RECAP: Lions at 49ers
SANTA CLARA – The cruel reality of the NFL playoffs is the finality that comes with a loss.
The Detroit Lions have been on a magical run the last four months with the entire city of Detroit along for the ride, but it came to an end Sunday in the NFC Championship Game with a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
In the end, a more experienced 49ers team playing in their third straight Championship Game found a way to make all the keys plays in the second half, scoring 27 unanswered points at one point to punch their ticket to their first Super Bowl since the 2019 season.
The Lions scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game and led 14-0 after the first quarter on Jameson Williams (42) and David Montgomery (1) touchdown runs. Detroit led 24-7 at the half after a 15-yard Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run and a Michael Badgley 21-yard field goal in the second quarter.
San Francisco mounted their comeback from there and Detroit had few answers in the second half.
A Jake Moody 43-yard field goal made it 24-10 early in the third quarter.
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions fans before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer Keegan-Michael Key and Detroit Lions legend Glover Quin (27) before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) in the locker room before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93), Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91), and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68), and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions fans before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions Wide Receivers Coach Antwaan Randle El before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) before an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34), Detroit Lions linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (42), and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Lions Legend Barry Sanders (20) serves as an honorary captain during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), and Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) scores a touchdown during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8), Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrate after a touchdown during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell and Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky (79) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74), Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), and Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68), and Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) and Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) scores a touchdown during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Romeo Okwara (95) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) intercepts a pass during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) scores a touchdown during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrate after a touchdown during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
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