Lions 40 vs 34 49ers summary, stats, scores and highlights | NFL Week 17
Not lost in the almost 700 yards of passing and six passing TDs was Jahmyr Gibbs who had 153 total yards including 117 yards on the ground in his second game without his partner in crime, David Montgomery. He has showed he can carry he load all by himself if need be and midway through the final quarter he landed the knockout blow with this 30 yard TD run.
The Lions will now turn their attention to their game next Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC Showdown that will decide the division and who gets the one seed in the NFC. A first round BYE and the right to host home field throughout the playoffs will be on the line in Detroit. If you think tonight was fun, tune in next week.
Jake Moody would miss another 50 yarder while Jake Bates extended the lead with a field goal and then Kirby Joseph came up with his second pick of the game and this time it gave the Lions a chance to stretch the lead to a two possession game. Purdy went 27/35 for 377 yards and 3 TDs but threw these two picks and that was the difference in the game in San Fran.
It wouldn't be Lions game without Dan Campbell going for it on a big 4th down, and on this 4th down it was Goff finding Amon-Ra St. Brown in the end zone to give the Lions their first lead of the night.
The Lions would get stopped again on the drive after Purdy put San Fran up 28-21, but Jake Bates would hit a field goal to cut into the lead and then finally the Lions defense came up with a play. Kirby Joseph picked off Purdy'a pass and that opened the door for the Lions to take the lead.
The Niners would take the lead back with another quick drive that was finished off with Purdy's third TD of the game, this one was a little pitch to Deebo for a 5 yard TD catch and run.
The Lions got the ball out of the break, and took it right down the field picking up right where they left off. Goff found LaPorta in the end zone and this time the TE held on to the ball as the LIons would tie it up with a two point conversion.
Finally we got a defensive stop deep into the first half. The LIons went for it on 4th and short inside the 10 and Goff's pass to Sam LaPorta was jarred out of the TE's hands. SF would have a chance to add to the lead before the halftime break but Jake Moody missed a 51 yard field goal.
Purdy made it three TDs on three drive with this 9 yard scramble up the middle and we started to wonder would we ever see a defensive stop in this game?
The Lions would answer back, digging into their bag of tricks and pulling out a hook and ladder that was caught by St. Brown, pitched to Williams and taken to the end zone for his second TD of the first half.
Through the first two drives of the game, Purdy was 7/7 and had 2 TDs including this one to Kyle Juszczyk as it looked like Detroit's defense had no answer to the Niners offense.
Goff and the Lions had an answer for almost everything Purdy and the Niners threw at them in the first half. Jameson Williams tied the game and back and forth we went.
The Detroit Lions survived a scare in San Francisco to set up a massive matchup with MInnesota next week to decide who gets the one seed. Jared Goff passed for 303 yards and three TDs in the 40-34 win from Levi's Stadium.
It was a high flying, action packed game from the Bay in which both teams came out swinging for the fences. Brock Purdy had a near perfect first half and put the Niners on the board first with this pass to Ricky Pearsall.
IT'S ALL OVER!!
The Lions win a shootout to set up next week's massive matchup to determine the one seed in the NFC.
Moody's onside kick is blasted out of bounds and that's going to do it from San Fran!!
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
Dobbs tucks it and runs to the pylon for a 7 yard TD and the Niners are still alive.
DET lead 40-34 with 43 seconds to go after Moody's missed PAT.
Dobbs looking for Jennings in the corner of the end zone but that pass was overthrown.
2nd and Goal from the 7 with 50 to go.
Dobbs looks over the middle for Kittle and he reels it in for a gain of 11.
1st and Goal from the 7.
Dobbs looks to Jennings on the left side and he makes the catch for the first down and a gain of 9.
1st and 10 from the DET 18.
Dobbs into the game for Purdy and he hits Jennings on the comeback route for a gain of 15 yards.
3rd and 3 from the DET 27.
