(Santa Clara) Brock Purdy threw a touchdown pass and gained 267 yards and 49ers of San Francisco managed a 17-point comeback to defeat the Detroit Lions on Sunday and reach the Super Bowl final.
The 49ers scored 17 points in the space of eight minutes during the third quarter to tie the score in this NFL National Association final. They then took the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
The 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. It will be a repeat of four years ago, when the Chiefs won.
The 49ers achieved the fourth comeback in history of 17 points or more in an Association final game. Important plays by Purdy, as well as bad mistakes by the Lions, may explain this comeback.
The Lions twice missed a fourth down, while in position to make a field goal. The team was aiming for its first appearance in the Super Bowl game.
PHOTO KYLE TERADA, USA TODAY SPORTS
Christian McCaffrey avoids a tackle.
Christian McCaffrey had two rushing touchdowns. Backup Elijah Mitchell ran three yards for a touchdown that made it 34-24 with 3:02 left in the fourth quarter.
The 49ers had blown a 10-point fourth-quarter lead against the Los Angeles Rams in the National Finals two years ago.
The team could now win a sixth Super Bowl in its history and a first since 1994.
The Lions led 24-7 at halftime. The 49ers made a field goal on their first offensive sequence of the second half, and then things turned upside down.
PHOTO MARK J. TERRILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jared Goff attempts a pass.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 25 of 41 passes for 273 yards, including one touchdown pass.
The Lions had 148 rushing yards in the first half, as Jameson Williams, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs scored rushing touchdowns.