The Lions roared to life with Dan Campbell. They also fell with him — but will rise again

Carmen Vitali

NFC North Reporter

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Does losing in the NFC Championship game hurt more or less than never making it in the first place?

If you ask the Detroit Lions, who were within reach of their first Super Bowl appearance before succumbing to the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31, it all feels the same.

“You put a lot of work into it all year long, put your body through a lot,” said linebacker Alex Anzalone. “The team will never be the same. We accomplished a lot this year but our ultimate goal is the Super Bowl. We were within reaching distance and nothing’s worse than almost making it. These are the losses you remember forever.”

Or, as tackle Penei Sewell put it, “That sh— don’t matter.”

The NFC Championship Game crowd was nothing like it was a week before in Ford Field.

The atmosphere inside Levi’s Stadium as the Lions faced the 49ers was relatively subdued early, save for the smattering of Honolulu Blue in the stands aptly screaming their heads off at every little inkling of excitement. But for the Faithful, it felt like just another game in the Bay.

The Detroit Lions marched down the field and scored in four plays. That helped quiet the home fans down, too.

But the 49ers have been here before… and so have their fans.

As the night got longer, the Faithful cheers got louder.

They reached peak levels on an Elijah Mitchell touchdown run from three yards out late in the fourth quarter that capped off 27 unanswered points. It was San Francisco’s second touchdown in the second half off downs and sealed the game.

Because you live by the ways of Dan Campbell, and occasionally you can die by them, too.

The Lions went for it on fourth down three times throughout the game, though not when they had all the momentum going their way at the end of the first half. Incidentally, that decision may be the one most people take exception to when looking back on the game. Instead of trying for a touchdown on…

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Publish date : 2024-01-29 05:27:04

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