Monday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium produced an offensive shootout as the Detroit Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers 40-34 behind Kerby Joseph’s two game-changing interceptions. Joseph jumped routes over the middle twice in the second half, which directly led to scoring drives that clinched Detroit’s revenge victory on the same field where their 2023 season ended in the NFC Championship.
Jared Goff carved up the 49ers’ secondary for 303 yards and three touchdowns without an interception while Jahmyr Gibbs piled up 163 total yards. Detroit improved to 14-2 and completed a perfect 8-0 road season to set up a winner-take-all showdown with Minnesota for the NFC’s top seed. San Francisco dropped to 6-10, closing a disappointing 2024 campaign.
Game at a Glance
Final Score: Lions 40, 49ers 34
Game Changer: Kerby Joseph’s 2 interceptions in the second half
Top Performer: Jahmyr Gibbs (117 rush yards, 46 receiving yards, 1 TD)
Key Stat: Detroit 0 turnovers, San Francisco 2 turnovers
Historic Note: Neither team punted the entire game
Table of Contents
- Game at a Glance
- Lions vs 49ers Quarterback Stats
- Detroit Running Back Performance
- Receiving Stats: Lions and 49ers Leaders
- Defensive Statistics from Monday Night
- Detroit Lions vs San Francisco 49ers Team Comparison
- Special Teams Performance Analysis
- Game Flow: How Detroit Took Control
- Playoff Implications for Detroit
Lions vs 49ers Quarterback Stats
| Category | Jared Goff (DET) | Brock Purdy (SF) | Joshua Dobbs (SF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comp/Att | 26/34 | 27/35 | 3/4 |
| Completion % | 76.5% | 77.1% | 75.0% |
| Passing Yards | 303 | 377 | 35 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.9 | 10.8 | 8.8 |
| Touchdowns | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Sacks/Yards Lost | 2/16 | 2/12 | 0/0 |
| Passer Rating | 132.4 | 116.0 | 101.0 |
The Lions-49ers quarterback duel featured contrasting performances in ball security. Goff operated with surgical precision, connected with six different receivers, and maintained perfect ball security despite constant pressure from Nick Bosa. His 132.4 passer rating marked his fourth consecutive game with at least three touchdown passes.
On third downs, he completed seven of nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown to move the chains throughout. “That’s the only way we know. It’s just go and find a way to win,” Goff said postgame. “This is what ended our season last year. There’s a lot of guys on this team that were there last year that wanted to get one back on them.”
Purdy posted bigger yardage totals but his two critical second-half interceptions to Joseph changed everything. He completed his first 10 passes before Detroit’s defense adjusted. Per ESPN’s game recap, Purdy exited late after suffering an elbow injury on a sack by Brian Branch. Backup Joshua Dobbs finished the game and scored on a seven-yard rushing touchdown in the final minute.
Detroit Running Back Performance
| Lions Rushers | Carries | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 18 | 117 | 6.5 | 1 | 30 |
| Craig Reynolds | 7 | 31 | 4.4 | 0 | 9 |
| Jermar Jefferson | 3 | 9 | 3.0 | 0 | 8 |
| Jameson Williams | 2 | -2 | -1.0 | 1 | 3 |
| Team Total | 33 | 152 | 4.6 | 2 | 30 |
| 49ers Rushers | Carries | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac Guerendo | 9 | 34 | 3.8 | 0 | 11 |
| Deebo Samuel | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 0 | 9 |
| Brock Purdy | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 1 | 9 |
| Joshua Dobbs | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 1 | 7 |
| Ricky Pearsall | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 4 |
| Team Total | 18 | 75 | 4.2 | 2 | 11 |
While the passing game grabbed headlines, Detroit’s ground attack provided the knockout blow. Gibbs exploded for 117 yards on 18 carries at a 6.5-yard average. The fourth-quarter 30-yard touchdown sealed the victory when he burst through a hole behind right tackle Penei Sewell, then used his elite speed to pull away from the secondary.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Gibbs gained 85 yards before contact, the second-most of his career. He also caught four passes for 46 yards and finished with 163 total yards from scrimmage. San Francisco managed just 75 rushing yards on 18 attempts and abandoned the run game after falling behind with a pass-heavy approach of 40 attempts compared to 18 runs.
