The Lions had the easiest path to the Conference Championship Round of the four remaining teams, beating the Rams and Bucs. However, this team doesn’t have many impressive wins against elite teams. Their 12 regular-season wins came against average or poor teams, failing to beat a team that made the playoffs after Week 6. The Lions have been able to skate by with a weak pass defense, but the Niners will expose that, even if Deebo Samuel doesn’t play. While they have been a team of destiny, they will find a very different energy when they step onto Levi Field on Sunday.
The Niners have more talent than any team in the league. They have some of the top playmakers in the game on both sides of the ball, and it led them to the NFC’s top seed. Many of the team’s starters were rested in Week 18 and had a bye in the Wild Card Round, meaning they had not played for two weeks. It caused them to come out flat against a hot Green Bay team and almost cost them their season. They managed to survive, breaking a brutal postseason record in the process. That scare will have them locked in from the starting whistle on Sunday, resulting in a blowout of a vulnerable Lions team.
Lions injury report
- Alex Anzalone LB - Q
- Kalif Raymond WR - Q
- James Houston LB - Q
- Jonah Jackson G - D
- Frank Ragnow C - Q
49ers injury report
- Deebo Samuel WR - Q
- Clelin Ferrell DE - IR