If you tuned into the Lions vs 49ers last game expecting a sleepy regular-season finale, you probably ended up staring at your TV in disbelief. It was chaos. Beautiful, high-scoring, nerve-wracking chaos.
Most people still have the 2024 NFC Championship collapse burned into their retinas. You know the one. The Lions were up big, then everything that could go wrong did. But on December 30, 2024, at Levi’s Stadium, Detroit finally got their bit of revenge. They walked out with a 40-34 victory on Monday Night Football, and honestly, it felt like a weight being lifted off the entire city of Detroit.
The Revenge of Dan Campbell
The vibe was different this time. In the playoffs, Dan Campbell’s aggressive fourth-down calls felt like a gamble that blew up in his face. In this last matchup, those same gambles felt like a statement.
The Lions came in with a mission to prove they could finish. And finish they did. Jared Goff was clinical, finishing 26 of 34 for 303 yards and three touchdowns. He didn't look like a guy "managing" a game; he looked like a guy surgical enough to pick apart one of the most feared defenses in the league.
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San Francisco didn't just roll over, though. Even though they were already eliminated from playoff contention—a weird reality for a team that had been so dominant—they played like their lives depended on it. Brock Purdy was slinging it. He actually had more yards than Goff, finishing with 377. But those two interceptions by Kerby Joseph? Those were the daggers.
Why the momentum shifted
Early on, it looked like the Niners might run away with it. They scored on their first three possessions. Purdy didn't even throw an incompletion in the first two drives. It was 21-13 at the half, and you could almost hear the collective "here we go again" from Lions fans.
But the third quarter belonged to Detroit.
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- The Hook and Ladder: Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a pass and pitched it to Jameson Williams, who took it 42 yards for a touchdown. It was the kind of backyard football play that makes you love Ben Johnson’s play-calling.
- The Kerby Joseph Factor: Joseph is basically a ball magnet when he plays the 49ers. He jumped a route over the middle intended for Ricky Pearsall and changed the entire energy of the stadium.
- Jahmyr Gibbs' Closing Speed: Gibbs is just different. He put the game on ice with a 30-yard touchdown run late in the fourth. He finished with 117 rushing yards, and honestly, 85 of those were before he even touched a defender.
The Purdy Injury and the Fallout
It wasn't all highlights. Late in the game, things got scary for San Francisco. Brock Purdy took a sack from Brian Branch and came up clutching his right elbow. It’s the kind of sight that makes every Niners fan's heart stop.
Joshua Dobbs had to come in for the final two minutes. He actually managed to scramble for a touchdown to make the score look closer than it felt at the end, but the game was already over. Kyle Shanahan later mentioned it was a nerve issue in the elbow, which added a layer of gloom to an already tough season for San Francisco.
A tale of two kickers
We have to talk about Jake Bates. The Lions kicker has been a revelation. In this game, he broke the franchise record for points in a season. Meanwhile, Jake Moody had a rough night for the 49ers, missing a 58-yarder that could have tied things up earlier in the fourth. In a six-point game, those margins are everything.
What this game tells us about 2026
This wasn't just a random Week 17 win for Detroit. It was their 14th win of the year—a franchise record. It set up a massive Week 18 showdown against the Vikings for the NFC North crown and the #1 seed.
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For the 49ers, it was a reminder of how thin the margin is when you're missing guys like Christian McCaffrey. They fought, and rookie Ricky Pearsall looked like a future superstar with 141 receiving yards, but they couldn't stop the avalanche.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Injury Reports: If you're tracking the 49ers into the next season, Purdy's elbow health is the only thing that matters.
- Bet on the Lions' Offense: As long as Ben Johnson is calling plays, Detroit is a safe bet for 30+ points against almost anyone.
- Keep an eye on Kerby Joseph: He has a specific knack for reading Shanahan’s passing concepts.
The Lions showed they aren't the "Same Old Lions." They walked into a building where they hadn't won since 1975 and took what they wanted. If you're looking for the blueprint on how to beat the 49ers' scheme, go back and watch the tape of this fourth quarter.