Branch off the edge and he drops Purdy for a seven yard sack.
2nd and 18 from the DET 43. Purdy got hurt on the play and headed straight to the sideline.
Purdy fnds Pearsall on the right side for a gain of 10 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the DET 35.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
Purdy on the pass to Jennings on the out route to the left side is caught for a gain of 8.
3rd and 2 from the DET 45.
Purdy rolls right and looks for Jennings down the sideline but that pass sails out of bounds.
2nd and 10 from the SF 47.
Purdy looks for Guerendo out of the backfield and he gets 12 yards to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the SF 47.
SF get the ball from their 28 and Purdy finds Kittle over the middle for a gain of 7 yards.
2nd and 3 from the SF 35.
After Joseph's second pick, Gibbs takes it for a 30 yard TD run. He's got over 150 total yards today including another 100 yard day.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!
Goff fakes the throw out of the shotgun and hands it off to Gibbs who takes it to the right side and turns the corner for 30 yard TD sprint down the sidelines!
DET lead 40-28 after Bates misses the PAT with under 3:00 to go.
Goff finds LaPorta on the release to the right side for a pick up of 4 yards.
3rd and 2 from the SF 30.
Reynolds up the middle and he gets 4 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 6 from the SF 34.
Roll out fro Goff to the right side and he finds Williams for a gain of 8 yards to move the chains.
1st and 10 from te SF 38.
Reynolds with the run to the left side and he picks up 4 yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the SF 46.
Gibbs to the left side and he picks up four yards and moves the chains.
1st and 10 from the 50.
DET from their 38 and Gibbs with a patient run up the middle goes for 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the DET 46.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Purdy's pass over the middle for Pearsall was picked off by Joseph again. He stepped right in front of the WR and took it back for yards to the DET 38!
DET ball with 7:41 to go in the 4th quarter.
Purdy on the left side for Jennings who gets five yards and an unnecessary roughness on Branch is going to give SF a free 15 yards.
1st an 10 from the DET 36.
Purdy on the bootleg to the right side and he looks across the field for Kittle who makes the catch for 25 yards but an ineligible man down field flag is going to bring that play back.
1st and 15 from the SF 44.
Purdy back to Pearsall on the left side and he drags it in for a gain of 14 yards.
1st and 10 from the SF 49.
After a delay of game on SF backs them up another five yards, Purdy finds Pearsall on the out route for a gain of 15 yards.
3rd and 5 from the SF 35.
SF get the ball from their 30 and Purdy is sacked by Adams for a loss of 5 yards!
2nd and 15 from the SF 15.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Bates drills the 42 yard field goal to put DET up by 6, but it's still a one possession game here from San Fran.
DET lead 34-28 with 10:29 to go.
Goff to Williams on the left side but the WR slipped and that pass falls incomplete.
4th and 8 from the SF 24.
Pass to the right side for Williams in the flat but that pass skipped off the dirt.
3rd and 8 from the SF 24.
Reynolds up the middle for a gain of 2 on first down.
2nd and 8 from the SF 24.
Reynolds up the middle and he picks up 2 yards on first down.
1st and 10 from the SF 46.
Goff drops back and finds a wide open LaPorta for a gain of 19 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the SF 26.
Goff's pass over the middle for LaPorta is too far out in front of the TE and that pass falls incomplete.
4th and 3 from the SF 45.
Gibbs to the right side and he picks up 4 yards to bring up 3rd and sort.
3rd and 3 from the SF 46.
Gibbs to the left side and he had nothing so he turns all the way back to the right side for a gain of 3.
2nd and 7 from the SF 49.
MISSED FIELD GOAL!!!
Moody misses his second 50+ yarder, this one from 58 and the Lions are going to gave great field position.
DET ball from their 48 with 13:29 to go.
Purdy's pass to the left side for Jennings is broken up by Robertson and that's going to bring up 4th and long.
4th and 10 from the DET 40.
Purdy's pass over the middle for Juszczyk is too high and incomplete.
