Sports history repeated itself in reverse 66 years later.
The San Francisco 49ers rallied from a 24-7 halftime deficit in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium.
The NFC West champions downed the Detroit Lions, 34-31, to gain a berth in Super Bowl 58 against the Kansas City Chiefs, who earlier in the day upended the Baltimore Ravens.
The first half was all Lions as they raced to the big lead. However, their coach Dan Campbell, embracing the Motown mantra of Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, saw his risks backfire and San Francisco capitalized.
The 49ers scored 17 points in 8 minutes of clock play in the third quarter to tie the game.
They added another 10 in the fourth quarter before the Lions could muster a lone touchdown to complete the scoring.
Christian McCaffrey rushed for 90 yards and a pair of scores.
Brock Purdy threw for 267 yards and a score.
The game came in the same part of the Golden State that in 1957 saw the Lions overcome a 24-7 halftime deficit in a playoff contest.
Detroit went on to win that game and then defeated the Cleveland Browns for their last championship.
This was a strong year for the Lions but they came up short in the NFC Championship.