For only the second time since the AFL-NFL merger, the San Francisco 49ers will face the Detroit Lions in a playoff game. It’s a tale of two different teams has reached the NFC Championship game several times and won several Super Bowls. The other is the only NFC team to not make the Super Bowl and is only making its second NFC Championship game appearance. Still, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding this game. Let’s preview the Lions and the 49ers.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions won four NFL Championships between 1935 and 1957, but the last 60 plus years have not been kind to the franchise. Going into this postseason, the Lions had won only one playoff game in the Super Bowl era. But after wins over the Rams and Buccaneers, Detroit has reached the NFC Championship game for only the second time in franchise history.

After two home playoff games for the first time in franchise history, the Lions now go on the road with a Super Bowl berth on the line. Detroit won six out of nine games on the road this season. But, the Lions have very little postseason history with their opponents or as a team.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are the antithesis to the Lions. Sunday will be the 19th NFC Championship game for San Francisco, the most of any team in the Super Bowl era. The 49ers won seven NFC Championships and cashed in five of those for Super Bowl championships.

San Francisco cruised to the best record in the NFC earning a first round bye before Brock Purdy led a late game comeback in the Divisional round against the Packers. The 49ers return to the NFC Championship game for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in the past five seasons. San Francisco looks for their first trip to the Super Bowl in five years.

NFC Championship Game Predictions

San Francisco and Detroit met once previously in the postseason during the 1983 Divisional Round. As the Lions only Super Bowl era playoff win came in January 1992, the 49ers obviously won that meeting. San Francisco has far more postseason experience as a franchise. However, Detroit has the advantage at quarterback. Purdy led the 49ers to the NFC Championship game last year before getting hurt. Meanwhile, Lions QB Jared Goff led the Rams to Super Bowl 53. He’s the only one of the two quarterbacks to experience victory this late in the season.

Detroit remains the darlings of this postseason. The Lions’ lack of success makes the majority of America want to see them reach the Super Bowl. However, I think experience is going to win out. The clock will strike midnight on Detroit’s Cinderella season in the Bay Area. I’m picking the 49ers to win and give us a rematch of Super Bowl 54 in Super Bowl 58.

Final Score – San Francisco 49ers 31 | Detroit Lions 27

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