Receiving Stats: Lions and 49ers Leaders
| Lions Receivers | Rec | Targets | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 8 | 10 | 60 | 7.5 | 1 | 14 |
| Sam LaPorta | 6 | 8 | 64 | 10.7 | 1 | 28 |
| Jameson Williams | 5 | 8 | 77 | 15.4 | 1 | 41 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 4 | 4 | 46 | 11.5 | 0 | 19 |
| Craig Reynolds | 2 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 0 | 26 |
| Allen Robinson | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 0 | 21 |
| 49ers Receivers | Rec | Targets | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Pearsall | 8 | 10 | 141 | 17.6 | 1 | 40 |
| George Kittle | 8 | 8 | 112 | 14.0 | 0 | 22 |
| Jauan Jennings | 7 | 10 | 67 | 9.6 | 0 | 15 |
| Isaac Guerendo | 4 | 4 | 65 | 16.3 | 0 | 40 |
| Kyle Juszczyk | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9.0 | 1 | 9 |
| Deebo Samuel | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 | 5 |
Williams’ 42-yard hook-and-lateral touchdown and Pearsall’s 141 receiving yards created explosive plays for both teams. Williams scored twice for Detroit, including the spectacular trick play on third-and-12. Goff threw to St. Brown, who immediately pitched to Williams as he crossed behind him. The speedster raced untouched down the right sideline while offensive coordinator Ben Johnson celebrated the perfect execution. Williams also scored on a three-yard reverse in the first quarter.
St. Brown’s most critical catch came on fourth-and-goal from the four in the third quarter. Dan Campbell kept the offense on the field, and Goff found St. Brown completely uncovered in the flat for the go-ahead touchdown. LaPorta’s six-yard scoring grab on third-and-goal tied the game at 21 on the opening drive of the second half.
Pearsall enjoyed a breakout performance for San Francisco despite the loss. The first-round rookie hauled in eight catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. According to the 49ers, Pearsall became the first San Francisco rookie receiver to eclipse 100 yards since Brandon Aiyuk in 2020. Kittle caught all eight targets for 112 yards to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the season. This marked his fourth career 1,000-yard campaign and made him the first tight end in franchise history to accomplish the feat four times. He joined Travis Kelce, Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, and Jason Witten as the only tight ends in NFL history with four 1,000-yard seasons.
Defensive Statistics from Monday Night
| Lions Defense | Total | Solo | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Campbell | 9 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Branch | 7 | 4 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrion Arnold | 6 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kerby Joseph | 6 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Trevor Nowaske | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 49ers Defense | Total | Solo | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deommodore Lenoir | 9 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bosa | 8 | 5 | 2.0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dee Winters | 8 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaac Yiadom | 7 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Talanoa Hufanga | 6 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fred Warner | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Individual defensive statistics from Monday’s contest highlighted Joseph’s game-changing playmaking ability. His two interceptions swung the game decisively and gave Detroit 14 points off turnovers. The first interception came midway through the third quarter with San Francisco leading 28-24.
Brian Branch drew a pass interference penalty and moved the 49ers past midfield. On the next play, Purdy’s pass over the middle sailed high and Joseph, playing centerfield in cover-2, broke on the ball and picked it at the 43-yard line. Five plays later, on fourth-and-goal from the four, Goff found St. Brown for the go-ahead touchdown.
His second interception came with 7:34 remaining and Detroit leading 34-28. San Francisco faced first-and-10 from the Detroit 36. Joseph read Purdy’s eyes from his deep safety position, jumped the route before Purdy released the ball, and intercepted it at the 25-yard line. He returned it 13 yards to set up Gibbs’ clinching touchdown five plays later.
“I still had that chip on my shoulder from last year,” Joseph said after the game. “We were so close and we just came up short.” The interceptions gave Joseph nine for the season, the most by a Lions defender since Jimmy Allen in 1981. Per the Detroit Lions official recap, he moved into sole possession of the NFL lead at the time.
Bosa dictated play at the line of scrimmage despite the loss, with two sacks, four tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits. His third-quarter sack on third-and-three from the San Francisco 31 resulted in a 13-yard loss that forced a 57-yard field goal attempt. His relentless pressure kept Goff uncomfortable throughout the contest.
Detroit Lions vs San Francisco 49ers Team Comparison
| Category | Detroit | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 439 | 475 |
| First Downs | 23 | 29 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 9-14 (64%) | 5-8 (63%) |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 2-3 (67%) | 1-1 (100%) |
| Red Zone Scoring | 3-4 (75%) | 5-5 (100%) |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 6-57 | 5-30 |
| Time of Possession | 34:52 | 25:08 |
The box score comparison between Detroit and San Francisco revealed how the Lions controlled this contest despite being outgained. Detroit dominated time of possession by nearly 10 minutes, which limited San Francisco’s offensive possessions during crucial stretches when the 49ers needed to mount a comeback. The clock control exhausted San Francisco’s depleted roster and prevented their offense from finding rhythm in the fourth quarter.
