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The Lions fairytale run continues with a trip to San Francisco to face the number one seed in the NFC Championship Game.
Best Bet
This should be yet another high scoring NFC Championship Game.
The offence has the advantage on both sides of the ball. The 49ers are a run first team – they rank 32nd in pass attempts – but their ability on the ground creates opportunities for their explosive passing attack, as teams focus scheme and personnel on stopping the run.
Quarterback Brock Purdy is no superstar, but he doesn’t need to be with receiving options like George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, while Christian McCaffrey is equally as capable as a runner and a receiver.
The Lions defence has been able to come up with plays at critical times in the offseason but both the Rams and Bucs were able to move the football easily, putting up more than 400 yards in the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds.
Purdy struggled at times last week against the Packers, but that seemed to be largely due to the wet conditions. With good weather forecast for this game, expect the former last overall draft pick to play much better.
Detroit’s offence is helmed by a former first overall pick and Jared Goff has certainly played like it this postseason, putting up nearly 600 yards passing across the two games with three touchdown passes and no turnovers.
Goff needs to overcome what can only be called a poor record against the 49ers, but he has an excellent run game to lean on and in Ben Johnson, an outstanding offensive co-ordinator who is developing a reputation for exploiting the weaknesses of opponents.
For the 49ers, that might be run game. They gave up 136 yards on the ground to the Packers last week and the Lions star studded offensive line will be primed to once again pave the way for Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
The over has hit in 14 of the last 20 NFC title games and both teams in this one are more than capable of doing their share of scoring.
Same Game Multi
Expecting the 49ers to lean heavily on the run game, especially after Purdy’s ordinary performance last week. Goff is certainly capable of running up a big passing yards number, even if it becomes a blowout loss.
Value Bet
It’s fairly obvious but sometimes it pays not to overthink things. McCaffrey has the first score for the 49ers in seven games this season and in a playoff game, expect the home team to lean on their proven performer.