Rapid Rewind: Joseph, Lions defense put clamps on 49ers in second half as part of puntless game

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Santa Clara, Calif. — Neither defense could muster a stop in the first half, but only the Detroit Lions were able to sustain the torrid scoring pace the final two quarters.

Fueled by two Kerby Joseph interceptions, the Lions' defense held the San Francisco 49ers to just 14 points after allowing touchdowns on the opposition’s first three possessions as Detroit held on for a 40-34 victory at Levi's Stadium Monday night.

San Francisco held an eight-point lead at the half after the teams combined for nearly 500 yards of offense by the break. But the Lions tied the game on the first drive of the third quarter and never let their foot off the gas, scoring all five possessions in the second half before taking a knee to end the contest.

Interestingly, neither team punted in the contest.

The win extends Detroit’s franchise record win total to 14, leading into next week’s colossal matchup with the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings to determine the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

Game ball

With two, second-half interceptions, Kerby Joseph moved to nine on the season. That gives him sole possession of the league lead and is the most by a Lions defender since Jimmy “Spiderman” Allen snagged nine in 1981.

Scoring summary

First quarter

● 8:37 — Taking the opening kickoff, the 49ers drove 61 yards with 11 plays. Leaning on a diverse run game, four different players carried the ball, but it was quarterback Brock Purdy who put the finishing touches on the possession, completing all three of his throws, including a 3-yard touchdown toss to rookie Ricky Pearsall. 49ERS 7, LIONS 0

● 3:42 — Detroit countered with a touchdown drive fueled by running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and Craig Reynolds. Gibbs racked up 32 yards on three carries, while Reynolds added 26 on a swing route, setting up first-and-goal. On third-and-goal from the 3, receiver Jameson Williams took an end-around out of motion and high-stepped across the goal line. Jake Bates had his extra point blocked, leaving the Lions down a point in the early-going. 49ERS 7, LIONS 6

Second quarter

● 14:53 — It looks like we might have a track meet on our hands. The 49ers kept the touchdown parade going with a six-play scoring drive. Purdy stayed perfect on the night, going 4-for-4 with a 9-yard dump-off to fullback Kyle Juszczyk to cap it. 49ERS 14, LIONS 6

● 10:09 — Things didn’t look good after a holding call and a sack had the Lions facing second-and-23 near midfield. But offensive coordinator Ben Johnson dialed up a hook-and-ladder on third down and Williams got the corner after taking the pitch from St. Brown, racing 41 yards down the right sideline to help the Lions keep pace. 49ERS 14, LIONS 13

● 6:13 — There have been 15 passes attempted between the two quarterbacks and zero incompletions. Taking advantage of cornerback Terrion Arnold and Brian Branch colliding, Purdy found Pearsall for a 40-yard gain, setting up a 9-yard scoring scramble for the QB. 49ERS 21, LIONS 13

Third quarter

● 9:58 — After a brief scoring lull to end the first half, quarterback Jared Goff came out of the locker room slinging it, completing 5-of-6 for 58 yards, ending the possession with a 6-yard scoring strike to tight end Sam LaPorta across the middle. A successful 2-point try from the QB to Tim Patrick drew Detroit even. LIONS 21, 49ERS 21

● 7:40 — The 49ers’ counterpunch was 70 yards in six plays. Back-to-back completions to Pearsall and All-Pro tight end George Kittle netted 61 yards, leading to a 5-yard tap pass to Deebo Samuel. 49ERS 28, LIONS 21

● 4:25 — A 28-yard pass to LaPorta quickly moved the Lions across midfield, but Goff was dropped far behind the line of scrimmage by Nick Bosa on third down, leaving the Lions to settle for a 57-yard Jake Bates field goal. 49ERS 28, LIONS 24

● 0:19 — Taking over in San Francisco territory after an interception, the Lions moved into the red zone, before starting to sputter. Facing fourth-and-goal at the 4-yard line, the offense stayed on the field, allowing Goff to find St. Brown for the go-ahead score. LIONS 31, 49ERS 28

Fourth quarter

● 10:29 — After another fourth-down conversion near midfield, the Lions managed to squeeze three points out of a drive with a 42-yard Bates field goal. LIONS 34, 49ERS 28

● 2:58 — Gibbs delivered the nail in the 49ers’ coffin, getting around the right edge for a 30-yard touchdown. LIONS 40, 49ERS 28

● 0:43 — After pulling Purdy, backup quarterback Josh Dobbs led a 11-play, 72-yard scoring drive that he polished off with a 7-yard scoring run. The 49ers missed the extra point. LIONS 40, 49ERS 34

Turnovers

● Joseph regained the NFL lead with his eighth interception of the season. Purdy overshot Pearsall on the third-quarter target. It marked the defense’s first pick in the last six games.

● Holding a six-point lead halfway through the fourth quarter, Joseph undercut a throw intended for Pearsall for his second interception of the game and ninth of the season.

Key stats

● Goff was stellar in the victory, completing 26-of-34 for 303 yards and three touchdowns.

● Gibbs blew past the century mark with his 30-yard score in the fourth quarter, finishing with 117 yards and the touchdown with 18 carries.

● Williams led Detroit’s pass catchers with five grabs for 77 yards. Three Lions finished with 60 or more yards receiving.

● Jack Campbell paced the Lions with nine tackles. Myles Adams and Brian Branch added sacks for the Lions.

Notable

● St. Brown moved past Golden Tate for fifth place on the team’s all-time receptions list and sixth on the team’s receiving yardage ranking.

● After five consecutive touchdown drives to open the contest, the Lions turned it over on downs deep in 49ers territory, then kicker Jake Moody missed a 51-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half on the ensuing drive.

● Penei Sewell left for the locker room at the end of the first half, missing his first offensive snap since Week 2.

● The Lions became the second team in NFL history with four players amassing 1,000 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns in a single season, joining the 2004 Indianapolis Colts.

● Bates reset the franchise’s single-season scoring record, passing Jason Hanson’s 2012 campaign.

Injuries

● None.

Inactives

Beyond running back David Montgomery, who was ruled out on Saturday with a knee injury, the Lions made the following players inactive: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, offensive tackle Giovani Manu, guard Kayode Awosika, offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal, defensive lineman Jonah Williams and defensive tackle Brodric Martin.

Next game

The Lions will play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football in a game that will determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC.