49ers rally from 17 factors right down to earn Tremendous Bowl rematch with Chiefs Specific Occasions

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy threw for 267 yards and a landing and the San Francisco 49ers rallied from 17 factors down at halftime to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31 on Sunday and attain the Tremendous Bowl.

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The 49ers (14-5) scored 17 factors in an eight-minute span of the third quarter to tie the NFC championship sport after which pulled away within the fourth quarter to earn a rematch in opposition to Kansas Metropolis after shedding to the Chiefs within the Tremendous Bowl 4 years in the past.

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San Francisco mounted the fourth comeback ever from 17 factors down or extra in a convention title sport due to some huge performs by Purdy and unhealthy errors by the Lions (14-6), together with two failed fourth downs in field-goal vary. Detroit fell wanting reaching the primary Tremendous Bowl in franchise historical past.

After being questioned about whether or not he could lead on a comeback, Purdy has now performed it twice in as many weeks. He engineered a game-winning drive within the fourth quarter to beat Inexperienced Bay final week after which had an excellent larger comeback in opposition to the Lions.

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Christian McCaffrey had two TD runs and little-used backup Elijah Mitchell scored on a three-yard run to make it 34-24 with 3:02 to play because the Niners acquired over the convention title sport hump after shedding the previous two seasons.

The Niners blew a 10-point lead within the fourth quarter of the NFC championship sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams two years in the past after which have been compelled to play a lot of final yr’s title sport loss at Philadelphia and not using a functioning quarterback after Purdy injured his elbow on the opening drive and fourth-stringer Josh Johnson left with a concussion early within the third quarter.

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However San Francisco managed to make the lengthy journey again to this stage and now’s in place to ship the franchise its record-tying sixth Tremendous Bowl title and first because the 1994 season.

A magical season for the Lions led to heartbreak. Detroit stays the one group to play each season of the Tremendous Bowl period with out reaching the final word sport. This seemed prefer it might be the yr to finish that drought when Detroit gained back-to-back playoff video games after profitable only one within the earlier 56 seasons.

However the Lions couldn’t end the job regardless of holding a 24-7 halftime lead.

San Francisco settled for a discipline aim on the opening drive of the second half earlier than the sport utterly flipped in a four-minute span.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell opted to go for it on fourth-and-two from the San Francisco 28, however Josh Reynolds couldn’t maintain onto a cross from Jared Goff, resulting in a turnover on downs.

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The Lions then appeared to have a possible interception when Purdy’s deep cross bit Kindle Vildor within the face masks, however the ball popped up and was caught for a spectacular 51-yard achieve by Brandon Aiyuk. Purdy discovered Aiyuk three performs later for a six-yard rating.

Jahmyr Gibbs then fumbled on the following play from scrimmage for Detroit, organising a one-yard run by McCaffrey to tie the sport at 24-24.

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It solely acquired worse from there for the Lions with Reynolds dropping one other cross on third down, resulting in a punt that Detroit had an opportunity to down on the one however botched.

Purdy then drove the Niners to a 33-yard discipline aim by Jake Moody and their first lead of the sport.

Campbell bypassed an opportunity at a game-tying discipline aim on fourth-and-three from the Niners’ 30 halfway by the fourth quarter. Goff threw an incomplete cross and the Niners drove to the insurance coverage landing.

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Goff added a TD cross to Jameson Williams with 56 seconds to play, however the 49ers recovered the onside kick to seal the win. Goff completed 25 for 41 for 273 yards and a landing.

San Francisco’s heralded entrance seven had no reply within the first half for Detroit’s offensive line, which repeatedly opened up huge holes, giving the backs a number of yards earlier than contact.

The Lions ran for 148 yards within the first half, getting TD runs from Williams, David Montgomery and Gibbs.

Michael Badgley added a late discipline aim to offer Detroit a 24-7 lead on the half, tied for the second-biggest scoring output for a street group within the first half of a convention title sport because the NFL-AFL merger.

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