Lions beat the 49ers 40-34 preparing for division showdown
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 30: On December 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, California, Jameson Williams #9 of the Detroit Lions totes the ball and rushes for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium.
AP, Santa Clara, CaliforniaThe Detroit Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers 40-34 on Monday night, thanks to three touchdown throws from Jared Goff, as they prepared for their Week 18 division matchup against Minnesota.
Following the first of Kerby Joseph’s two second-half interceptions against Brock Purdy in the matchup of San Francisco’s NFC title game last season, Goff threw a game-winning touchdown throw to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the last minute of the third quarter.
The Lions (14-2) defeated the 49ers (6-10) on the road for the first time since 1975, extending their franchise record most wins in a season.
Compared to their first encounter, in which a Super Bowl berth was at risk last January, the stakes for this game were quite low. The regular-season finale between Detroit and Minnesota is scheduled for next week; the winner will receive the NFC North championship and the top seed in the NFC playoffs, while the loser will be relegated to a wild card. San Francisco was eliminated from postseason contention last week.
The Lions are now expected to secure the No. 1 seed in the rare event that Detroit and Minnesota tie in Week 18, meaning that the victory over the 49ers would only be significant.
After Purdy’s second interception, Jahymr Gibbs finished with 117 yards for the game with a 30-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes remaining.
For the majority of the game, the offenses were in control. Purdy and Goff combined to complete the first 17 throws of the game, including a flawlessly executed hook-and-ladder play that resulted in a 42-yard touchdown for Goff, and the teams scored touchdowns on the first five possessions.
Jameson Williams ran down the sideline for the remaining 41 yards and his second touchdown of the first half after he tossed a short pass to St. Brown, who promptly passed the ball to him.
The only stoppage of the half came when Jake Moody missed a 51-yard field goal for San Francisco in the final seconds and Renardo Green broke up a pass from Goff to Sam LaPorta in the end zone.
On San Francisco’s first drive of the second half, Purdy fired a 5-yard pop pass for a touchdown. However, Detroit’s defense ultimately managed to stop Purdy after Joseph intercepted an overthrown pass.
Late in the third quarter, Goff converted it into a 4-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown on fourth-and-goal, giving the Lions their first lead at 31-28.
Early in the fourth quarter, Moody missed his eleventh field goal of the season, a 58-yard attempt that would have knotted the score. Joshua Dobbs scored a touchdown run in the last minute, and Moody missed an extra point as well.
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