Three Playoffs Thoughts: Lions at 49ers
San Francisco advances to the Super Bowl after a huge comeback win over Detroit.
The San Francisco 49ers displayed an incredible flair for the dramatic, requiring a 27-0 run in the second half to reverse the tide of the NFC Championship Game and defeat the Detroit Lions 34-31. This victory propels them to Super Bowl 58, where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch.
These are my Three Thoughts:
– Detroit had them. Green Bay had them. And yet, the 49ers did exactly what everyone expected them to do by the end and “figure it out” – which is a very admirable quality.
The playoffs are a different animal and you always wonder if your team can summon up some sort of championship mettle on your way to a championship (you hope). Can you respond to adversity – often of your own doing – and detangle a mess in real time.
Over the past two weeks, two key revelations about the 49ers have surfaced:
They aren't as invincible as we may have believed at certain points this season (Hello, Cowboys, you made us think they were an indestructible force). They seem to grapple with issues that could potentially hinder their 29-year quest for another Lombardi Trophy.
They exude a unique character, confident in their ability to find solutions over four quarters and seize victory by the finish line. While this confidence might face challenges on a neutral field against an all-time dynasty attempt, we shouldn't underestimate how well this team responds to challenges and their knack for making crucial plays at pivotal moments. While sample sizes may catch up with them in the long term, in the NFL playoffs, where you only need to "figure it out" three times (if you have the bye), success leads to a date with football immortality. Despite subjective labels, their objective results include two playoff wins, each time overcoming the looming possibility of defeat.
The Lions hit them hard, leading 24-7 at halftime and seemingly following the playbook to put the 49ers at a significant disadvantage. The narrative suggested they weren't built to come from behind. Yet, when challenged and placed in difficult positions, they extricated themselves from danger on both occasions. The significance of this ability cannot be underestimated, especially considering the intense scrutiny of the football world.
Acknowledging the assistance they received in both games, we can't disregard the difficulty of finding solutions while repairing the airplane mid-flight. Many lesser teams have succumbed to such challenges, but the 49ers found solutions against Green Bay and now Detroit. Despite being in precarious situations, both opponents believed they had the 49ers cornered. However, that wasn't the case, underscoring the essence of these moments—where one team secures the win, and the other is left with stories about how close they came.
– This Dan Campbell discussion is a bit of a heart-breaker for your boy, here.
I've always been hesitant to criticize or label head coaches for team losses, understanding the challenges of making intelligent decisions in high-pressure moments. Moreover, I believe only a handful of individuals could elevate Detroit Lions football to its current level.
However, my friend and, in some ways, a personal hero is likely to endure scrutiny for his decisions throughout his career, and that saddens me.
Dan Campbell is truly unique, instilling in his team a determination to do things differently from their opponents. He emphasizes resilience and courage in the face of the most challenging situations, often opting for strategies with gamble-worthy percentages, despite the fear of potential criticism.
But what if you're unfazed by what people say? What if you're willing to disregard critics because you're attempting to achieve something unprecedented with Detroit Lions football? The franchise has adhered to conventional thinking for six decades without a single Super Bowl appearance. What if departing from conventional strategies becomes your identity and brand? What if that unconventional approach is the very reason you're in the game? You've taken risks to reach the final table of the tournament, and the odds have smiled upon you.
Now, imagine reaching that final table only to find that your usual methods prove untenable for the specific situation. Do you stick with what brought you there, or do you adapt to the unique circumstances by trying something different?
Campbell faced this dilemma at three critical junctures on Sunday in the most significant moment of his career: