SAN FRANCISCO- The Lions broke their franchise record for wins in a season last week and tonight have a chance to extend the record to 14 games with a win in San Francisco. Yet with the Vikings win on Sunday, Detroit came into this game second place in the NFC North, setting up a winner take all game between the two on January 5th regardless of the outcome against the 49ers.
The 49ers would get receive the opening kick and put together a long opening drive, they picked up a fourth and one inside the Lions five-yard line on a quarterback sneak that would lead to them capping off an 11-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to open the game and go up 7-0.
The fleet footed Jamyr Gibbs would help the Lions respond on their ensuing possession; he ripped three carries for 32 yards en route to the Lions 9-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a Jameson Williams 3-yard rush. The Lions would miss the extra point making it a 7-6 game.
San Franciscos next possession would be quick, as the Lions injured defense struggled to stop them in the first half. They strung together a quick 6-play, 70-yard touchdown drive on the following possession that took the game into the second quarter.
The Lions would get the ball back and face some adversity on the next drive, before Ben Johnson reached back into his bag of tricks. They overcame a few different penalties and sacks before Jameson Williams found the end zone once more on a hook and ladder play combine with Amon Ra St. Brown. St. Brown caught a short pass before lateraling to Williams who would streak 40 yards for another touchdown to make it 14-13.
The Lions defense would force a 3rd and 7 from around the 50-yard line when the 49ers got the ball back, but Brock Purdy found Rookie Ricky Pearsall for a 40-yard gain, and they would eventually add a touchdown to make it 21-13. Purdy finished the first half 14/16 for 200 yards.
The Lions would get the ball back in the second with 6:11 on the clock and drive down the field in twelve plays, getting to the eight-yard line of San Francisco before facing fourth and three. To no one’s surprise they went for it, but this time an incompletion to Sam Laporta would give the 49ers the ball back with about a minute on the clock. They would get into field goal range and miss the kick top send us to half with a score of 21-13.
The Lions would receive the 2nd half kick and get to work. They moved down the field quickly with chunk plays to St. Brown and Jameson Williams, before a 21-yard completion to Allen Robinson put them in the red zone. It was just Robinsons third catch of the season. Sam Laporta would catch a 6-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion on a pass to Tim Patrick and tie the game 21-21.
The 49ers offense would not lose any speed on their first possession of the second half. They got into striking distance quickly with a 39-yard reception to Ricky Pearsall and a 22-yard completion to George Kittle. Deebo Samuel would add the TD to complete the 6-play, 84-yard drive that took just two minutes and eighteen seconds, the score was 28-21 SF.
The Lions got the ball back and got to midfield on a 28-yard completion, but on third down Jared Goff would be sacked. Jake Bates would nail a 57-yard field goal to make the game 28-24.
The next possession for the 49ers would end in an interception and the Lions would capitalize. St. Brown caught a touchdown of his own in response to end an 8 play, 43-yard drive and the Lions would take their first lead of the game, 31-28.
San Francisco would miss another field goal on the following possession, and the Lions offense got back to work. A 19-yard completion got them to midfield, before another fourth down conversion put them into field goal range. Jake Bates would nail the 42 yarder to extend the Lions lead to six points in the fourth quarter.
The 49ers got the ball back with around ten minutes on the clock and would take the ball down into Lions territory before Kerby Joseph stepped in front of a pass and recorded his second interception of the night and giving the ball back.
They ran the ball effectively and iced the game with a 30-yard touchdown run from Jamyr Gibbs, the extra point would be no good and the score was 40-28, San Francisco would add one more score but fail to get the onside and the Lions would win tonight 40-34.
The Lions play the Vikings on Sunday night football on January 5th to determine the winner of the NFC North and #1 seed in the NFC.