On Sunday, the Detroit Lions wrote a new chapter in their painful history: a playoff collapse.
Dan Campbell’s team dominated right away, crushing the NFC’s top-seeded San Francisco 49ers to take a 17-point lead at halftime. A celebration in Detroit swiftly devolved into anguish as the Lions lost everything, and the Niners triumphed 34–31 to go to Super Bowl LVIII.
“When you lose that way, it hurts. It’s difficult,” a tearful Campbell remarked. “You feel like you get your heart ripped out.”
The Lions were undone by a string of blunders.
Early in the third quarter, with the score already up 24-10, Campbell passed up a 45-yard field goal on fourth down. Josh Reynolds was wide open after Jared Goff evaded pressure, but the wide receiver was unable to catch the throw. turnover during a downturn. There is life for the Niners.
Kindle Vildor, a cornerback for the Lions, had a potential interception on the next drive, but Brandon Aiyuk caught it off his facemask, giving the Niners a 51-yard gain that was converted into a touchdown.
On Sunday, the Detroit Lions wrote a new chapter in their painful history: a playoff collapse.
Dan Campbell’s team dominated right away, crushing the NFC’s top-seeded San Francisco 49ers to take a 17-point lead at halftime. A celebration in Detroit swiftly devolved into anguish as the Lions lost everything, and the Niners triumphed 34–31 to go to Super Bowl LVIII.
“When you lose that way, it hurts. It’s difficult,” a tearful Campbell remarked. “You feel like you get your heart ripped out.”
The Lions were undone by a string of blunders.
