The San Francisco 49ers secured a remarkable victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, overcoming a 17-point halftime deficit to win 34-31 and advance to the Super Bowl.
Brock Purdy played a crucial role in the comeback, contributing a touchdown and 267 passing yards.
Having experienced a Super Bowl loss to Kansas City four years ago, the 49ers (14-5) staged a dramatic comeback against the Chiefs in the third quarter of the NFC championship game.
They scored 17 points within an eight-minute stretch, forcing a tie.
Purdy’s impressive performance, coupled with questionable decisions by the Lions (14-6), including two failed fourth-down attempts in field goal range, allowed San Francisco to mount the fourth-ever comeback from a 17-point or more deficit in a conference title game. Unfortunately for Detroit, their dream of reaching the Super Bowl as a team was dashed.
Purdy, who led a comeback last week against Green Bay, raised doubts about his ability to perform under pressure. However, he silenced critics by orchestrating an even larger comeback against the Lions.
In the final 3:02 of the game, Christian McCaffrey scored two touchdown runs, and Elijah Mitchell, a seldom-used backup, added a 3-yard run, bringing the score to 34-24.
The Niners, having lost their previous two conference title games, emerged victorious this time.
