WINNER: Jared Goff, Lions
Goff continued his fine form outside of a dome environment. With the positive Levi’s Stadium weather, Goff moved the ball steadily, completing 26 of 34 passes for 303 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. He was only sacked twice by Nick Bosa.
LOSER: Jake Moody, 49ers
Moody’s rough second season persisted under the lights, where he missed from 51 yards, 58 then later an extra point that would’ve made the score 40-35. His ensuing onside kick also went straight out of bounds. Moody left seven points on the board. At some point, the 49ers need to strongly consider moving on. He’s cost the team quite a bit already, and with the margins needing to be in San Francisco’s favor next season, a new kicker should be a priority.
WINNER: Kerby Joseph, Lions
As aforementioned, the tide turned in the second half when the first turnover was forced. Both turnovers of the game belonged to Purdy, and it was Lions star Joseph who hauled in both. Joseph brought in his eighth and ninth interceptions of the season, making it 17 total since the 2022 season. He leads the league within that span, with the next closest defender being three picks away. Both of Joseph’s picks were pretty simple, as Purdy overthrew the first one then underthrew the second.
LOSER: Kyle Shanahan, 49ers
One of Shanahan’s biggest problems has been inconsistency, and that has exacerbated this season due to the number of injuries the team has faced. Several times this season, the 49ers have illustrated they can be the dominant past version of themselves. But then they completely flip and become a shell of that, unable to assemble a complete game.
WINNER: Lions’ late conversions
Detroit loved converting its touchdowns late. Out of its five touchdowns on the night, four came on third downs and the other on a 4th-and-goal. Perhaps the 49ers should’ve done better in ending drives, but that has been a recurring issue under first-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, whether the conversions resulted in a touchdown or just a first down. Detroit went 9 of 14 on third downs and 2 of 3 on fourth downs on the night.
CONCLUSION
The NFC Championship Game rematch between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers did not quite live up to expectations, but it still provided an entertaining game. The Lions moved to 14-2 with a 40-34 road win, while the 49ers fell to 6-10.
FAQS
Q: How did the game end?
A: The Lions won 40-34.
Q: Who were the standout performers?
A: Jared Goff, Kerby Joseph, and the Lions’ late conversions.
Q: What was the key moment in the game?
A: The tide turned in the second half when the Lions’ defense forced two turnovers, leading to a Detroit comeback.
Q: What’s next for the 49ers?
A: The 49ers will look to regroup and rebound in the offseason, potentially making changes to their coaching staff and roster.
Q: How do the Lions’ win affect the NFC playoff race?
A: The Lions’ win secures their spot in the playoffs, and they will look to finish strong in their final game of the season.
