The San Francisco 49ers are headed to Super Bowl LVIII after winning an absolute thriller in the NFC Championship Game, 34-31, on Sunday night.
The Niners will face the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium on February 11.
This game didn't feel like much after the first half, where the Lions completely dominated a 49ers team that looked like a shell of itself.
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Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half of the NFC Championship football game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
On the first series, quarterback Jared Goff ran a trick play that Detroit often ran, as he faked a handoff to his running back before handing it off to speedy wide receiver Jameson Williams. He made some 49ers defenders miss and shook off another tackle before sprinting into the end zone from 42 yards out.
The Lions only needed four plays to score seven points, setting the tone that head coach Dan Campbell certainly wanted on the road.
San Francisco would miss a field goal on its first drive and Goff used that momentum to score another. This time, David Montgomery burst into the end zone from one yard out to quickly make the score 14-0 in the first quarter.
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The 49ers would respond, however, and who else but Christian McCaffrey scored from two yards out to get on the board.
But the momentum returned to Detroit when Brock Purdy threw an interception in his own territory to perfectly set up the Lions for their third rushing touchdown of the half. It was rookie Jahmyr Gibbs maneuvering 15 yards across the goal line.
The Lions finished the first half with 148 rushing yards as a team and all three of their touchdowns came on the ground.
But the second half brought problems to the team that was up 24-7 when they went to the locker room. A turnover, a fortuitous deep pass, and a fumble led to San Francisco scores that ultimately tied this game.
Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions drops back to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFC Championship football game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Purdy found the rhythm head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted in the second half, even if it didn't result in a touchdown. A Jake Moody field goal that this time went through the uprights made the score 24-10.
But the Lions wanted to keep things going on the ensuing drive when Campbell gave Goff the go-ahead to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the San Francisco 28-yard line instead of kicking his own field goal.
The result? A dropped pass by Josh Reynolds that forced a turnover.
Two plays later, with the 49ers now having the ball, Purdy fired a shot to Brandon Aiyuk down the field, but the ball appeared to be slightly off target. Lions defender Kindle Vildor was tracking the ball along with Aiyuk and seemed to have the right angle as he came down.
But when Vildor extended his hands, the ball went through him and hit him on the helmet, exploding the ball into the air. Aiyuk had the awareness to reach out and make the catch, landing on the five-yard line.
A couple plays later, Aiyuk took a Purdy bullet for the touchdown to bring the game within seven points, 24-17.
The San Francisco crowd was rowdy, as they felt their team finally clicking on all cylinders. And when Detroit took the field, more momentum shifted to the 49ers.
Gibbs and Goff weren't on the same page on the first play, as they nearly ran into each other on a handoff. Tashaun Gipson Sr. put his hands on Gibbs' arm and ripped the ball away, and San Francisco recovered.
Four plays later, McCaffrey stormed into the end zone once again, tying the game and sending the Levi's Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after a play against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFC Championship football game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California . (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
San Francisco would finally take the lead with 9:52 left in the fourth quarter when Moody kicked a 33-yard field goal to make the score 27-24. However, the Lions could have attempted a field goal again to tie Moody on the next drive, but Campbell refused to do so again.
The attempt was futile, as Goff was forced out of the pocket and threw the ball into empty space to turn it over again.
As it did at the beginning of the half, the turnover led to the 49ers' points. The running game was used for this drive, as Purdy and McCaffrey ran down the field. But it was Elijah Mitchell, replacing McCaffrey, who was exhausted and found his way into the end zone to give his team a 10-point lead.
It was the score the 49ers needed because Goff ended up finding Jameson Williams on fourth-and-goal to keep the game alive.
Detroit needed to attempt an onside kick to have a miraculous chance of keeping this game. But
Purdy started slow but finished 20 of 31 for 267 yards with a touchdown pass, and Deebo Samuel was his top target with eight catches for 89 yards. Aiyuk also had 68 yards on three receptions, while McCaffrey had 132 total yards from scrimmage (90 rushing, 42 receiving).
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara , California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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For the Lions, Goff was 25-of-41 for 273 yards with a touchdown pass, while Sam LaPorta led the way with 97 yards on nine receptions. Amon-Ra St. Brown had seven catches for 87 yards.
