By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
On January 28th, 2024 at 6:30 pm Eastern/3:30 PM Pacific with 70° and little to no wind. The Lions took the field at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half to receive the kick.
The Lions ran it down their throats as I predicted, but not with who we thought to get the big run!
Jameson Williams #9 on the roster, took an End Around Jet Sweep 42 yards to the end zone shortly after the quarter began. He weaved through the defense like a sports car in a road race hugging the curves of a chicane, and just as fast. Lions Seven, 49ers Zero.
The 49ers drive stalls and the rock gets punted back to Detroit. March down the field and score again. This time with David Montgomery punching it in from one yard out. 14 to Zero. Which was the score at the end of the first quarter.
The 49ers finally answer back with a two yard Christian McCaffrey run. 14 to Seven Lions favor.
The Lions answer back with 15-yard Jahmyr Gibbs run. This whole half, the Lions are playing loose and good football. The 49ers look tight and on their heels. Something isn’t right with the #1 seed of the NFC.
A trade off of punts then the Lions have the ball to end the quarter. Dan ‘The Gambler’ Campbell decides to take the FG on the two-yard line with less than 10 seconds left (this is more crucial than anyone realizes!!!) Halftime commences with the Lions on top 24-Seven.
The 2nd Half the 49ers drive down and score 24-14. Then the failed fourth down. An uncharacteristic drop by Josh Reynolds.
They drive down for a FG. 24-17. Then on the first player from scrimmage. An uncharacteristic fumble by Jahmyr Gibbs. 49ers get another TD. In the matter of one quarter the 17-point lead collapses to a tied game and us die-hard Lions fans are stuck in disbelief.
The Lions have the ball to start the fourth quarter. We drive to midfield. The FG attempt would be 48 yards. Michael Badgely has a 45% completion percentage when attempting 45+ yard FGs outside in his career. The Lions have converted 18 of 23 4th down conversions, 86%. They go for it. And the most critical, a sure handed receiver on the Lions drops his second 4th down pass of the game. I find it more than a little suspect he smiled as he walks of the field.
The 49ers, who never led in this game to this point drive through the defense like it wasn’t even there! Benito Jones had a handful of Purdy’s jersey as he ran by, with a grip that looked softer than melted butter. Purdy was the 49ers second best rusher with five carries for 48 yards and a 9.6 yards per carry. We let a statue of a quarterback look like Michael Vick!!!!
They take a seven-point lead with less than five minutes in the quarter! This was a dagger to us loyal fans. And the Same Ol Lions fans came crawling back like a scene from a George Romero Movie. Ready to rub it in the faithful’s faces about this collapse.
The Lions drive down to the two-yard line after an unbelievable catch by, you guessed it, Josh Reynolds. This is the kind of stuff you cannot make up anymore. The Lions score with 52 seconds on the clock with a two-yard pass to Jameson Williams (Not a Bust peeps). Lions pull within three, 31-34.
The onside kick which was borderline was called for illegal touching by the kicking team. Gave the 49ers the ball who were happy to take the Victory Formation and escape to be in the Super Bowl vs the Reigning Super Bowl Champs, The Kansas City Chiefs.
But the Same Ol Lions fans are going to chase the loyal ones all offseason. You will hear their chants from corners. Maybe even make you doubt your Fandom. Don’t!!!!
Stick your chest out proud that our team is the 2nd best team in the whole Conference and went toe to toe with the #1 seed. We exchanged haymaker after haymaker just came up short.
The Lions will be back next season!!!
Thanks For Reading!!!!
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