Lions vs. 49ers highlights: Detroit wins, sets up big Week 18 showdown vs. Minnesota

Posted by Admin December 30, 2024 NFL

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The Detroit Lions scored on five consecutive drives in the second half to pull away for a 40-34 win over the host San Francisco 49ers on the final “Monday Night Football” matchup of the season.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 26 of 34 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 163 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in a standout night for the offense.

The two offenses combined for 914 yards on 129 plays and zero punts.

Both teams set the tone in the first half and combined for five consecutive touchdown drives to open the game. The first stop of the night was by the 49ers defense late in the second quarter with a turnover on downs deep in the red zone.

The 49ers couldn’t capitalize as kicker Jake Moody missed a 51-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half. San Francisco led 21-13 at half, the eight-point gap thanks to a blocked extra point by defensive lineman Maliek Collins.

Detroit scored a game-tying touchdown to open the second half before San Francisco responded in kind. The Lions scored 19 consecutive points, thanks to a pair of Brock Purdy interceptions, to take a 40-28 lead.

Gibbs scored the team’s final points of the night on a 30-yard touchdown run. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs scored on a 7-yard touchdown run after an injury to Purdy on the final drive of the game to bring it to 40-34 after a missed extra point.

Purdy completed 27 of 35 passes for a career-high 377 yards and three touchdowns in addition to those two turnovers. Rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall was his favorite target of the night with eight catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown.

Detroit (14-2) closes the regular season in a battle for the NFC North title at home against the Minnesota Vikings (14-2). With a win or tie, they’ll take the division title and the No. 1 seed. If they lose, they’re down to the No. 5 seed and will play on the road to open the NFC playoffs.

San Francisco (6-10) wraps up a disappointing regular season on the road against the Arizona Cardinals (7-9). They’re out of playoff contention and looking at a top-15 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Inability to clinch top seed Monday doesn’t deter Lions

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San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy went to the sideline with an injury after a sack on first-and-10 from the Lions’ 35-yard line. Backup Joshua Dobbs came in and led the offense down the field before running it in from seven yards out. Jake Moody’s extra point is wide right and the 49ers cut the Lions’ lead to six with 43 seconds to play.

Brock Purdy took a hard hit from Lions safety Brian Branch on a sack and the 49ers quarterback has come out of the game with less than two minutes to play.

Joshua Dobbs is in at quarterback for the 49ers.

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs got to the edge and outran the rest of the 49ers defense for a 30-yard touchdown. Jake Bates’ extra point is no good, but the Lions hold a two-score lead with 2:58 to go in the fourth quarter.

After an unnecessary roughness penalty brought the 49ers offense past midfield, quarterback Brock Purdy threw his second interception of the game on the ensuing play. Lions safety Kerby Joseph collected his second interception of the night, his ninth of the season, on a pass intended for Ricky Pearsall.

Detroit’s offense takes over on their own 38-yard line with 7:34 to go in the game.

Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams slipped on third-and-8 from the 49ers’ 24-yard line and Detroit settled for a field goal. Jake Bates knocked it through from 42 yards out for the Lions to push the lead to six points with 10:29 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Lions’ defense got a stop on third-and-10 to force a long field goal. San Francisco kicker Jake Moody missed just left on a 58-yard attempt, his second miss of the night. The Detroit offense will take over at its own 48-yard line with 13:25 to go in the game.

Detroit capitalized on the Brock Purdy interception by driving 43 yards for the go-ahead touchdown from Jared Goff to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Jake Bates’ extra point is good and Detroit takes its first lead of the night with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.

Goff went 4 for 6 passing on the drive for 34 yards and the touchdown.

Brock Purdy threw an interception on first-and-10 from his own 33-yard line, but it was called back due to defensive pass interference on Lions’ safety Brian Branch. One play later, Purdy sailed a throw over wide receiver Ricky Pearsall’s hand and Lions safety Kerby Joseph caught it for the first turnover of the game.

Detroit will take over at the 49ers’ 43-yard line with 3:58 to go in the third quarter.

San Francisco edge rusher Nick Bosa got his second sack of the night on third-and-3 to force a long field goal attempt for the Lions. Kicker Jake Bates made it from 57 yards out to cut the 49ers’ lead to four points with 4:25 to go in the third quarter.

The 49ers responded to Detroit’s touchdown drive with one of their own. San Francisco drove 84 yards in just six plays to score on a 5-yard pass from Brock Purdy to wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Jake Moody’s extra point is good as the 49ers are 4-for-4 on red zone trips tonight.

Purdy found wideout Ricky Pearsall for a 39-yard catch and run before tight end George Kittle rumbled for 22 yards to bring the 49ers in the red zone.

