San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery is on the podium during an interview with FOX TV as quarterback Brock Purdy celebrates the team’s NFC Championship after beating the Detroit Lions 34-31 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday JAN 28, 2024. (Austin Ginn-San Francisco 49ers)
by Marko Ukalovic
It was the worst of times; it was the best of times in Santa Clara.
The San Francisco 49ers outscored the Detroit Lions 27-7 in the second half to overcome a 17-point deficit in a 34-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco heads down to Sin City with its second NFC title in the past four years to take on the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the AFC Championship Game, in Super Bowl 58, a rematch of Super Bowl 54. Detroit failed to reach the Super Bowl and is still the only team in the NFL to have not played in the big game.
It was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Detroit’s offense ran down San Francisco’s throat with ease as it scored three rushing touchdowns while its defense stymied Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense. All-Pro running back Christian McCaffery was non-existent in the first 30 minutes of the game.
“It’s been a long year but at the same time it’s been pretty quick. I’ve tried to enjoy every single day. Enjoy these guys, the wins, enjoy honestly the lows that come… To pull a comeback like that in the NFC Championship is special,” Purdy said.
The Lions needed just four plays to score on their opening possession of the game. Head coach Dan Campbell got the rushing attack going with two runs from David Montgomery. Jameson Williams carried an end around for 42 yards, breaking a tackle along the way, for the game’s first touchdown.
Quarterback Brock Purdy marched the 49ers down the on its opening drive only to have rookie kicker Jake Moody miss a 48-yard field goal wide-right.
Quarterback Jared Goff marched the Lions down the field on next possession and had the 49ers defense on their heels as short passes to Jahmyr Gibbs and rookie tight end Sam Laporta set up Montgomery’s second touchdown of the game, a one-yarder up the middle to complete a 11 play 62-yard drive.
San Francisco’s offense finally broke the goose egg on the scoreboard with an eight play 75-yard drive of their own. The key play was a deep pass out to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who made a high leaping grab, for 23 yards to get the 49ers inside Lions territory for the first time. McCaffery finished off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown right through the Lions defense.
Detroit’s defense set up their third touchdown. They pressured Purdy as he tried to step up to the pocket attempting a pass out to Deebo Samuel, who was cleared to play in the game on Friday, but the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage and went into the hands of linebacker Malcom Rodriguez for the game’s first turnover.
The Lions capitalize on the interception with a five play 46-yard drive when Gibbs ran in for a 15-yard touchdown to give the visiting team a two-touchdown lead with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter.
After a forcing the 49ers three and out, Goff led a methodical 17 play 68-yard drive right before the end of the first half as the Lions converted three third down conversions. The drive stalled at the 49ers six-yard line as Michael Badgley converted a 21-yard field goal for a commanding 24-7 lead as the team went back in the locker rooms at halftime.
San Francisco marched down the field on their opening drive in the second half with a nine play 50-yard drive that resulted in a 43-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game.
“At halftime, there’s not really a rah-rah speech that’s going to get it done for us guys. Just figure out a way to get it done,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said.
The 49ers defense came up with the momentum changing play on Detroit’s next drive. On 4th and 2 at the 49ers 28-yard line, Campbell elected to go for it instead of attempting a field goal. Goff’s pass intended for Josh Reynolds was dropped and San Francisco took over on down.
“I don’t regret those decisions,” said Lions head coach Dan Campbell on his call to go for it on fourth down. “And that’s hard. It’s hard because we didn’t come through. It wasn’t able to work out. But I don’t. And I understand the scrutiny I’ll get. That’s part of the gig, man.”
On the second play on the ensuring drive, Purdy launched a deep ball down the middle intended for Brandon Aiyuk. The ball hit off the face mask of corner back Kindle Vildor and Aiyuk made a diving catch at the Detroit four-yard line for a 51-yard reception. Two plays later Purdy danced out of the pocket and found Aiyuk in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 24-17.
Tashaun Gipson stripped Gibbs of the ball on Detroit’s first play of its next drive during a run up the middle for no gain. Arik Armstead recovered the fumble at the Lions 25-yard line.
Purdy used his legs to scramble for 21 yards down to the Lions four-yard line. That set up McCaffery’s second touchdown of the game, another one-yarder from up the middle as the 49ers scored the equalizer with 3:02 left in the third quarter as the once quiet Levi’s Stadium crowd erupted and came to life.
“I think Brock (Purdy) has been scrambling, making plays ever since we got him in,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan who knew of Purdy’s ability. “All you gotta do is go back to the first game (Purdy started) against Miami. Brock makes a lot of plays with his legs. He did it in college too. I thought it looked like every time Brock plays.”
San Francisco gained its first lead in the game with 9:52 remaining in the fourth quarter after a 33-yard field goal by Moody completed an 11 play 65-yard drive.
The Lions marched down the field on the ensuing possession but faced a 4th and 3 at the San Francisco 30-yard line. Once again, Campbell decided to go for it instead of attempting the game-tying field goal and it backfired twice as Goff’s pass intended for wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown fell incomplete.
“That kind of bit him (Campbell) in the butt,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said.
The 49ers put the game away with a seven play 70-yard drive that resulted in a three-yard rushing touchdown by backup running back Elijah Mitchell with 3:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Purdy used his legs once again to extend the drive when he ran out of the pocket on 3rd and 4 and scrambled for 21 yards down to Detroit’s 28-yards line. McCaffery then ran for 25 yards on the next play setting up Mitchell’s touchdown.
Detroit made it close at the end when Goff connected with Williams for a three-yard touchdown reception with 56 seconds left in the game. However, the ensuing onside kick was illegally touched by Craig Reynolds before going the mandatory 10 yards sealing the Lions fate.
Purdy finished the game 20 of 31 for 267 yards with one touchdown and one interception. McCaffery led the 49ers in rushing with 90 yards on 20 carries to go along with his two rushing touchdowns. McCaffery also had four catches for 42 yards. Samuel had eight catches for 89 yards.
Goff went 25 of 41 for 273 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Montgomery led all rushers with 93 yards on 15 carries. LaPorta led all receivers with nine catches for 97 yards. St. Brown tallied eight catches for 87 yards. Gibbs chipped in with 45 yards on 12 carries.
GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished with 6-for-12 on third down conversions. Detroit also went 6-for-12.
Purdy will become the third youngest quarterback in NFL history to start in a Super Bowl at 24 years and 46 days old.
UP NEXT: San Francisco takes on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58 on Sunday 2/11 at 3:20pm at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
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