G B U - Just 1 bounce short of the Super Bowl edition

[Lionsfan123]

Reynolds dropping passes, Gibbs fumbling, and Goff missing some guys and overthrowing some people didn’t help things either. Can’t have that in big moments

[DanO]

They basically played one of their worst quarters of the year. Everything went wrong. They did all the things they've been preaching against and had avoided so far. It all caught up to them in one quarter. Disappointing because they could have had this game on several accounts.

[Sanders Fan]

[ghandi]

Its hard to say if Dan has alot of confidence in the offense to execute, or if he feels the defense is going to give up 25 or more and he needs to score alot of TDs....IF the Lions had the Chiefs defense they'd be in the Super Bowl....23,23 and 34 points allowed in the playoffs is a rough way to win consistently in the NFL.

[Meano.Culpa]

G: With 8-1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, DMo picked up a first down at the 49ers’ 36 yard line.

The Niners had gashed the defense coming out of the locker room, but the defense stiffened and only gave up a field goal. Then the Lion offense responded, and it looked like they were about to push the lead to three scores or three touchdowns. Three plays later, Goff shifted in the pocket and threw a catchable ball on fourth-and-2. That split second, just before the ball bounced off of Reynolds’ hands, was a moment that Lions’ fans haven’t felt since before Super Bowl I.

The next several plays were instructive comedy:
Chunk to Deebo and Kirby Joseph limps off.
Long pass off of Vildor’s facemask for first-and-goal.
Defense bows up on 1st and 2nd downs, then Aiyuk cleanly beats Sutton and CJGJ for the TD.
Next play from scrimmage, Gibbs fumbles.
Purdy scrambles to the four and the Niners cash it. Game is tied and it’s not even the fourth quarter.

That’s basically the team we’ve seen all year.
Sutton has been called on to do more than his skill set allows. (Excellent slot corner for the Steelers. The Steelers wanted to keep him, but the Lions thought he could play outside and paid him like he could.)
At Thanksgiving, Kindle Vildor was a street free agent. The Bears, Titans, and Eagles had all cut him in the past year.
With nobody opposite Hutchinson, the Lions can’t get pressure while maintaining rush discipline. If the Niners’ strategy (contain Hutchinson) wasn’t obvious, check Hutchinson’s stat line for the game.

So, we’re Lions fans. Game’s over, right?

Offense goes three-and-out, Niners have all the momentum and start chunking down the field. Everyone whiffs on Purdy and he tosses a first down to Juszczyk. Chunk to Kittle. Scramble for a first down. Dagger time - except the Lions get two sacks and SFO only gets a FG.

These Lions come out and get a chunk to JWill and a chunk to Montgomery. And, again, this is new for Lions fans. Fourth quarter with a chance to go to the Super Bowl, down three, but with a first down at the plus-37.

Should Campbell have trotted out Badgley a couple more times? Eh, maybe. I thought the deep shot to J.Will after Montgomery’s run was a bigger mistake. Whatever. What I do know is that a lot of people wanted to see the Lions play meaningful games in December. And this Lions team - with all its obvious, exploitable flaws - made a much deeper run than it should have been able to.

I’m having trouble seeing much bad or ugly. Great season and, for the first time in forever, I’m looking forward to next season - not just the draft.

[NewOrleansLion]

That first half reminded me of the playoff game against Dallas in ‘91. I probably said, “Holy sh*t!” 17 times.

I’d rather feel the elation of the first half and get let down than go out like Baltimore did.

[Sanders Fan]

[Mainevent]

Sutton was the Steelers top CB and played the vast majority of his snaps at outside CB in 2022, covering teams #1 WR. And he did really well. He has games where he looks really good on good WRs, but there were just too many baffling whiffs. Though I think maybe not having Minkah Fitzpatrick around to help out likely impacted his performance a bit.

[dsred]

Yeah, sure. That was what my point was. Goodnight, man.

You didn't take my advice.

[Iron Lion]

Lost a lot of sleep. Lots of tossing and turning. But I believe MCDC will take us there. Not the SOL.

[Sanders Fan]

I wish I shared your optimism. That was deflating.

[Marko69]

Lost a lot of sleep. Lots of tossing and turning. But I believe MCDC will take us there. Not the SOL.

I eventually went off to bed around 5am UK time diluted in Fosters Lager, (or cat pi$$ as the cousin calls it)......, and lay awake thinking about how long ago 1991 was & since becoming a fan. . It was 33 years ago. Daughter & youngest son are 32 & 30 respectively and grown up seeing me in Lions T-shirts. That is one big chunk of time to wait until sniffing distance of a SuperBowl.

Arguably being better if it had.ve been 54-10 SF49ers. To have such massive talking points over blame is very unfortunate. Dan for 27-7 & Reynolds dropping --->> pair o fkn fluffers!

But I blame Stafford. It's his fault

[froot loops]

I'm not sure I would have wanted 44 point drubbing but losing by 3 after that disastrous second half seems like something that will live in infamy if they don't ever get to the Superbowl.

[Sanders Fan]

[Forsh]

I eventually went off to bed around 5am UK time diluted in Fosters Lager, (or cat pi$$ as the cousin calls it)......, and lay awake thinking about how long ago 1991 was & since becoming a fan. . It was 33 years ago. Daughter & youngest son are 32 & 30 respectively and grown up seeing me in Lions T-shirts. That is one big chunk of time to wait until sniffing distance of a SuperBowl.

Arguably being better if it had.ve been 54-10 SF49ers. To have such massive talking points over blame is very unfortunate. Dan for 27-7 & Reynolds dropping --->> pair o fkn fluffers!

But I blame Stafford. It's his fault

Would have been 27-10 but otherwise yeah