The Lions drove 66 yards over 10 plays over five minutes, capped off by a Jared Goff pass to tight end Sam LaPorta for a 6-yard touchdown. Goff rolled out to his right to find wide receiver Tim Patrick for the two-point conversion to tie the game with 9:58 to go in the third quarter.

San Francisco drove into scoring range for a quick few points before halftime but kicker Jake Moody’s 51-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. After the Lions kneeled out the final two seconds of the half, the 49ers hold a 21-13 lead at halftime.

Detroit will receive the second-half kickoff.

Detroit’s offense stayed on the field for fourth-and-3 on the 49ers’ 8-yard line. Quarterback Jared Goff fired a pass to tight end Sam LaPorta, but 49ers cornerback Renardo Green made the play to break up the pass and force a turnover on downs.

San Francisco takes over from the 8-yard line with 1:13 to go in the first half and one timeout.

Detroit’s marched 55 yards in eight plays to get inside the red zone for the second time on the night. The Lions will be facing first-and-10 from the 49ers’ 15-yard line after the two minute warning.

San Francisco’s star edge rusher left the Lions’ previous drive after taking a hit to the head and neck area during a sack. Nick Bosa went to the blue medical tent but was back on the field for the Lions’ current drive.

Two plays after completing a deep shot to rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy scrambled up the middle for a 9-yard touchdown. Jake Moody’s extra point is good and San Francisco has an eight-point lead with 6:13 to go in the half.

Both quarterbacks in this game are yet to throw an incomplete pass. Purdy is now 9-for-9 for 131 yards and two touchdowns passing in addition to three carries for 12 yards and a touchdown.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff found wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a quick pass on third-and-12 from the 49ers’ 42-yard line but St. Brown flipped it up to Jameson Williams. He ran 41 yards down the right sideline for his second touchdown of the night. Jake Bates’ extra point is good and the Lions make it a one-point game with 10:09 to go in the second quarter.

San Francisco opened the second quarter with another touchdown, this time on a Brock Purdy pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk from 9 yards out. Jake Moody’s extra point is good and the 49ers take an eight-point lead with 14:53 to go in the second quarter.

Purdy went 4-for-4 passing on the drive for 48 yards. As a unit, the 49ers offense went 70 yards on just six plays and took 3:49 off the clock.

San Francisco has reached the red zone once again as the first quarter ends. The 49ers will face first-and-5 from the Lions’ 9-yard line to start the second quarter following an encroachment penalty on Detroit defensive lineman D.J. Reader.

The Lions responded to San Francisco’s opening-drive touchdown with a score of their own, this coming on a 3-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Jameson Williams. San Francisco defensive lineman Jordan Elliott blocked the extra point attempt but linebacker Fred Warner could not run it past the 30-yard line.

Detroit relied on the run game in their opening drive and got 36 yards on seven carries combined from Jahmyr Gibbs, Jermar Jefferson and Williams.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy fired a pass to rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall for a 3-yard touchdown. Pearsall was initially ruled down at the one-yard line but review showed he crossed the plane with the ball for the touchdown. Jake Moody’s extra point is good and the 49ers take an early lead.

Purdy went 3 for 3 for 34 yards on this drive and made a key conversion with his legs on fourth-and-1 at the Detroit 5-yard line to set up the score. San Francisco went 61 yards in 11 plays for the score.

Start time: 8:15 p.m. (5:15 p.m. PT)

The 49ers vs. Lions matchup kicks off at 8:15 p.m. (5:15 p.m. PT).

ESPN again is the broadcast home of “Monday Night Football.” The longtime team of Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (color) will be on the call, with Lisa Salters adding reports from the sideline.

There will be no “ManningCast” for tonight’s broadcast.

Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.

ESPN+, the proprietary streaming service of ESPN, will also carry the game.

RB David Montgomery
QB Teddy Bridgewater (emergency third QB)
OL Giovanni Manu
OL Kayode Awosika
OL Colby Sorsdal
DL Jonah Williams
DL Brodric Martin

QB Brandon Allen (emergency third QB)
DL Khalil Davis
LB Dre Greenlaw
OL Spencer Burford
DL Robert Beal Jr.
CB Charvarius Ward
RB Israel Abanikanda

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the 49ers vs. Lions “MNF” matchup will go down:

Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 26, 49ers 16
Tyler Dragon: Lions 28, 49ers 20
Richard Morin: Lions 31, 49ers 20
Jordan Mendoza: Lions 28, 49ers 20

The Lions are favorites to defeat the 49ers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.

