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San Francisco 49ers Declaw The Lions, Move On To Super Bowl: Photos

It was a tale of two halves with the Detroit Lions mauling the 49ers in the first half, and the 49ers dominating the second half.

Bea Karnes, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, left, talks with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff after the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, left, talks with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff after the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

SAN FRANCISCO — If you suffered through the first half of Sunday's San Francisco 49ers - Detroit Lions game, you would be forgiven if you thought there was no way that California would have a team in the Super Bowl. Down 17 at the half, the Brock Purdy-led Niners gave the 49er Faithful a beautiful second half, posting a final score of 34-31.

Purdy threw for 267 yards and a touchdown, while Christian McCaffrey had two TD runs and Elijah Mitchell scored on a 3-yard dash after McCaffrey landed on his head. He was fine after the game as he pumped-up fans from the victor's podium at Levi's Stadium.

The NFC championship game went into halftime with Detroit leading 24-7.

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The 49ers got fired-up in the locker room and began the third quarter by scoring 17 unanswered points in eight minutes.

The 49ers added another 10 points before allowing one final touchdown by the Lions. An onside kick by Detroit was touched by a Lions player before the ball had gone 10 yards. The 49ers took over the ball and ran out the clock.

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Detroit was trying to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

If San Francisco wins the Super Bowl, it will be the first since the 1994 season. The 49ers will face the defending champion Kansas City Chief who defeated the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 earlier Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates after scoring against the Detroit Lions during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) tries to jump over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas (20) during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) catches a pass against Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) celebrates after the Detroit Lions failed to covert on fourth down during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) runs against Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, top, catches a pass against Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) celebrate after a touchdown run by Elijah Mitchell during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) catches a pass against Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Francisco 49ers' running back Christian McCaffrey (23) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, and quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrate after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) and head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, celebrate after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell reacts while speaking at a news conference after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

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