The Detroit Lions will play their toughest postseason game to date on Sunday. A trip to the Super Bowl is up for grabs when they play the NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers are stacked with playmakers on both sides of the ball, having appeared in three consecutive NFC Championship Games.
Consequently, the 49ers enter the game as 6.5-point favorites according to SI Sportsbook.
Below are five 49ers players who the Lions need to watch out for if they want Detroit to win on Sunday.
Brock Purdy, quarterback
Purdy, the “Mr. Irrelevant” of the 2022 NFL Draft (choice No. 262), has emerged as the 49ers’ starting quarterback of choice after one season. As the team’s starting quarterback under center, he has guided San Francisco to a 20-5 record in 25 games—including the playoffs.
Additionally, the Iowa State product had a “coming-out party” during the previous regular season. With a completion percentage of 69.4%, he passed for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns. With the top QBR in the league at the end of the season (72.8), he was also a strong candidate for MVP throughout the first half of the campaign.
It will help Detroit secure the upset victory over the 49ers if the Lions can perform the same (or nearly the same) against the 24-year-old.
RB McCaffrey, Christian
Known as “Run CMC,” he has amassed more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in five of his first seven NFL seasons. He has also recorded two seasons with 2,000 or more scrimmage yards, the most recent of which was 2023 with 2,023 yards.
Additionally, after being purchased by San Francisco from Carolina midway through the 2022 season, he has been a crucial part of the 49ers’ winning campaigns. When postseason games are taken into account, the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan have gone an incredible 25-6 in the 31 games in which he has suit up.
Throughout the season, McCaffrey—a multi-purpose back with extraordinary talent—has been an almost unstoppable force. He recently outperformed the Green Bay Packers with a 98-yard, two-touchdown performance on the ground.
One could argue that he will present Detroit’s formidable run defense with its toughest test of the year.
George Kittle, TE
Kittle is one half of the exciting battle between former Iowa tight ends this weekend; the other is Sam LaPorta.
Kittle is perhaps the best tight end in the NFL right now and seems like he’ll be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.
After surpassing 1,000 yards (1,020), the seventh-year veteran was named to the first team of the All-veteran squad in 2023. Additionally, he recorded a career-high 15.7 yards per reception.
After surpassing 1,000 yards (1,020), the seventh-year veteran was named to the first team of the All-veteran squad in 2023. Additionally, he recorded a career-high 15.7 yards per reception.
The five-time Pro Bowler caught four passes for 81 yards and a score against the Packers only a week ago.
He presents a significant risk to Sunday’s secondary and linebacker corps for the Lions.
EDGE Bosa Nick
Since joining the NFL in 2019, Bosa, the 49ers’ “sack-master,” has been a formidable force at the EDGE position.
For the past three seasons, he has generated more than 10 sacks, with 10.5 in 2023. He also recorded a career-high 95 pressures during the previous regular season, and Pro Football Focus gave him career-high grades in both his pass-rush (92.6) and overall (92.7) categories.
In addition, he recorded five quarterback hits and seven total pressures on Packers quarterback Jordan Love during San Francisco’s divisional playoff victory against Green Bay.
One of the greatest games this weekend will see Bosa taking on Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell, Detroit’s tackles.
Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver
Even though Aiyuk may not make as much news as Kittle and McCaffrey, the Lions should give him some consideration this weekend.
Over the last two seasons, the 2020 first-round pick has accumulated more over 1,000 receiving yards. In 2023, he also organized the best campaign of his career. In terms of receiving yards (1,342), yards per reception (17.9), yards per game (83.9), and catch percentage (71.4), he set career highs.
Although he may not be as explosive a playmaker as Deebo Samuel, the Lions’ defense will undoubtedly have to be concerned about him the entire Sunday night.
