Tag: 49ers vs Lions

ESPN predicts 49ers to finish 2024 schedule strong

ESPN shared scored predictions for the 2024 season’s final three weeks and it shows the 49ers finishing the season strong.

The San Francisco 49ers have just three games left in their 2024 season.

Sitting with a 6-8 overall record and a 1-4 mark in NFC West games, San Francisco is all but eliminated from the NFL playoffs.

Still, the 49ers want to end the 2024 season with some pride and they have the opportunity to finish with a winning record if they win out.

With games left at Miami (6-8), versus Detroit (12-2) and at Arizona (7-7), San Francisco has the opportunity to end the season with some momentum and set the table for a return to prominence in 2025.

Using simulations from its Football Power Index, ESPN forecasted every remaining game in the NFL’s regular season, including how the 49ers’ final three games would play out.

ESPN’s simulation forecasts San Francisco to close its final three weeks strong. Here’s what the simulation produced for scores in the 49ers’ final three games of 2024:

  • Week 16: San Francisco 24, Miami 14
  • Week 17: Detroit 38, San Francisco 31
  • Week 18: San Francisco 19, Arizona 10

While these results wouldn’t have the 49ers finishing with a winning record, it does have San Francisco closing with two more wins and a one-score loss against the projected No. 1 seed in the NFC in Detroit.

Among some of the other notable projections from ESPN’s FPI, the simulation forecasts the Los Angeles Rams to top the Seattle Seahawks in the season’s final week, 16-7, and capture the NFC West crown.

ESPN’s FPI projects the full seeding in the NFC to play out as follows: Detroit is the No. 1 seed, Philadelphia No. 2, Tampa Bay No. 3, Los Angeles No. 4, Minnesota No. 5, Green Bay No. 6 and Washington No. 7.

In the AFC, ESPN’s FPI projects the Kansas City Chiefs to capture the No. 1 seed, though Buffalo would close to within one game of Kansas City after a Chiefs loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17.

The full AFC Playoff picture looks like this per ESPN’s FPI simulation: Kansas City is the No. 1 seed, Buffalo No. 2, Pittsburgh No. 3, Houston No. 4, Baltimore No. 5, the Los Angeles Chargers No. 6 and Denver No. 7.

Kickoff for San Francisco at Miami in Week 16 is set for 1:25 p.m PT and the game will air on CBS.

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Why 49ers were worried about facing Buccaneers in NFC championship game

Kyle Shanahan: Big Baker Mayfield guy.

The San Francisco 49ers punched their ticket to Super Bowl LVIII with a thrilling NFC championship game victory over the Detroit Lions.

While the Lions’ sensational first-half performance forced a dramatic comeback by the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, Detroit nearly didn’t get out of the divisional playoffs after an eight-point victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday told reporters he wasn’t excited about the prospect of facing the Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield.

“I think Baker is a stud,” Shanahan said. “I think last year, I thought he was at the top of his game last year playing real well and this year I think he’s the same, if not better. I think he’s one of the main reasons I think they were a couple plays away from playing us in the NFC Championship last year. We were worried, real worried about him going into that game. He just got hotter as the whole year went. And he’s playing at such a high level right now.”

The 49ers saw Mayfield up close in Week 11 last season. He completed 29-of-45 throws for 246 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 27-14 San Francisco victory at Levi’s Stadium. The numbers weren’t great, but he made some sensational throws in that game that helped paint a picture of what he might be capable of in a better offense.

This year, Buccaneers new offensive coordinator Liam Coen has gotten the most out of Mayfield. Even without his top two wide receivers, Mayfield managed to go into Kansas City in Week 9 and go 23-of-31 for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Shanahan was worried about facing Mayfield in January, but now in Week 10 the 49ers will have to face him with their chances of playing next January hanging in the balance.

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Sacramento Kings troll Detroit Pistons with video of Brandon Aiyuk catch

The Sacramento Kings used the 49ers’ NFC championship win over the Lions to troll the Detroit Pistons.

The Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night got in on the Northern California sports love action when they faced the Detroit Pistons at Golden 1 Center.

During the introduction of the Pistons’ starting lineup, the Kings in-game ops team played a highlight on repeat of Brandon Aiyuk’s diving 51-yard catch against the Detroit Lions that turned the tide of the NFC championship game at Levi’s Stadium a couple of weeks ago.

The Pistons fan in attendance was probably furious.

The Kings, who ended a 16-year playoff drought last season and are now the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference vying for another playoff trip this year, are trying to find the same type of sustained success the 49ers have had the last few years.

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Meanwhile the Pistons are in the earliest stages of a full rebuild and entered Wednesday night with an NBA-worst 6-43 record.

Perhaps Detroit fans get the last laugh in this one though since the Pistons’ 2004 championship is the most recent among any of the four teams involved in this bit of light trolling.

