep the Niners alive at least for another week.
Lions last game
After having to wait for three decades to host a home playoff game, the Lions beat the Rams and earned the right to play at Ford Field again last week. They welcomed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game that turned into a shootout, going down to the very last possession. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense kept pace with Jared Goff, and the Lions, but Detroit would pull away in the fourth quarter. With the score tied 17-17 heading into the final 15 of the game, Jahmyr Gibbs broke a 31 yard TD run and a few minutes later Goff threw his second of two TD passes, this one to Amor-Ra St. Brown to take a two TD lead with just over six minutes to go in the game. The Bucs would get one TD back, but Detroit’s defense would pick off Baker Mayfield shortly after the Two Minute Warning and the Lions held on to win to make it to their second ever NFC Championship in the Super Bowl era.
We are live from San Fran
Hello everyone and welcome to Levi’s Stadium where the San Francisco 49ers are back in the NFC Championship for the third straight year, and fourth time in the last five. They have lost the last two conference title games, but are looking to get back to the Super Bowl with a win who was everyone’s dark horse to represent the NFC at the beginning of the season. The Detroit Lions have made a monumental turnaround since two years ago when they finished the regular season 3-13. The boys from the Motor City have changed the culture and are now looking to make a change in their empty trophy cabinet. Their quest for the first Lombardi Trophy either ends or continues here from San Fran as this team carries the weight of the entire city on their shoulders.
Lions vs. Niners
It’s Championship Sunday from San Francisco!!! After 18 weeks of the regular season, a Wild Card round and a Divisional Round, the Niners and the Lions are the last ones standing in the NFC. Tonight, they will go head to head for the final ticket to Las Vegas on Super Bowl Sunday in two weeks time and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from the Bay Area.