In a captivating Monday night showdown, the Detroit Lions defied expectations, triumphing over the San Francisco 49ers with a final score of 40-34. Head Coach Dan Campbell's unwavering commitment to playing his starters throughout the game, despite the 49ers being out of playoff contention, paid dividends.
The game, held at Levi's Stadium, held a sense of déjà vu for the Lions, who suffered a heartbreaking loss in the NFC Championship Game at the same venue earlier in the year. This victory served as a measure of redemption for the Lions.
Quarterback Jared Goff delivered a commanding performance, completing 26 of 34 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. His connections with Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown proved crucial, but the highlight of the night was a brilliantly executed lateral play. St. Brown caught a short pass from Goff and then handed the ball off to Jameson Williams, who sprinted 41 yards for a remarkable touchdown. This play mirrored a similar successful lateral play against the Arizona Cardinals earlier in the season.
The 49ers, led by Brock Purdy, initially matched the Lions' offensive firepower. Purdy orchestrated three consecutive touchdown drives, connecting with rookie Ricky Pearsall and Kyle Juszczyk for scores, and adding a rushing touchdown of his own. However, the Lions dominated the second half, starting with a quick touchdown drive capped off by a LaPorta reception. The 49ers responded with a Deebo Samuel touchdown, making the score 28-21.
The game's momentum shifted decisively when Kerby Joseph, the league leader in interceptions, picked off a Purdy pass. This turnover led to a Lions touchdown, giving them a 31-28 lead. A missed 49ers field goal and another Joseph interception further solidified the Lions' advantage. Jahmyr Gibbs, who amassed 117 rushing yards on just 18 carries, sealed the victory with a 30-yard touchdown run.
Purdy suffered an injury on the 49ers' final drive, but backup Josh Dobbs managed a late touchdown run. However, the Lions recovered the onside kick, securing their hard-fought win. St. Brown led the Lions in receptions with eight catches for 60 yards, while LaPorta contributed six receptions for 64 yards. Despite throwing two interceptions, Purdy had a statistically impressive game with 377 passing yards and three touchdowns. Pearsall led all receivers with 141 yards on eight catches, while George Kittle also tallied eight receptions for 112 yards.