3rd and 10 from the DET 40.
A little trick play from SF and Pearsall with the throw but he threw it out of bounds.
2nd and 10 from the DET 40.
Purdy's pass to Kittle is complete on the right side and he reels it in for a gain of 18.
1st and 10 from the DET 40.
Gueredo up the middle and he gets 2 yards to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the SF 42.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FINAL QUARTER!!!
SF get the ball from the 30 and Purdy finds Kittle over the middle for a gain of 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the SF 39.
The Lions offense was just hanging around until the Niners made a mistake and when they did Kirby Joseph was there to punish them.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!
Goff with his easiest pass of the night finds St. Brown short of the goal line and he walks it in for a 4 yard TD on 4th down.
DET lead 31-28 with 19 seconds to go in the 3rd quarter.
Goff's pass to the left side for St. Brown was too far out in front of the WR on the double route.
4th and Goal from the SF 4.
Goff to the right sid elooking for Williams but that pass skips off the turf and falls incomplete.
3rd and Goal from the SF 4.
Jefferson to the left side and he picks up 3 yards on first down.
2nd and Goal from the 4.
Goff over tehe middle for St. Brown and he makes the catch for 13 yards inside the SF 10.
1st and Goal from the SF 7.
Reynolds with a patient run for 6 yards up the middle on first down.
2nd and 4 from the SF 20.
Pass to Reynolds out of the backfield and he gets 9 yards and a first down on the right side.
1st and 10 from the SF 26.
Goff on the roll out to the right side and he finds Williams for a gain of 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the SFS 35.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Purdy's pass over the middle for Pearsall is too high and picked off by Joseph who takes it 26 yards all the way back to the SF 43! First big play of the night for DET's D, and what a time to make it.
DET ball inside the SF half of the field with under 4:00 to go in the 3rd quarter.
SF get the ball from their 33 and Purdy rolls right and his pass to Kittle on the other side of the field is incomplete but a PI is going to give DET a first down.
1st and 10 fro the 50.
This was the Niners last TD, Purdy got credit for the pass so that TD pass No. 3 for him on the night.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Bates comes on and drills a big 57 yard field goal!
SF get a stop, but DET get on the board. It's 28-24 with 4:25 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Goff gets sacked by Bosa off the edge and he is dropped for a loss of 13!
4th and 16 from the SF 39!
Goff finds Williams and he picks up 5 yards on the pass to the left.
3rd and 3 from the SF 26.
Reynolds up the middle for a short gain of two on first down.
2nd and 8 from the SF 31.
Goff over he middle to a wide open LaPorta who takes it for a gain of 28 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the SF 33.
DET get the ball back from the 30 and Gibbs gets the pass out of the backfield and he takes it for 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the DET 39.
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
Little flip to Deebo from Purdy on the jet sweep and he takes it to the right pylon for the 5 yard TD!
SF take the lead back. It's 28-21 with 7:40 to go.
Purdy takes a shot to the corner of the end zone but no one was home.
2nd and Goal from the DET 5.
Quick pass on the left side to Kittle and he breaks a tackle and takes it 22 yards inside the five!
1st and Goal from the DET 5.
Purdy goes deep down the middle for a wide open Pearsall who makes the catch and takes it for 39 yards on the catch and run.
1st and 10 from the DET 27.
Guerendo on the right side and he gets 5 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 5 from the SF 34.
A holding on the return brings back the Niners to the 16 and Purdy finds Jennings over the middle for a gain of 13 and a first down.
1st and 10 from the SF 29.
10 plays, five minutes and a tie game to start the 3rd quarter. The pace remains the same after the break.
TOUCHDOWN DETROIT!!!
Goff hits LaPorta on the slant pattern and he makes the catch in the end zone for a 6 yard TD. DET go for two and get it with a Goff roll out and pass to a wide open Patrick in the end zone.
Perfect start for the Lions who tie it up five minutes into the 3rd quarter.