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Brock Purdy’s playoff performances, ranked

Ranking Brock Purdy’s five playoff starts for the #49ers:

Brock Purdy is gearing up to play in the Super Bowl to cap his first full season as an NFL starter. He’s been impressive in the regular season during his two years as a pro, amassing a 17-4 record and leading the 49ers to a pair of NFC West titles. He’s also notched a 4-1 postseason record after a massive comeback in the NFC championship game vs. the Lions.

So how good has Purdy been in the playoffs? And was the 17-point comeback in the NFC title game part of Purdy’s best playoff performance?

We dug through his five postseason starts and ranked them:

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NFC Championship: The good and bad from the 49ers’ comeback win over the Lions

Looking at all the good and bad from the 49ers’ thrilling comeback win over the Lions in the NFC Championship game.

For the second straight week, the San Francisco 49ers used a thrilling second-half comeback to advance to the postseason. However, on Sunday, their comeback helped secure not only a win but also a ticket to the Super Bowl.

After a rough first half, the 49ers found themselves trailing by 17 points at halftime to the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship. However, a strong second-half performance from Brock Purdy, some drops from the Lions and questionable decisions from Dan Campbell, the 49ers surged to a fiery comeback on their way to a 34-31 win in the NFC championship.

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Before the 49ers prepare for their date with the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas, here’s a look at all the good and bad from the 49ers’ 34-31 win over the Lions in the NFC championship.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

NFL Twitter reacts to 49ers punching ticket to Super Bowl with comeback win vs. Lions

Here’s what fans and analysts were saying on Twitter after the 49ers punched their ticket to the Super Bowl behind a comeback win against the Lions in the NFC championship.

Trailing by 17 points at halftime, it looked like the end of the San Francisco 49ers season was looming. However, Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan didn’t fade with the chance of punching a ticket to the Super Bowl.

Starting with a crucial stop on fourth down in the second half, the 49ers went on a 27-point unanswered run to a comeback win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game.

After a rough start, Purdy finished with 267 yards with a touchdown and an interception. In arguably one of the most impactful moments of the game, Purdy slung a 51-yard pass downfield that was deflected into Brandon Aiyuk’s diving arms.

Deebo Samuel led the 49ers with 89 yards through the air on eight receptions. Christian McCaffrey finished with 90 yards on the ground with two touchdowns and 42 yards receiving in San Francisco’s 34-31 win over Detroit.

Following the Niners win in the NFC championship, the NFL community on Twitter exploded with a flurry of reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Sunday night.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

Notes and observations from a wild 49ers NFC championship victory

What. A. Game. The #49ers are going to the Super Bowl.

Things couldn’t have gotten off to an uglier start for the 49ers in the NFC championship game. They fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and 24-7 at halftime. They ripped off 27 consecutive points to go ahead 34-24 and wound up pulling out a 34-31 win to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LVIII.

Here are our notes from a WILD game at Levi’s Stadium:

Watch: Brandon Aiyuk grabs must-see diving catch off deflection vs. Lions

Brandon Aiyuk provided a much-needed spark with an acrobatic diving catch on a long pass from Brock Purdy.

Trailing by a pair of touchdown in the second half of the NFC championship to the Detroit Lions, the San Francisco 49ers desperately needed a spark. A connection between Brock Purdy and Brandon Aiyuk provided that spark and more for the 49ers.

After a clutch stop on fourth down, the 49ers defense gave the ball back to Purdy with the chance to cut into the Lions’ advantage. With the 49ers driving, Purdy dialed up a long pass to Aiyuk. As the ball fluttered the air, Lions’ safety Kirby Joseph looked like he was nearing an interception. However, the ball bounced off his facemask and into the hands of Aiyuk for a 51-yard gain.

Via @NFL on Twitter:

Three plays later, Purdy ripped a pass over the middle of the field to Aiyuk for a touchdown. Behind the acrobatic catch from Aiyuk, the 49ers’ cut the Lions’ lead down to only seven points.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Watch: Christian McCaffrey gets 49ers on the board in NFC Championship vs. Lions

The 49ers leaned on their All-Pro running back to get on the board in the NFC Championship against the Lions.

After falling down by 14 points in the opening quarter of the NFC Championship, the San Francisco 49ers finally got on the board in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

On their way to their first trip to the end zone of the game, the 49ers leaned on unanimous All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. After delivering a nasty stiff arm to Lions safety Chauncy Gardner-Johnson, McCaffrey set the 49ers up at the goal line.

Similar to most of the season, McCaffrey punched in a two-yard run for a touchdown to cut the Lions’ advantage to 14-7.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Behind Enemy Lines: Can Lions QB Jared Goff beat the 49ers?

We talked Lions-49ers with our buddy and Lions Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon:

It’s been two seasons since the 49ers and Lions last squared off. Since that meeting in Week 1 of the 2021 season Detroit has elevated itself into the NFC’s upper echelon alongside San Francisco, and now the two teams will face each other with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

To get some more insight into how the Lions have managed this turnaround, we got in touch with our buddy and Lions Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon. He answered a few questions for us to help grasp what the 49ers are up against Sunday at Levi’s Stadium: