49ers Headed to Face Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII
If you placed a bet on this game, you most likely would have placed it in favor of the San Francisco 49ers. From the beginning of this season the talent on display between quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and the never-ending competitiveness of running back Christian McCaffrey, it was clear they had a great shot to be NFC Champions. With this win over the Detroit Lions, it is no longer a dream as they have officially won the NFC for this season and will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in two weeks in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the Lions have never made the Super Bowl and many folks were hoping this would be the year, they cannot hang their heads as this was the first NFC Championship Game they had played in since 1991. While they came out short, they gave the best team in the NFC a run for their money and would have come out on top if it weren’t for their turnovers in the second half and all the momentum swinging towards San Francisco late in the game. In two weeks, we will see if the 49ers have what it takes to stop quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs from being back-to-back Super Bowl Champions. Let’s take a look at how the 49ers got this win.
The Lions would be the first team to put points on the board in this NFC Championship Game, as wide receiver Jameson Williams ran in the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown on their first drive, and after kicker Michael Badgley made the extra point, the score was 7-0 Detroit. The 49ers' first drive would not be as successful as Detroit's as their offense was able to set up a 48-yard field goal for kicker Jake Moody but after Moody’s kick was no good wide right, the Lions would get the ball back. Detroit turned this turnover by San Francisco into offensive points as running back David Montgomery for a 1-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 14-0 Lions with nearly two and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter.
When the 49ers got the ball back, they would score their first points of the game early in the second quarter as running back Christian McCaffrey ran in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown to make the score 14-7. On San Francisco’s next offensive drive, their offense would turn over the ball again as quarterback Brock Purdy threw an interception, a pass intended for wide receiver Deebo Samuel, into the hands of Detroit linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. The Lions would turn this defense into offense as running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 21-7. Detroit would score once more before halftime as their offense set up a 21-yard field goal attempt for Badgley who would knock it down to make the score of the game 24-7 Lions as both teams headed into the locker room.
The 49ers would be the first team to score in the second half as Moody knocked down a 43-yard field goal to make the score of the game 24-10 on the 49ers' first drive of the third quarter. When San Francisco got the ball back they would score once again to trim the lead to a touchdown 24-17 after Purdy connected with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for a 6-yard touchdown. The 49ers would get the ball back sooner than expected as Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs would fumble on the Lions' next drive. The fumble was forced by San Francisco safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. and recovered by 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead.
San Francisco would turn this defense into offense and tie the game up as McCaffrey ran in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 24-24 with close to three minutes remaining in the third quarter. The 49ers would take the lead early in the fourth quarter as Moody knocked a 33-yard field goal to give the 49ers their first lead of the game with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation. San Francisco would extend their lead later in the fourth quarter to ten points as running back Elijah Mitchell ran in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 34-24. The Lions would score one more touchdown late in the fourth quarter as quarterback Jared Goff found Williams deep in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown to make the final score of the game 34-31. While the Lions would attempt an onside kick, after it was unsuccessful, the 49ers were officially headed to Super Bowl LVIII.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy completed twenty-one of his thirty passes in this NFC Championship Game, throwing for 267 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Christian McCaffrey had twenty carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns, Purdy had 51 yards off of four carries, and running back Elijah Mitchell also had a rushing touchdown late in the game. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had eight receptions for 89 yards, while wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk had three receptions for 68 yards and San Francisco’s only receiving touchdown in the game. Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed twenty-five of his forty-one passes on Sunday night, throwing one touchdown and 273 yards. Running back David Montgomery had fifteen carries for 93 yards and a touchdown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wide receiver Jameson Williams also both had rushing touchdowns in the game. Tight end Sam LaPorta had nine receptions for 97 yards, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had seven catches for 87 yards, and Williams had the Lions only receiving touchdown in the game.
