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NFC Championship Game
at
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 34, Detroit Lions 31
I really feel for Lions fans. It had been a very long time - decades - since they enjoyed the kind of season that the team had this year. They finally win a playoff game for the first time in over three decades. Then they follow that up with another playoff win that sends them to only their second NFC Championship Game appearance in the Super Bowl era. Once there, they jump out ahead and taken a big lead against the hometown - and heavily favored - San Francisco 49ers.
And then they collapse and lose, just when they can almost taste what would have been the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Really, this was a tale of two halves. The first half belonged to Detroit. They ran very effectively, and their offense was really rolling. Their defense was seriously keeping the explosive Niners in check. Indeed, the Lions looked like champions.
Then came the second half, and it was a different story. The 49ers got the ball first in the second half, and managed to score a field goal on that first possession. Still, that was somewhat of a victory for the Lions, holding San Fran to just a field goal.
Now here is where I feel Detroit began to make mistakes and, ultimately, to self-destruct. On their first drive of the second half, the Lions moved the ball well, and still seemed to have momentum. However, the drive ultimately did stall, although the Lions were still in positon for a field goal attempt. To me, when you're up still by 14 points, it feels like you need to go for the safe points. Get the lead back up to 17, make it a threee possession game. Instead, they took a gamble and went for it on fourth down. They didn't make it. And it felt like the momentum had shifted.
This became obvious just minutes later, when San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy went deep, looking to complete it to receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The ball was a little off target, and hit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor right in the helmet, and then took a lucky bounce right into the arms of Aiyuk. The Niners were on the doorstep, just feet from a touchdown that would get them very much in the game again. They got it just a couple of plays later.
Then Detroit's offense was not producing anything, while the 49ers kept scoring. Again, I don't want to harp on the subject, but Detroit took too many chances. It felt to me like if the Lions simply go for that field goal in the third quarter, and get the lead back up to 17, that they keep the momentum. They already had a decent lead of 14 points, so why do you need to tempt fate and take huge risks, especially since the 49ers had just scored, and the fan base was trying to pump thei hometeam up? Get a field goal to nulify San Francisco's own field goal earlier, then try and get a good kick and pin the Niners deep in their own territory.
Taking those kinds of risks - and the Lions took quite a few in this game - just felt unnecessary. I don't mean to second guess Detroit's head coach Dan Campbell, who did simply a phenomenal job, and has deservedly received some recognition for it. But it just felt really risky. at the time. And as it turns out, it feels like it cost them the game. I mean, they lost by a field goal. Maybe if they go for that field goal and convert in the third quarter, and manage to piun San Francisco deep in their own territory for the next drive, perhaps they prevent suc a dramatic shift in momentum. Maybe they are now celebrating, and preparing for the first ever Super Bowl appearance in franchie history.
Statistically, the Lions had an impressive game, and beat the 49ers in some important categories. They produced more total yards of offense, 442 to 413 for San Fran.They got more overall yardage wihth both their passing game and their running game. they earned 28 first downs, to just 23 for the Niners. They converted on one fourth down gamle, while the 49ers did not get any fourth down conversions. The two teams were even with one turnover apiece.
But this felt like a painful collapse for the Lions. They lost their composure, and ultimately, lost the game. Too bad.
Still, Detroit clearly has built something positive. Itshould bode well for them in the near future, and they should see success.
As for the 49ers, they win another NFC Championship for the eighth time. They will meet the Kansas City Chiefs, who handed the 49ers their own painful loss after a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter was quickly erased by a suddenly rejuvated Kansas City offense. The 49ers will get another chance now.
My pick: Accurate
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