The San Francisco 49ers are set to host the Detroit Lions this Sunday at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara for the NFC Championship game and a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The 49ers come in as 6.5 point favorites after earning the #1 seed in the NFC while the Lions pulled off a major upset against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers last week to reach their first conference championship game since 1993.
Lions Riding Momentum from Historic Playoff Run
The Lions have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 season. After going 9-8 under second year coach Dan Campbell to make the playoffs as a Wild Card, Detroit has knocked off the Seahawks and Buccaneers on the road the last two weeks behind the stellar play of quarterback Jared Goff. Goff threw for over 300 yards against Tampa Bay, making key third down conversions and not turning the ball over.
The former #1 overall pick has been thriving since the team traded away Matthew Stafford two years ago. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has become his favorite target, hauling in 8 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown last week. But the Lions’ success starts with their much improved defense, led by rookies Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph. Detroit has held five straight opponents under 20 points entering this matchup.
| Lions This Postseason | |
|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 28 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 312 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 117 |
| Points Allowed Per Game | 15 |
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will have his work cut out for him preparing to stop the 49ers multi-faceted offense. But after shutting down Brady and containing Derrick Henry in the Wild Card round, this Lions group believes they can hang with anyone. The franchise hasn’t reached the Super Bowl since 1993 and finished with the league’s worst record just two seasons ago. Now they stand one win away from playing for a championship behind one of the most dramatic single-season turnarounds in recent memory.
49ers Relying on Dominant Defense
The 49ers dominated the Seahawks 41-23 last week, advancing to host their third conference championship game in the last four seasons. While Detroit rides a wave of momentum into Santa Clara, San Francisco relies on experience, boasting a roster still largely intact from their Super Bowl appearance just three years ago.
A fearsome pass rush led by Nick Bosa and Samson Ebukam keys the league’s #1 ranked defense. The 49ers have held eight of their last nine opponents under 20 points dating back to the regular season. But their secondary remains vulnerable, an area the Lions may look to exploit with Goff’s recent precision passing.
On offense, the team stands unsure who will start at quarterback come Sunday. Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo led them to a 2-1 record before suffering a foot injury in Week 13, paving the way for rookie Brock Purdy to take over. Purdy won his first five starts but suffered an elbow injury last week that forced Josh Johnson into action. If Purdy can’t play or aggravates his injury, San Francisco’s Super Bowl hopes rest on the 37-year old journeyman Johnson.
| Key 49ers This Postseason | |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | 195 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | 77 |
| Sacks | 6 |
| Takeaways | 5 |
Running back Christian McCaffrey adds another dimension to the offense since his mid-season trade from Carolina. When healthy, head coach Kyle Shanahan fields a well-designed, quick-strike unit that perfectly complements their stout defense. Homefield advantage serves as their biggest asset with the treacherous weather conditions impacting their opponents. If the 49ers grab an early lead, slowing down their pass rush becomes nearly impossible.
What to Watch For
Below are some of the key factors that could decide Sunday’s outcome:
The Quarterback Battle
Can Goff continue his efficient play on the road? Will Purdy suit up and play effectively if not fully healthy? San Francisco needs the rookie to keep pace with Detroit’s suddenly explosive offense. If not, the pressure mounts on both defenses in what could turn into a slugfest.
Special Teams
Field position takes on added importance in close games. Detroit’s kick and punt coverage units have excelled in recent weeks while 49ers return man Ray-Ray McCloud provides a constant threat to flip momentum with his quickness and vision. Turnovers on special teams could prove especially costly.
Big Plays
The 49ers led the NFL in yards per pass attempt during the regular season thanks to their creative play designs. But the Lions defense has allowed just two pass plays over 30 yards in their first two playoff games. Detroit must continue containing San Francisco’s skill players in space while generating some chunk plays of their own from Goff and St. Brown.
Injuries
Both teams enter relatively healthy after facing only minor attrition last week. Monitoring the status of Purdy’s elbow headlines the injury report. But late-developing issues to key starters like Trent Williams or Frank Ragnow could force adjustments from the coaching staffs. The bye week gives the advantage to the homestanding 49ers.
Final Outlook
In the NFL’s expanded seven team playoff format, rarely does a #1 seed host a #6 seed with more to prove. The Lions remain sizable underdogs and must contend with both the 49ers and their raucous home crowd.
But this same franchise once won three straight playoff games on the road before pulling off a monumental Super Bowl upset just over three decades ago. Rookie defensive end Aidan Hutchinson even bears an uncanny resemblance to Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, Detroit’s legendary star from that 1991 team. Maybe history repeats itself in some form this year.
Jared Goff seeks redemption in his return to the Bay Area where his career started. Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn continue earning recognition as two of the league’s up-and-coming coaches. With a stacked roster and table set for sustained success, the Lions remain ahead of schedule. Knocking off the 49ers on Championship Sunday would only accelerate their rapid ascent.
San Francisco still enters the matchup as favorites for good reason. Kyle Shanahan remains one of football’s offensive masterminds while the defensive front four strikes relentless fear into opposing quarterbacks. Win or lose, the 49ers know from experience what it takes to reach this stage.
But perhaps this Lions team carries even more confidence now as the upstart underdogs. Their playoff run already qualified as an unforeseen success. Pulling one more monumental upset and reaching the Super Bowl would forever embed these players into the fabric of Detroit football lore. Heroes await immortality this Sunday in Santa Clara.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