Gibbs up the middle for a gain of 4 yards.
3rd and Goal from the 6.
Goff's pass to St. Brown on the right side was too far in front of him and fall incomplete.
2nd and Goal from the 10.
Goff going deep down the left sideline and Robinson stretches to make that catch inside the 10.
1st and goal from the 10.
Gibbs to the left side this time and he picks up 6 yards to bring up 3rd and medium.
3rd and 5 from the SF 31.
Gibbs is stopped by Bosa again for a loss of 1 on first down.
2nd and 11 from the SF 37.
Goff looks over the middle and he finds Williams with a 6 yard pitch and catch for a gain of 6 an d a first down.
1st and 10 from the SF 36.
Gibbs is dropped by Bosa on that run to the right side for a loss of 1.
3rd and 5 from the SF 48.
Goff finds St. Brown again, this time in the flat and he takes it for 6 yards.
2nd and 4 from te SF 47.
DET get the ball back to start the half and take it from the 34 and Goff finds St. Brown for a 13 yard gain to start the 3rd quarter.
1st and 10 from the DET 47.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM SAN FRAN!!!
There was a defensive play made. Just one as the Niners stopped Goff and the Lions on 4th and 3 inside the 10. That kept them off the board with time to spare but Moody missed a 51 yard field goal as the half ended.
Purdy is 14/16 after a couple of incompletions late in the half. He's 14/16 for 200 yards and 2 TDs and this rushing TD to put the Niners up 21-13 at half.
Goff was perfect for most of the half as these two offenses went back and forth. He's 11/13 for 138 yards and this TD on the hook and ladder from St. Brown to Williams for his second TD of the half.
Purdy has been perfect in this first half. He has two TD passes and no incompletions. This TD pass was to Juszczyk on the play action from 9 yards out.
The Lions bounced back with a quick scoring drive of their own as Williams took this end around to the house from three yards out.
There were no punts in that first half. No punts. It was just TDs for the first five drives of the game. Starting with this one by Purdy to Pearsall for the first score of the night.
WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
MISSED FIELD GOAL!!!
Moody missed the 51 yard field goal to end the half. That's about the only thing SF has done wrong.
SF lead 21-13 after two quarters.
Purdy to Kittle and he gets 7 yards to bring out the FG unit with 7 on the clock.
Purdy hit Kittle over the middle and he took it for 23 yard inside the 10 but an offensive PI is going to bring that play back.
3rd and 12 from the DET 40.
Purdy to Jennings who makes the catch for 8 yards and the clock still running with 22 to go.
3rd and 2 after Purdy clocks the ball.
Out route for Pearsall and he moves the chains for a gain of 6 yards with 28 to go.
1st and 10 from the DET 38.
Another pass for Guerendo tis time for a sort gain of 8 yards as he gets out fo bounds with 33 to go.
2nd and 2 from the DET 44.
Purdy drops in a dime for Guerendo on the wheel route and he reels it in for 40 yards!
1st and 10 from the SF 48.
Purdy roll to the right side and he is forced to throw it away.
2nd and 10 from the SF 8.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
Goff looking for LaPorta in the back of the end zone and he is hit hard and had the ball jarred out of his hands.
1st and 10 Niners from their 8 with 1:10 to go.
Run to the right side and he gets two yards to bring up 4th and short.
4th and 3 from the SF 8. Timeout SF with 1:18 to go.
Fake pitch to the left and Goff finds St. Brown on the right side for a gain of 5.
3rd and 5 from the SF 10. Timeout SF with 1:24 to go in the half.
Gibbs is stuffed for no gain by Winters on the run up the middle.
2nd and 10 from the SF 15.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING!!!
Goff to the left side and he finds St. Brown on the out route which he takes up field 14 yards.
1st and 10 from the SF 15.
Reynolds to the left side and he moves the chains with a four yard gain.
1st and 10 from the SF 29.
