Nothing went right for the San Francisco 49ers in the first half against the Detroit Lions.
Their defense was atrocious, missing tackles, giving up big gains to running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Lions Quarterback Jared Goff did not face much pressure either and picked apart the secondary.
Offensively the 49ers looked better on their first two drives with one ending up in a missed 48-yard field goal by Jake Moody and the other capped off by a Christian McCaffrey touchdown run. Yet after the defense forced a punt, Kyle Shanahan became pass happy and the Lions defense got pressure on Brock Purdy on third and long, hitting his hand and getting a piece of the football for an easy interception for Malcolm Rodriguez.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson did get flagged for a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul which negated the return by Rodriguez. Still Gibbs had no problems with San Francisco’s inability to tackle and scored on a 15-yard touchdown run.
A three and out by the 49ers led to another punt. Again the defense had an opportunity to get off the field yet on third and 12 gave up a 13-yard run to Gibbs. Nick Bosa got his second sack of the game yet on third and 18, Detroit picked up 23 yards on a completion to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Detroit elected to kick a field goal on a fourth and goal from the three. At half their lead was 24-7.
49ers opened up the second half with a field goal by Moody.
Interestingly on a fourth and two situation with the Lions offense running the football so well, the play call was for a pass. Bosa nearly came up with his third sack of the game and it was enough pressure to force an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
For the 49ers did was this the possibility of a momentum shift? It was and sometimes luck is needed, Purdy overthrew Bradon Aiyuk, yet it hit cornerback Kindle Vildor in the helmet bounced back to the 49ers wide receiver who made a diving catch and was down at the four-and-a-half yard line.
McCaffrey got a carry that lost yardage, after an incomplete pass, Purdy found Aiyuk for the touchdown.
On the Lions next offensive possession, Goff went the wrong way on the handoff to Gibbs and he fumbled with Arik Armstead recovering. On second and 10, Purdy took off with the football for an easy first and goal. Two plays later, McCaffrey was in for his second touchdown of the game. Moody came on for the extra point to tie the game up at 24.
San Francisco then forced a three and out, wide receiver Josh Reynolds had an easy catch for a third down conversion yet dropped it.
Jack Fox nearly pinned the 49ers deep in their own territory, yet the Lions stepped in the end zone for the touchback. Purdy was then able to escape what seemed like a sack and find fullback Kyle Juszczyk for the first down. Back-to-back carries by McCaffrey picked up a first down and that was the end of the third quarter.
After not recording a sack the entire game, Detroit picked up two, with the last one nearly being roughing the passer. Moody hit a 33-yard field goal to put the 49ers up 27-24, which became their first lead of the game.
The 49ers nearly came up with an interception, yet Jameson Williams made the play to get the football away from Ambry Thomas. Even after getting in field goal range, the Lions elected to go for it on fourth and three, and once again did not make it turning the football over.
On a third and five, Purdy once again used his ability to take off with the football with a huge run, followed up with a big run by McCaffrey to the two-yard line.
After McCaffrey landed on his head on the previous play, Elijah Mitchell capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Moody made the extra point, putting the lead to 34-24 and making it 27 unanswered points.
Still the Lions made it interesting by driving down the field and on fourth and goal, Goff found Williams for a touchdown to end the streak of unanswered points. All the 49ers needed to do was recover an onside kick.
George Kittle came up with the football and the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl.
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