Lions head into NFC title game rematch vs. 49ers seeking top seed more than revenge
Dan Campbell stood at the podium after the Detroit Lions blew a 17-point lead to San Francisco in last season's NFC title game and talked about how that might have been the Lions' only shot at reaching the Super Bowl.
The coach knew how difficult it would be to maintain that high level of play through injuries, attrition and with a target on their back as a top contender in the NFC.
Eleven months later as Campbell and the Lions prepare to return to Levi's Stadium for the first time since that loss, that has proved to be prophetic — for San Francisco instead of Detroit.
The Lions (13-2) head into the rematch Monday night with the inside track at the top seed in the NFC playoffs, while the 49ers (6-9) have already been eliminated from postseason contention.
The element of revenge for last season's 34-31 loss is secondary for Detroit, considering what's on the line the last two weeks of the season. The Lions can clinch the top seed in the NFC by winning their final two games or with a win against the Niners if the Minnesota Vikings lose to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
"Anytime we lose, the thought of losing is going to motivate you to not want to lose again, particularly with where you were at," Campbell said. "So, that's always going to bring its own level of motivation to it. But this is where we're at in the season, we know that we need another win, we understand where we're at in the division and the NFC, so I think it's all encompassing."
While the Lions have no need to search for motivation, that's not the case for the 49ers, who are playing out the string of a lost season after making losing back-to-back NFC title games in 2021-22 and the Super Bowl last season.
A run of injuries to key players like Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk, combined with inconsistent play all season have led to the 49ers having nothing to play for in the final two games.
"It's obviously not where you want to be this time of year," Bosa said. "It's different, especially watching where we're at last year against this team. Just that feeling of December, January football is a feeling that I've gotten used to being really competitive and being in the mix. I think we're doing a good job of staying engaged and obviously this is our job, so we're going to finish it strong.
Detroit's faith in Jameson Williams is paying off, taking advantage of his game-breaking abilities with big plays.
Jared Goff heaved an 82-yard touchdown pass over Williams' shoulders and into his hands in last week's win at Chicago. Earlier this season, Goff threw 70-, 64- and 52-yard passes for scores to the third-year receiver.
"We work on it a ton, him and I do, and it's a testament to him," Goff said. "He's asking for it. He wants that work, and I'm more than happy to give it to him during the week. It's good. Our connection continues to grow. He's obviously one of the best deep threats in our league, even when it's not perfect."
The 49ers head into the game scrambling to put together an offensive line.
Williams has been out for more than a month with an ankle injury and his backup at left tackle, Jaylon Moore, is now sidelined by a quadriceps injury. Left guard Aaron Banks injured his knee last week, while his backup Ben Bartch is already out with an ankle injury.
That will leave the Niners with two third-stringers protecting Brock Purdy. But Shanahan said he isn't thinking of sitting Purdy to protect him.
"People deal with that throughout the year on other weeks, too," he said. "I mean, we've got a football team. We've got to go out and we've got two games here and we've got to see what guys we can put out there and whatever we do we're going to put a game plan together to, as best as we can to give us a chance to win."
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who may have a chance for the second straight offseason to be an NFL head coach, routinely pulls off trick plays and his latest was a doozy.
Goff intentionally stumbled after taking a snap and Jahmyr Gibbs went to the ground as their teammates yelled, "fumble," to fool the Bears on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta.
"Those make you feel good because everybody is invested in it," Campbell said. "It's fun. It's different. It's sound.
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's sound."
San Francisco kicker Jake Moody is having a rough second season after being drafted in the third round a year ago. Moody has missed seven field goals this season, including a 41-yarder last week at Miami.
Moody is just 10 for 16 since coming back from a high ankle sprain in his kicking foot, but Shanahan said he still has confidence in him.
"I still feel the same about him, that I believe he'll be our guy," Shanahan said. "I mean everyone's got to perform and do things like that. I think he has had a tough year. Before his high ankle sprain, he missed one. ... I think he was 12 of 13 before that, so I thought he was doing really well."