Rreynold on the run to the right side an he drags the pile for a gain of 9.
2nd and 1 from the SF 33.
Quick throw to the right side for St. Brown who makes a spinning catch for a gain of 4.
1st and 10 from the SF 42.
Screen pass set up for Gibbs on the right side and he picks up 7 yards.
3rd and 3 from the SF 46.
Goff had to throw it into the dirt with defenders closing in.
2nd and 10 from the DET 47.
Goff finds Gibbs in stride over the middle and he takes it for 19 yards after the catch.
1st and 10 from the DET 47.
DET get the ball from their 30 and Gibbs is swung down for a loss of two by Gross-Matos.
2nd and 12 from the DET 28.
Purdy has been perfect on the night, but this time he decides to run it in all by himself. Watch the pump fake on the LB that completely shook the defender.
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
Purdy tucks it and runs up the middle, pump fakes a pass that duped the LB and he dives into the end zone for a 9 yard TD!
Niners lead 21-13 with 6:13 to go in the first half.
Guerendo is stopped for no gain on the run to the left side.
2nd and Goal from the 9.
Purdy on the play action and that opens up Pearsall down the right side on a bomb of 40 yards!
1st and Goal from the DET 9.
Quick misdirection handoff to the left side for Pearsall who is dropped after a gain of 2.
3rd and 7 from the DET 49.
Guerendo is stopped by O'Connor after a gain of 1.
2nd and 9 from the SF 49.
Guerendo to the right side for a gain of 9 and that's enough to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the SF 48.
SF get the ball from their 30 and Purdy looks left to Jennings who makes the catch a yard short of the marker.
2nd and 1 from the SF 39.
A hold and a sack brought back DET to 2nd and 24, but that's not enough to stop this offense with a bag full of trick plays. This one to St. Brown first and then to Williams on the hook and ladder.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!
Goff finds St. Brown on the right side and Williams came all the way across the field for the hook and ladder and he takes it 42 yards down the sideline for the TD!!!
It's 14-13, SF lead with 10:09 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Goff to the right side for Gibbs who skips out of a tackle and picks up 11 yards on the sideline.
3rd and 12 from the SF 42.
Bosa off the edge and he grabs Goff by the jersey and spins him down for a loss of 4.
2nd and 24 from the DET 46.
Goff to LaPorta who got made the catch for 7 yards, but a holding call will bring that play back.
1st and 20 from the 50.
Gibbs to the right side on the pitch out of the shotgun and he cuts back into the middle for a gain of 15 yards.
1st and 10 from the SF 40.
Gibbs with a run to the right side and he picks up 7 on first down.
2nd and 3 from the DET 45.
Goff finds LaPorta over the middle for a gain of 6 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the DET 38.
Gibbs up the middle and he picks up 6 yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 3 from the DET 32.
DET take over from the 25 and Goff finds LaPorta in the flat and he is brought down after a 1 yard gain.
2nd and 9 from the DET 26.
Purdy has started this game 7/7 and already has 2 TDs. This one to Juszczyk who wasn't going to be taken down short of the goal line.
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
Play action from Purdy and he finds Juszczyk on the left side and he lowers his head and barrels into the end zone.
SF lead 14-6 after the first play of the second quarter.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!!!
An encroachment is going to give SF a free five yards.
1st and 5 from the DET 9.
Purdy finds a wide open Kittle on the left side and he turns up field and takes it for 20 yards.
1st and 10 from the DET 14.
Guerendo finds a seam up the middle and he takes if for 11 yards for a first down.
1st and 10 from the DET 34.
Purdy with a strike to Pearsall on the left side and he snags it with one hand and got both feet in on the sideline.
1st and 10 from the DET 45.
Purdy with a screen pass to Guerend on the right side for a gain of 5 yards.
3rd and 4 from the SF 41.
Toss to Guerendo and he is stuffed at the line for a short gain of 1.
2nd and 9 from the SF 36.
