Jared Goff caught three touchdown passes as the Detroit Lions beat the San Francisco 49ers 40-34 in a high-scoring thriller on Monday Night Football.
After the 49ers impressed in the first half, taking a 21-13 halftime lead, the Lions took the lead late in the third quarter through the Amon-Ra St Brown offense and didn’t relinquish it as they avenged last year’s NFC championship loss to San Francisco.
The battered 49ers (6-10) were already shut out of a playoff return, while the Lions (14-2) now head into a final week’s showdown for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the postseason — Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
Quarterback Jared Goff celebrates Detroit Lions touchdown with wide receiver Amon-Ra St Brown
Statistics leaders
Detroit Lions.
- Transition. Jared Goff, 26/34, 303 yards, 3 TDs
- In a hurry. Jahmyr Gibbs, 18 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving. Jameson Williams, 5 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD
San Francisco 49ers.
- Transition. Brock Purdy, 27/35, 377 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
- In a hurry. Isaac Gerendo, 9 carries, 34 yards
- Getting. Ricky Pearsall, 8 catches, 141 yards, 1 TD
Summary of points
Jaheem Gibbs, who rushed for 117 yards, capped the game with a 30-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes remaining after 49ers QB Brock Purdy’s second interception.
Both offenses dominated most of the night, with both teams scoring touchdowns on the first five possessions of the contest; to a 42-yard TD for the Lions.
Goff threw a short pass to St. Brown, who immediately got the ball to Jameson Williams, who scampered down the sideline for the final 41 yards and his second score of the first half.
The only stops of the half came when Renardo Greene broke up a pass from Goff to Sam LaPorta in the end zone and when Jake Moody missed a 51-yard field goal for San Francisco in the dying seconds.
Purdy threw a five-yard TD pass to Deebo Samuel late in San Francisco’s first half before Detroit’s defense was finally able to stop Kirby Joseph’s two interceptions on Purdy’s first down.
Goff turned it into St. Brown’s fourth-and-goal to give the Lions their first lead in the final minute of the third quarter.
Moody would miss another 58-yard field goal that would have tied the game early in the fourth, while he also missed an extra point attempt after Joshua Dobbs’ consolation goal in San Francisco.
