(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Sunday at 6:30 pm we get to see the Detroit Lions in their first NFC Championship game since 1992. They are on the road for the first time this postseason against the #1 seeded San Francisco 49ers. With the Lions at this stage for the first time in 32 years and the 49ers in their third straight, it is a tale of two completely different pasts, and anything can happen.
After 2 games this postseason, the Lions have looked like a complete team. They have done just enough to win their games against the Rams and Bucs while looking good on both sides of the ball. Jared Goff has put together two turnover-free games and is in total control of the offense. In their 2 playoff games, 6 different Lions have gotten in the endzone. The ‘Sun God’ himself Amon-Ra St. Brown hasn’t lost a step averaging 7.5 receptions and 93 yards in his first two playoff games. He isn’t built like Calvin Johnson but the Hall of Famer more than gave him his credit just yesterday when he went on his podcast. We don’t get to hear from Megatron too much so definitely worth a listen to hear his take on the brand-new Lions:
Besides The Tablet of Amon-Ra, the weapons seem endless for Detroit. Both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs need productive days both as rushers and as pass catchers against the Niners who average the third-fewest rushing yards allowed per game. Sam Laporta also looked to be fine against the Bucs, reeling in 9 catches for 65 yards.
All the weapons are there, but in the end, everything will fall on the former #1 overall pick slinging the rock. Goff seems to be in his element with the media for championship week. It may be new for most Lions but not Goff, who reached the Super Bowl just 5 years ago.
Even with their playoff success, they still feel like a time bomb that is one bad throw or 2 pt conversion from the 7 away from having their season come to an end. If they can hold off for 8 more quarters, they could very well be Super Bowl Champions.
Easy enough right? Just go into Santa Clara and beat the team that for most of the season looked like the best team in the NFL.
The Niners Divisional Round matchup was a rollercoaster. They seemed primed to lose to the red-hot Packers after being down much of the game and into the fourth quarter. Despite miscommunications and a fourth-quarter deficit, Brock Purdy was able to lead them down the field and CMC was able to punch it in with 1:11 left on the clock. If it weren’t for a missed FG and an errant throw from Jordan Love late, the Niners would be at home.
It seems more and more likely that the Niners will have to play without 1 of their Swiss army knives in Deebo Samuel. It seems like more will be put on the shoulders of Kittle, Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings. These are the turrets, but the King Tower of the Niners is Christian McCaffrey. The best back in the league can lead his team in rushing or receiving yards on any given Sunday. A TD from him has become about as chalk as it gets.
The Lions are hot, the Niners aren’t. My heart is telling me to take Detroit and my brain is telling me you can’t bet against San Francisco.
Who’s going to make the big play? Goff or Purdy? Hutch or Bosa? Sun God or CMC? Dan Campbell or Kyle Shanahan? It’s going to come down to a mistake late and as possible as it could be for a failed 2-point conversion to end the game, I can’t find it in me to say Goff and MCDC are going home, simply because I don’t want it to happen.
Lions 27
Niners 20
They’ve taken kneecaps, they’ve bitten out chunks, and after Sunday, the Detroit Lions will be one step closer to being the last one standing.
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