SF get the ball back from the 30 and Purdy is sacked bu O'Connor but a defensive holding is going to give SF five yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the SF 35.
The Lions respond with an opening TD of their own, this one to Jameson Williams who had a handful of touches on that drive.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!
End around to Williams on the left side and he turns the edge and races to the pylon untouched! The PAT is blocked by SF!
SF lead 7-6 after the tipped kick.
Jefferson is dropped for a loss of two by Warner up bursted up the middle.
3rd and Goal from the 3.
Jefferson absorbs the hits on the left side and backs his way to the 1 yard line.
2nd and Goal from the 1.
Quick pass to the right side to Reynolds who breaks a tackle and races down the sideline for a gain of 26.
1st and Goal from the SF 9.
End around to Williams who is tripped up in the backfield and taken down by Collins five yards behind the line of scrimmage.
2nd and 15 from the SF 35.
Gibbs breaks free and busts a 21 yard run off the pitch to the left side into the SF 30.
1st and 10 from the SF 30.
Gibbs moves the chains with a six yard run to the left side.
1st adn 10 from the DET 49.
Gibbs up the middle and he gets 5 yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 2 from the DE 43.
Here comes Jared Goff and the Lions offense starting from the 35.
Short pass to the left side for Williams for a gain of 3.
2nd and 7 from the DET 38.
The rookie WR that was shot before the season started gets into the end zone and puts the Niners on the board first after a smooth first drive.
TOUCHDOWN NINERS!!!
Purdy to the pylon for Pearsall who makes the catch but is ruled short of the goal line. Upon a short replay the refs rule he was in and the Niners draw first blood.
SF lead 7-0 after the first drive.
Guerendo up the middle and he is stopped for no gain. A little scuffle broke out that resulted in offsetting personal foul penalties.
2nd and Goal from the 3.
Purdy with another QB sneak and this time he moves the chains with a 2 yard gain.
1st and Goal from the DET 3.
Purdy up the middle on the QB sneak and he gets a yard, but is short.
4th and 1 from the DET 5.
Guerendo with a run up the middle and he picks up 4 yards.
3rd and 2 from the DET 6.
Guerendo to the left side off the reverse and he was going to throw it but ended up tucking and running for 4 yards.
2nd and 6 from the DET 10.
Purdy with a pass up the middle of the hashes and he drags it in for a gain of 18.
1st and 10 from the DET 14.
Pitch to Samuel and he turns up field for a gain of 9 yards.
1st and 10 fro the DET 32.
Samuel up the middle and he gets four yards on the first down run.
2nd and 6 from the DET 41.
Purdy fires a strike over the middle and hits Conley for a gain of 13 yards.
1st and 10 from the DET 45.
Lions won the toss and differed so here comes Purdy and the Niners offense starting from the 39.
Samuel gets the pitch to the right side and gets 3 yards to start the game.
2nd and 7 from the 42
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM SAN FRAN!!!
Prediction
Dan Campbell knows how to get his team ready for a big game. He isn’t going to let them take their foot off the gas and look towards next week because he knows if they lose this week than they can basically kiss next week good bye. Look for the LIons to come out swinging from the start, and maybe just maybe if they get a big enough lead, the Lions can rest their starters for the final quarter and start to look forward to the NFC North clash that will decide the one seed.
Lions win 31-13.
NFC Standings
Taking a look at the standings in the NFC we see the Lions at the top of the table while the Niners are way down there at the bottom of their division. The Lions need to win out to get the one seed, but that is going to depend on their game tonight and their game next week against the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings who also control their own destiny on the way to the one seed. Next week could be monumental, but this week’s game in San Fran is just as important for the Lions.
