Gardner-Johnson’s Farewell Gesture Takes a Turn for the Worse as 49ers Stage Incredible Comeback
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson certainly learned that the hard way Sunday as the 49ers scored 27 unanswered points en route to a 34-31 comeback NFC Championship Game victory at Levi’s Stadium.
Before things went downhill for Detroit, Gardner-Johnson celebrated after the Lions went up 21-7 in the second quarter by waving goodbye to the 49ers Faithful.
A bit premature, no?
Rather than the Lions completing their Cinderella story, Brock Purdy and the 49ers regrouped at halftime and roared back to avoid their third straight NFC title game loss and advance to Super Bowl LVIII, sending Detroit packing.
San Francisco’s ultimate 17-point comeback win is tied for the largest comeback in NFC Championship history.
And after the win, perhaps Gardner-Johnson was subjected to some farewell waves from the Faithful on his way out.
The first half was all Lions. The second half is all 49ers.
San Francisco has scored 20 unanswered points to take a 27-24 lead.
Jake Moody kicked a 33-yard field goal with 9:52 remaining to give the 49ers their first lead of the game. It completed an 11-play, 65-yard drive.
The Lions got away with a roughing penalty that would have kept the 49ers’ drive alive when James Houston lowered his head with forceable contact to Brock Purdy’s head on a sack.
Not much else has gone the Lions’ way in the second half, though.
Purdy is 18-of-29 for 255 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and Christian McCaffrey has run for 56 yards and two touchdowns.
Plenty of history was made in the 49ers’ NFC Championship Game comeback win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, including San Francisco setting an impressive NFL playoff record.
By virtue of their 34-31 victory over the Lions, the 49ers now have the most playoff wins in NFL history with 38, surpassing the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots.
The mark is a significant milestone for the franchise as the 49ers advance to their eighth Super Bowl and look to win the big game for the first time since 1995.
San Francisco has appeared in 35 percent of all NFC Championship games since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, with its 19 appearances being the most in the NFC and the most conference championship appearances by any team.
Brock Purdy had another solid game for the 49ers after settling into the game throwing for 267 yards and 1 touchdown as San Francisco’s defense made just enough critical plays to hold off Detroit’s explosive offense.
The 49ers are now tied for the second-most Super Bowl appearances with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. The Patriots currently have the most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history with 11.
San Francisco will look to avenge its previous two Super Bowl losses and win the franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy. The 49ers are tied with the Cowboys for second place with five Super Bowl victories, with the Patriots and Steelers tied for first place with six.
The 49ers will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.