On deck: While Lions have managed to survive injuries, the 49ers have been undone by them
Allen Park — No one around these parts will soon forget what happened the last time the Detroit Lions faced the San Francisco 49ers.
With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line last January, the visiting Lions jumped out to a 17-point lead at the half, before the dream came undone. The typically sure-handed Josh Reynolds dropped a would-be fourth-down conversion. Two snaps later, a deep ball ricocheted off the helmet of cornerback Kindle Vildor into the waiting hands of 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk for a 51-yard gain that sparked a long touchdown drive. And on the first play of Detroit's ensuing possession, running back Jahmyr Gibbs lost a fumble.
A little less than 12 minutes into the third quarter, Detroit’s lead was gone and never recovered. They would ultimately drop the heartbreaking decision, 34-31.
Those 49ers were the NFC’s best team, not just that day, but that season. They were the conference’s No. 1 seed, clinching home-field advantage through the Super Bowl in a primetime matchup the week before the regular season finale.
It’s interesting how the tables have turned in 11 months. On Monday, the Lions return as visitors for a primetime game with the potential to secure the NFC’s top seed, pending the result of Green Bay and Minnesota a day earlier.
The 49ers, meanwhile, are free to start making vacation plans after being officially eliminated from postseason contention last week.