The Detroit Lions faced the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 28, 2024, in the NFC Championship. Here are takeaways and highlights from the game.
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Final Score: 49ers 34, Lions 31
The Lions were a full touchdown underdog entering Sunday’s game, but they didn’t look like one early on. They raced out to a 24-7 halftime lead and looked to be well on their way to making history with their first Super Bowl appearance. They fell away in the second half and lost 34-31.
Detroit’s opening drive certainly shocked onlookers. Just 100 seconds into the game, Jameson Williams ran and stumbled his way into the end zone on a 42-yard run to get the Lions up 7-0. David Montgomery tacked on one more touchdown on a run from one yard out to send the Lions quarterback to the second up 14.
The first-half dominance continued for Detroit. Christian McCaffrey got the 49ers on the board not long into the second on a goal-line run of his own. Jahmyr Gibbs answered with his own run with 5:54 to go in the half. A Michael Badgley field goal sent the Lions to halftime up 24-7 and the Lions were looking to be well on their way to the Super Bowl.
Then, the second half happened.
After a Jake Moody kick made it 24-10 Detroit, a wild play sent the Niners’ rally into overdrive. With six and a half minutes to go in the third, Brock Purdy went deep for Brandon Aiyuk. Lions cornerback Kindle Vindor got close to securing the interception, but the ball bounced off his facemask and into Aiyuk’s arms. Replay confirmed that Aiyuk came down with the ball, and soon after, he caught a touchdown pass to get the 49ers back within one score. McCaffrey tied the game not long after, and teams went to the 4th tied at 24 all.
Moody got the 49ers their first lead of the day with 9:52 to go in the game. Elijah Mitchell punched it in to give the 49ers a 10-point lead with just over three minutes to play. With one last chance, Goff did lead the Lions down for a touchdown to make it a three-point game once again, but the ensuing onside attempt bounced into the hands of the 49ers, sealing Detroit’s fate.
Highlights
TURN UP WAYMO!!!#DETvsSF | FOX | #AllGrit pic.twitter.com/S6nf5rh5WA
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 28, 2024
Big Play BA! @THE2ERA#DETvsSF on FOX
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/vo86PIJWfd— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 29, 2024
Touchdown Jamo!#DETvsSF |📺 FOX | #AllGrit pic.twitter.com/Zdn0A53s1x
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 29, 2024
Looking Forward
The Cinderella run of the Detroit Lions ends here while San Francisco returns to the Super Bowl.
And for the Lions, this is the season many will remember for generations, no matter how many more chances the Lions get moving forward. Dan Campbell and the Lions’ window for a championship has only just begun, and the future will remain bright.
Campbell said it best in his postgame presser: everyone will want to play their absolute best against the Lions now.
Some uncertainty exists as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson could become the Commanders’ head coach while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn may remain a candidate for head coaching jobs going forward. Paying Jared Goff this offseason should be the No. 1 priority.
Much as it were at the end of the 2019 season, San Francisco will stare down the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. As the designated road team once more, Kyle Shanahan gets a second crack at the Chiefs to try and right the wrongs of his 2019 team, who were up 20-10 with 10 minutes to go on that February evening four years ago.
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