Spread: Lions (-3.5)
Moneyline: Lions (-210); 49ers (+170)
Over/under: 50

The Lions travel to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, to take on the 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”

Levi’s Stadium has been the 49ers’ home since 2014. The venue hosted Super Bowl 50 — the Denver Broncos’ win over the Carolina Panthers — and will host Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8, 2026.

The stadium will be a host venue for the 2026 World Cup. Levi’s Stadium also occasionally will host games for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

➤ Ranking NFL’s stadiums from 1 to 30: Where does 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium rate?

Game time temperatures at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will be in the mid-50s and there is no chance for precipitation, according to AccuWeather. Temperatures will dip below 50 degrees by the time the game ends.

The Lions still have a shot to play for the division and the No. 1 seed. They’ll need a win in Week 18 to make that happen. Here’s how the division stacks up:

The 49ers won’t have a chance to repeat as NFC West champs this year, as the division has been wrapped up by the Los Angeles Rams. Here’s how the division shakes out:

The first round of the NFL playoffs is the wild-card round, which will take place Jan. 11-13.

Seeds Nos. 2 through 7 in both conferences will face off in one of the six total matchups over the three-day opening round. This year’s playoffs will kick off with two games on Saturday, Jan. 11, continue with three more on Sunday, Jan. 12 and conclude with one game on Monday, Jan. 13.

The Lions have already clinched a playoff berth and will be either the No. 1 seed in the NFC or the No. 5 seed. It all depends on whether they can stave off competition from the Vikings in the race for the NFC North.

Detroit will be the NFC’s No. 1 seed if either of the following scenarios occurs:

The Lions beat the Vikings in Week 18;
The Lions beat the 49ers in Week 17 and tie the Vikings in Week 18.

Detroit will be the NFC’s No. 5 seed in either of the scenarios below:

The Lions lose to the Vikings in Week 18;
The Lions lose to the 49ers in Week 17 and tie the Vikings in Week 18;
The Lions tie against the 49ers in Week 17 and tie the Vikings in Week 18.

There are only two ways for the Lions and Vikings to end up tied in the standings at season’s end. They are as follows:

Lions lose to 49ers in Week 17 AND beat Vikings in Week 18;
Lions beat 49ers in Week 17 AND tie Vikings in Week 18.

If the Lions are the NFC’s No. 1 seed, they will get a much-needed first-round bye after which they would play the lowest-remaining seed in the NFC bracket.

If Detroit ends up as the No. 5 seed, it will go on the road to face one of the following three teams:

The 49ers were eliminated from the playoff picture ahead of their Week 16 game against the Dolphins. They failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2020.

San Francisco faced an uphill climb all season, dealing with countless injuries and ultimately succumbing to the dreaded Super Bowl hangover.

The 2024 playoff field is almost set: 12 teams have clinched a playoff spot heading into Monday of Week 17:

AFC

NFC

Below is the playoff clinching situation heading into Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season:

AFC

Baltimore Ravens clinch AFC North with:

Win or tie
Steelers loss or tie

Steelers clinch AFC North with:

Bengals clinch playoff berth with:

Win, and Broncos loss, and Dolphins loss or tie

Broncos clinch playoff berth with:

Win or tie
Dolphins loss or tie, and Bengals loss or tie

Dolphins clinch playoff berth with:

NFC

Lions clinch NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed with:

If win on MNF …

If lose on MNF …

Vikings clinch NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed with:

If Lions win on MNF …

If Lions lose on MNF …

Falcons clinch NFC South with:

Buccaneers clinch NFC South with:

Win or tie
Falcons loss or tie

Here’s how the top 15 picks of the first round of the 2025 NFL draft stack up entering Monday night’s game:

New England Patriots: 3-13 record; .447 strength of schedule
Tennessee Titans: 3-13; .510
Cleveland Browns: 3-13, .531
New York Giants: 3-13, .535
Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12, .475
Carolina Panthers: 4-12, .496
New York Jets: 4-12, .502
Las Vegas Raiders: 4-12, .539
Chicago Bears: 4-12, .545
New Orleans Saints: 5-11, .504
San Francisco 49ers: 6-9, .554
Indianapolis Colts: 7-9, .471
Dallas Cowboys: 7-9, .508
Arizona Cardinals: 7-9, .547
Miami Dolphins: 8-8, .427

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six.

The 49ers have made eight total Super Bowl appearances and own five rings to show for it, the most recent coming during the 1994 season in Super Bowl XXIX. Since then, the 49ers have lost three Super Bowls, twice to the Kansas City Chiefs and also against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Lions are among four NFL teams that have never appeared in a Super Bowl. The Lions, however, were a powerhouse team before the advent of the Super Bowl, winning four NFL championships, including three in the 1950s.

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game

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➤ Best (and worst) from NFL Week 17: Playoff picture, draft order come into further focus

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