Here we are folks! We’ve arrived at the NFC title game which will be played in Santa Clara, California. Levi Stadium, the home of your number one seed San Francisco 49ers. We’ve got a good title game on hand and I’m here to cross the Golden Gate bridge and give you one of the more intriguing NFC title matchups we’ve seen in who knows how long. The Niners look to book their flight to Las Vegas, Nevada or… Will it be the “Cinderella” team Detroit Lions who’ll have a bigger kneecap to bite. Let’s cue the dramatic background music and break it down!
(1) San Francisco 49ers
The perfect roster in San Francisco had a nightmare wake-up call on Saturday hosting red hot Green Bay. Rainy conditions and nearly upset is an understatement; it was a game in which they trailed and managed to fork their way back and win. To be battle tested earlier in the season, there was no panic; yet it felt like one or two plays changes the outcome. Quarterback Brock Purdy withstood a solid Packers defense behind running back Christian McCaffery and tight end George Kittle making plays as well. Not their best game of the season, but a very experienced team who’s been in a lot of close games.
This marks four out of five trips to the NFC title game and having home field certainly will be noteworthy. Defensively, it appeared to be dominant late in the game to avoid being upset. Nick Bosa and company made plays and got it done. But you must say there’s limited room for mistakes with San Francisco. The defense was making the Packers quarterback go down the field and we said: “This was the same team who dropped 48 points on Dallas?” Yes, that Packers team was very capable of repeating back to back weeks of high scoring.
Credit to the adjustments by San Francisco and here they are in the NFC title game. But… The team who’s been a night by day story and nobody wants to shine light on will come in roaring with nothing to lose. Oh yes… I’ll give them the credit and flowers here in a few moments. You better believe it’s going to ensue khaos and I’m here for it.
(3) Detroit Lions
As The Temptations once sang: “I know you wanna leave me, but I refuse to let you go. If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy, I don’t mind ‘cause you mean that much to me.” Yes, that team from Motown is in their second NFC title game since 1991. Detroit has been the most intriguing team and we’ve witnessed how one man changed the culture and built a contending team. Head coach Dan Campbell has this team in a good spot and who would’ve thought the Lions would bite “kneecaps” and end up one game away from a Super Bowl appearance.
Detroit has been good as their offense is constructed. Led by quarterback Jared Goff, nothing has phased him since arriving via trade in 2021. A strong running game with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, this Lions offense can score in bunches. Great offensive line, wide receivers, tight end, and an offensive coordinator in Ben Johnson calling masterclasses. He’s likely a head coach in 2024, but for now; he’s got another game to handle.
Defensively, a great pass rush led by Aidan Hutchinson; a Michigan native who’s one of the premiere pass rushers in football. He understands the moment this presents the city and fans of Detroit. Everyone in the stands has been there and this is the history they’re witnessing. You can cringe and laugh at Dan Campbell’s “kneecap” comments during his introductory press conference but hey… It worked and his motivation will make any player run through a wall for him. He’s turned this franchise around and a new day in Motown is bigger than any sports team in the city. They’ll have to be aggressive and not get too cute with the play calling. Avoiding mistakes against a very, very good Niners team will be a challenge. Playing your brand of football and scoring in the red zone will be a deal breaker.
In the end… This will be the more entertaining NFC title game we’ve witnessed in a while. In all my years of watching the NFL, Detroit and the conference championship game is a reality. Thirty-two years in the making and by golly, the Lions will soak up every minute in hoping to upset the Niners. Expect this game to go down as a “kneecap” away from the finish or a costly turnover to seal the deal. Let the khaos of conference championship weekend begin with a bang or biting of “kneecaps.”
Stai tuned…
