CAPTAIN SANTA CLARA: The Detroit Lions’ aggression during their comeback under head coach Dan Campbell failed at the most inopportune moment.
In the second half, Detroit missed two fourth-down attempts that would have put them in position for a field goal, blowing a 17-point lead at halftime and losing 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s NFC championship game.
Coach Dan Campbell remarked, “I understand it and it’s easy in retrospect.” “I get that. However, I don’t regret the choices I made. And that is challenging. The fact that we failed to make it is difficult. It was unable to succeed. However, I don’t. I’m not. And I am aware that I will be under observation. That’s just part of the job, dude.
It simply wasn’t meant to be.
After taking a 24-7 lead at halftime against the Niners, the success-starved Lions (14-6) looked set to win their first Super Bowl in team history. However, a mistake-filled second half saw them give up 27 unanswered points.
When Brock Purdy’s long pass hit the Lions cornerback’s facemask and bounced to Brandon Aiyuk, Kindle Vildor transformed what could have been an interception into a 51-yard pass play.
Freshman Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled the ball away to allow for another touchdown. Josh Reynolds stalled drives with two crucial drops on the third and fourth downs.
A punt at the 1-yard line was mishandled by the Lions, resulting in a touchback.
It was only the fourth conference game where a team with a lead of at least 17 points had lost.
Jared Goff, the quarterback, expressed his devastation. There is a slight sense of shock.
To be honest, I’m honored to be on this squad. It’s challenging to balance the two feelings of grief at the loss and pride in what we’ve accomplished this year.
With his poor decisions on fourth down, Campbell contributed to the situation. During Campbell’s three seasons, Detroit recorded a league-high 62 fourth down conversions, but they failed when it mattered most.
Campbell decided to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the 28 with a 14-point lead early in the third quarter, but Reynolds was unable to hold onto Goff’s throw.
After then, the Niners scored a touchdown on a drive, bringing the score at one.
Then, halfway through the fourth quarter, with the Lions behind three, Campbell went for it once more on fourth-and-3 from the thirty. After Goff made another incomplete pass, San Francisco managed to drive for the safety touchdown.
However, Goff wasn’t questioning the choices after the Lions’ numerous successful fourth-down conversions enabled them to go this far in the season.
“He has faith in us,” Goff remarked. “We had a lot of big-time conversions this year that changed games, but I don’t know the exact numbers.”
One game away from the Lions’ first-ever Super Bowl participation, an incredible season came to an end.
The only team to participate in every Super Bowl season without making it to the championship game is Detroit. Detroit had won just one playoff game in the previous 56 seasons, but after winning back-to-back in this season, it appeared like this may be the season that finally broke the curse.
To be eligible to compete for their first NFL title since 1957, the Lions will have to wait at least one more year.
“It’s difficult to lose that way,” Campbell remarked. It feels as though your heart is being torn out. That gang, though, makes me proud, and I’ll go anywhere with them.
