Scouting report: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers, NFC Championship game

NFC Championship

LIONS AT 49ERS

▶ Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.

▶ TV/radio: Fox/97.1 FM

▶ Regular-season records: Both teams are 12-5

▶ Line: 49ers by 7

Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions' NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Key matchup

LIONS RUN GAME VS. 49ERS RUN DEFENSE

On paper, the 49ers' offense versus the Lions' defense is a mismatch. So, assuming the 49ers will “get theirs” in Sunday’s NFC Championship, that puts the onus on the Lions to make sure they don’t fall behind. The Lions have been able to score with anybody this season but have been proven mortal a handful of times; when the run game isn’t going, the Lions haven’t always had an answer. On the flip side, the 49ers were gashed by Green Bay’s run game a week ago, and it almost cost them their season. Aaron Jones ran for 108 yards on 18 carries (6.0 average), but the Packers' offense was largely limited in the second half of a 24-21 defeat.

49ers to watch

▶ Christian McCaffrey, RB: McCaffrey produced 2,000 yards from scrimmage this season with 21 touchdowns, leading the league in both categories while remaining at the forefront of MVP conversations — no easy task as a running back. On the ground, he took 272 carries for 1,459 yards (5.4 average) while scoring 14 times. Can anybody stop McCaffrey? The Lions certainly have one of the best shots. They’ve limited opponents to 3.7 yards per carry this season, good enough for third in the league.

▶ WR Deebo Samuel: The Lions almost caught a break by not having to deal with Samuel in Sunday’s NFC Championship, but after returning to practice on Thursday, he appears ready to go. Samuel is a do-it-all type for a San Francisco offense that likes to, well, do it all. Samuel’s best season came in 2021, when he caught 121 passes for 1,405 yards, but even though his production hasn’t quite those levels this season, his presence on the field is enough to put fear into the heart of a defense. He racked up 1,117 all-purpose yards (892 receiving) over 15 appearances this season, scoring 12 touchdowns. 

▶ EDGE Nick Bosa: The 49ers believe they’re ready to make life difficult for Lions quarterback Jared Goff this Sunday, and there’s no denying they’ve got the personnel, led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa. In 2023, Bosa registered 53 tackles, 10.5 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Over 18 games, including playoffs, he’s compiled 102 pressures, good enough for third in the league behind Aidan Hutchinson (118) and Micah Parsons (106). 

Facts and figures

▶ While the world waited for him to come back to earth, second-year 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has only shined under intense scrutiny. Purdy this season registered eight games with a passer rating above 120.0, tied for the second-most in a single season in NFL history (Aaron Rodgers, 10, 2020).

▶ Sunday will mark the 49ers' 19th NFC Championship appearance, including four in the last five seasons. And yet, it’s San Francisco that believes it’s the team of destiny after a slew of untimely quarterback injuries — Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson were both knocked out with ailments — left them without a fight in last year’s NFC title game at Philadelphia.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi