NEWSLETTER
The Detroit Lions really Lions’d it up at the worst possible time. And the end result was watching a shot at going to the franchise’s first Super Bowl slip away.
For the second consecutive week, the San Francisco 49ers engineered a comeback against an NFC North team. One week after dispatching the Green Bay Packers, the Niners took down the Lions by a 34-31 score.
This graphic will live in infamy:
We just witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history. I’m still in shock.
I’m not sure whether to credit Christian McCaffrey (132 scrimmage yards, 2 TDs), Brock Purdy (267 pass yards and 48 rushing yards), or a loaded group of pass catches (Deebo Samuel had 89 receiving yards, Brandon Aiyuk had 68 yards and a TD), or a defense that rebounded to limit the Lions to just one second-half touchdown. Or maybe I just look at the Lions and chalk this up to an all-time playoff collapse.
The Lions scored on their opening drive and it took just four plays. Former Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery scored to make it 14-0. Eventually, the Lions would open up a 24-7 halftime lead. And after watching the Packers cough it up against the Niners, I wasn’t sure that lightning was going to strike twice. The Lions sure were looking like a team of destiny in the first half. But I suppose that is why you play two halves.
San Francisco took advantage of there being a second half by scoring 27 unanswered second-half points. And while the Lions scored a late fourth-quarter touchdown, it was too little too late. I can’t front. This was an impressive showing by the Lions early, who had a 17-point halftime lead. And they blew it. If karma isn’t the guy on the Chiefs, it’s watching the Lions gag a big halftime lead after that fanbase got its rocks off poking Bears fans after the double-doink.
The Chiefs will provide the 49ers’ Super Bowl opposition
Playing opposite the 49ers will be the Kansas City Chiefs, who eliminated the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens with a 17-10 win at M&T Bank Stadium. So much for all those think-pieces worrying about Patrick Mahomes winning on the road.
It was a rather pedestrian game for Mahomes (by Mahomes’ lofty standards). The Chiefs QB went 30-for-39 for 241 yards with a touchdown and a 100.5 passer rating. But when Mahomes was slinging it, it was Travis Kelce on the receiving end. Kelce caught 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
This sets us up to introduce a subset of Swifties to the Super Bowl. Surely, the NFL loves the idea of getting another group of fans hooked on this great game.
I can’t end this post without mentioning the Chiefs defense. Because K.C. isn’t playing in its fourth Super Bowl in five years without that defense. Unlike some previous Kansas City teams, it was the defense that did a ton of the heavy lifting. The Chiefs came away with 4 sacks, 7 quarterback hits, 3 tackles-for-loss, and an interception.
As for the Bears, their search to fill out a coaching staff continues.
