Published 2024-01-29 08.04
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They led by 17 points at halftime.
Then the Detroit Lions collapsed against the San Francisco 49ers.
– It feels like the heart has been torn out, says coach Dan Campbell.
The Detroit Lions led the NFL conference finals 14–0 after the first quarter and at halftime it was 24–7.
Then the San Francisco 49ers woke up.
– No one freaked out. It’s football. We have a lot of experienced guys on the team, veterans who have been in crazy situations. “It’s time to do the job,” we said to each other, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy reportedly said TSN.
Final reprise
The 49ers turned the game around with 27 straight points to win 34–31. Now the Kansas City Chiefs are waiting in the Super Bowl in a repeat of the final in 2020.
That time, the Chiefs won their first title in 50 years.
– We have unfinished business, says 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
“It hurts”
The turnover is the third-largest in an NFL conference final all-time. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell was devastated after the loss.
– It hurts to lose in this way. It feels like the heart has been ripped out. But I’m proud of the group, says Campbell.
Super Bowl LVIII will be played on Sunday, February 11.
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1 / 2Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez / AP