Detroit’s third-down efficiency proved decisive. The Lions converted nine of 14 attempts at a 64% clip and repeatedly extended drives when San Francisco’s defense needed a stop. Each conversion consumed clock time and moved the chains to build drives that took five, six, seven minutes off the clock. San Francisco never established that same rhythm and converted just five of eight third downs.
Campbell’s aggressive fourth-down philosophy paid dividends. Detroit went two-for-three on fourth-down attempts. The successful conversions included the critical fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to St. Brown that gave them their first lead. His willingness to go for it on fourth down in scoring position demonstrated the confidence Campbell had in his offense.
Per Pro Football Reference, neither team punted during the entire contest as both offenses combined for 914 total yards and 74 points. Joseph’s two interceptions in scoring position gave Detroit 14 points off turnovers while San Francisco outgained Detroit 475-439 but committed two costly turnovers. Detroit protected the football and committed zero turnovers for the fifth time this season.
Special Teams Performance Analysis
| Category | Jake Bates (DET) | Jake Moody (SF) |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 2-2 | 0-2 |
| Field Goal Long | 57 yards | Missed 51, 58 |
| Extra Points | 2-4 | 4-5 |
| Total Points | 8 | 4 |
Bates connected from 57 and 42 yards for Detroit, setting a new franchise single-season scoring record by surpassing Jason Hanson’s 2012 mark of 134 points on his 57-yarder. His accuracy kept Detroit ahead when the offense stalled in field goal range.
Moody’s nightmare performance loomed over every 49ers’ possession and proved insurmountable in Detroit’s six-point victory. The 51-yard miss before halftime kept the score at 21-13 when San Francisco could have pushed it to 24-13, which forced Detroit to score three times to take the lead instead of twice. The three-point swing changed the entire complexion of the second half.
His 58-yard attempt in the fourth quarter carried even more weight. With San Francisco trailing 34-28 and 13:25 remaining, a make would have cut the lead to three points and put immense pressure on Detroit’s offense. Instead, it hooked wide left and gave the Lions possession at their own 48-yard line with excellent field position.
Detroit drove for a field goal to extend the lead to 37-28 and effectively ended San Francisco’s comeback hopes. Moody also pushed an extra point wide right after Dobbs’ late touchdown, the final indignity in a disastrous outing. His onside kick sailed out of bounds to seal the loss. All told, Moody left seven potential points on the board in a six-point defeat. Jordan Elliott blocked Bates’ extra point in the first quarter, recovered by Fred Warner, providing San Francisco’s lone special teams highlight.
Game Flow: How Detroit Took Control
San Francisco scored touchdowns on its first three possessions to build a 21-13 halftime lead. Pearsall caught a three-yard touchdown on the opening drive, Juszczyk hauled in a nine-yard score, and Purdy scrambled nine yards for a touchdown. Detroit tied it at 21 on the opening drive of the second half when Goff hit LaPorta for a six-yard touchdown, then threw a two-point conversion to Tim Patrick.
San Francisco answered with Samuel’s five-yard touchdown catch to go back ahead 28-21. Joseph’s first interception set up St. Brown’s go-ahead touchdown for a 31-28 lead. Bates extended it to 34-28 early in the fourth. Joseph’s second pick gave Detroit possession at their own 38 and led to Gibbs’ 30-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 40-28.
Playoff Implications for Detroit
This victory set up a monumental Week 18 showdown. Detroit and Minnesota, both 14-2, were set to meet at Ford Field on Sunday Night Football with the NFC North title and conference’s top seed on the line. The winner would earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Dan Campbell addressed his decision to play starters: “I ended up settling on the right thing to do was playing those guys. We owed it to the team.” Detroit finished 8-0 on the road for just the second time in franchise history. The Lions tied the NFL record with their sixth 40-point performance of the season. Their 533 points ranked 11th all-time in NFL history at 33.3 per game.
For San Francisco, the loss dropped them to 6-10 and secured last place in the NFC West. Kyle Shanahan confirmed Purdy suffered a right elbow injury on Branch’s late sack, though initial testing showed the surgically repaired ligament from his 2022 NFC Championship injury remained intact. For comprehensive player stats and game analysis from across the league, visit Match vs Player Stats for complete coverage.
This Monday night matchup between Detroit and San Francisco captured two teams heading in opposite directions as the season reached its climax.
