The #1 San Francisco 49ers defeated the #3 Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game after a 17-point halftime deficit with a final score of 31-34. After both teams won their games in the divisional round, they faced off in the title game for a spot in Super Bowl LVIII.
The Lions took control of the first quarter with two rushing touchdowns with wide receiver Jameson Williams and running back David Montgomery making key plays. After a missed San Francisco field goal by 49ers kicker Jake Moody, the Lions were up by fourteen. At the start of the second quarter, San Francisco responded with their own rushing touchdown by All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. With a stop on defense, the 49ers were in their own territory on offense when quarterback Brock Purdy threw an interception returned to their own 36-yard line.
After the turnover, Detroit quickly scored their third touchdown of the half on a fifteen-yard run by rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs and an additional field goal to end the first half up 24-7.
Receiving the ball in the second half, San Francisco scored a field goal and then capitalized off of a failed Lions 4th down attempt by scoring on the consecutive drive with a passing touchdown to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Following another Detroit turnover—this time a fumble by Gibbs—the 49ers scored again on a McCaffrey run and later another field goal, taking the lead by three points. Following a second unsuccessful Lions 4th down attempt, 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell extended the San Francisco lead to 34-24 with three minutes left in regulation.
With 56 seconds left, Lions quarterback Jared Goff found Jameson Williams in the end zone for a touchdown cutting the deficit to three. With less than a minute left and a failed onside kick attempt, however, Brock Purdy and the 49ers knelt the ball to end the game and take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.