Dan Campbell has turned around Detroit’s fortunes in just three years as coach, and the Lions have won more play-off games this month (two) than they have in the rest of the Super Bowl era, which started in 1966.
It seemed like they were set for another as they stunned the home crowd in California. On just the game’s fourth snap, Jameson Williams jinked through the 49ers defence for a 42-yard touchdown.
After a missed San Francisco field-goal attempt, David Montgomery crashed over as Detroit made it 14-0, before the 49ers replied with Christian McCaffrey also getting in for a short-yardage score.
The hosts continued to struggle against the run game as Jahmyr Gibbs got in from 15 yards, before the Lions added a field goal right before the half-time break.
A San Francisco field goal cut the deficit to 24-10 before a stunning catch by Brandon Aiyuk gave the 49ers hope. Both he and Detroit’s Kindle Vildor jumped for a deep pass just yards from the end zone and the ball bounced off Vildor’s hand and facemask before Aiyuk stayed alert to make an acrobatic grab.
Moments later Brock Purdy found Aiyuk for a touchdown, and the momentum was firmly with San Francisco after they forced a Detroit fumble which gave McCaffrey, favourite to be the Offensive Player of the Year, the chance to punch in his second score.
That levelled it up, and after throwing an interception in the first half, quarterback Purdy was superb in the second, setting up a field goal to make it 27-24, before Elijah Mitchell punched in another 49ers touchdown to ensure Williams’ second score was merely a late consolation.