Star watch: Niners
With all of the injuries that have hindered the Niners offense this year, we are seeing what a lot of people questioned play out in the Bay. Brock Purdy put up great numbers in his first few seasons as the Niners QB, but people said that was because he was surrounded by weapons. This year, he hasn’t been surrounded by as many weapons, In his second full season as the starter, Purdy’s numbers have dipped from his 4,000 yard, 30 TD season last year but he still has 3,487 yards ad 17 TDs which isn’t spectacular, but it isn’t enough for all the nay sayers to go around gloating that they were right.
Star watch: Lions
If the Lions are going to have success despite all of their injuries it’s going to come down to one man. Jahmyr Gibbs was part of the most dynamic RB duo in the league, making up half of the Sonic and Knuckles partnership in the Detroit backfield. Both him and David Montgomery shared snaps and carries and weren’t just productive, they were buddies. Montgomery was on track to a 1,000 yard season and Gibbs is already there with 1,156 yards and 12 TDs. Since Montgomery’s knee injury that will keep him out the rest of the year, it’s going to be all up to Gibbs. In his first game without Knuckles, Gibbs had 100 yards and two TDs, and that’s the kind of production that he is going to need to continue if the Lions are going to keep winning.
Season recap: Niners
The Niners problems started before the first snap was even taken. Brandon Aiyuk had a messy hold out in the offseason and Christian McCaffery missed the first eight games of the season with an achilles injury. While McCaffery was sidelined, Aiyuk would sign a contact and suffer a season ending injury himself. They were hanging on until the middle of November at .500 but they have lost four of five after losing McCaffery again, this time for the remainder of the year. They are now out of the playoff picture and many are wondering if the Super Bowl window has closed after years of being so close but so far.
Season recap: Lions
Everyone knew the Lions were going to be the team to beat in the NFC this season. They have taken everyone’s best shot and still looked like the best team. They lost in Week 2 to the Bucs after beating the Rams in an overtime game to start the season. They would win their next 11 games, most of those in dominating fashion before the injury bug hit them hard and complicated things in the final stretch of the season. They beat the Bears and Packers by just six total points and then lost to the Bills but bounced back last week against Chicago. They have a chance to get the one seed and host the playoffs for the first time in history, and they are hoping that will be enough to get them to the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
Last game: Niners
The Niners went to Miami knowing that their playoff chances had disappeared and they played like it. On a night that they had to use their fifth string running back, the ground game never got going, but Brock Purdy’s 300 yard game was enough to keep the Niners in the game against the Dolphins. It was a one possess game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, but De’Von Achane broke off a 50 yard run with 1:36 to go and closed the door on the Niners.
Last game: Lions
Detroit bounced back after losing to the Bills with a blowout with over the Chicago Bears to set up tonight’s big game in San Fran a a potentially big game next week against the Vikings. DET went up 20-0 thanks to a couple of Jake Bates field goals, a Jared Goff TD pass and a Jahmyr Gibbs rushing TD. Chicago would cut into the lead before half, making it 27-14 at the break but Goff’s third TD pass of the game would put an end to the Bears comeback chances. Goff passed for 336 yards and 3 TDs while Gibbs had 109 yards and 1 TD in his first game without David Montgomery.
We are live from the Bay Area
Hello everyone and welcome to San Francisco where the Niners know their playoff chances are out the window, but they can play spoiler to a team that almost beat them in the NFC Championship last year. It’s been a nightmare season for the Niners, who have dealt with preseason holdouts, injuries and more injuries as they have slumped to the bottom of the NFC West and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2019 season. The injury ravaged Lions are at the top of the NFC and need to win out to stay there. They have a huge Week 18 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings which could decide who gets the one seed, but they have to focus on tonight’s game first.
Lions vs. 49ers live
It’s the final Monday Night Football game of the regular season and the top team in the NFC go into the defending NFC Champions’ house losing to hold on to the one seed for another week. The Detroit Lions have been the best team in the conference all season long, and have two more weeks to hold off the Vikings and wrap up a first round BYE and home field advantage. It’s the Lions heading to San Francisco for a primetime showdown with the Niners and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis from Levi’s Stadium.