SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers secured a spot in the Super Bowl with a thrilling comeback victory in the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium. Despite a dominant first half by the Detroit Lions, the 49ers rallied in the second half to overcome a 17-point deficit and secure a 34-31 win. This win marks the 49ers’ first appearance in the Super Bowl since 2019 and their eighth overall.
The Lions had control of the game in the first half, outplaying the 49ers and establishing a significant lead. However, the 49ers showed their resilience, just as they did in the previous week’s divisional round, as they turned the game around with a strong second-half performance.
Led by quarterback Brock Purdy, who threw for 267 yards and a touchdown, the 49ers mounted their comeback. Purdy’s performance improved significantly in the second half, where he completed 13 of 16 passes for 174 yards and another touchdown.
The 49ers also benefited from some fortunate plays, including a 51-yard reception by Brandon Aiyuk that bounced off a Lions cornerback’s face mask before ending up in Aiyuk’s hands. This momentum-shifting play led to a touchdown for the 49ers.
Defensively, the 49ers struggled to contain the Lions’ rushing attack, allowing 184 rushing yards. However, they made pivotal stops in the second half, limiting the Lions to only seven points. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks made effective adjustments at halftime to counter the Lions’ offense.
With the win, the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl aiming for their sixth championship, which would tie them with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots for the most ever. They now face a tough challenge in the Kansas City Chiefs, who are appearing in their fourth Super Bowl in five years.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the Chiefs’ strength as a team and expressed his team’s desire to return to the Super Bowl. After coming close on multiple occasions, the 49ers finally achieved their goal and are ready to compete for the championship.
The stage is set for an exciting showdown between the 49ers and the Chiefs in what promises to be a highly anticipated Super Bowl.