By Colton Pouncy, Matt Barrows and Alex Andrejev

Despite a struggling defense, the Detroit Lions actually gave it their all to win 40-34 over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, improving to 14-2 and gaining momentum heading into next week’s deciding game against the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC’s top seed brought.

While neither team was in contention for the postseason, with the Lions already locked in and the 49ers eliminated from playoff contention, there was still plenty of pride on the line as Detroit looked to avenge its loss in last season’s NFC Championship Game .

The Lions faced a formidable Niners offense as receiver Ricky Pearsall had an outstanding night while running back Isaac Guerendo led San Francisco’s ground game. Quarterback Brock Purdy started hot, connecting with Pearsall and Kyle Juszczyk for touchdowns and even scoring in the second quarter to give San Francisco a 21-13 halftime lead.

But Purdy also threw two interceptions and sat out the final minutes. Team doctors examined him on the sideline as substitute Joshua Dobbs made up for the loss. Although Dobbs scored on a 7-yard run, it wasn’t enough to erase the deficit.

Brock Purdy said initial tests on his UCL (elbow ligament) were fine, but his arm felt “on fire” after he was released, from behind. He said he would have an MRI tomorrow to get a better idea of ​​the severity of the problem.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) December 31, 2024

The Lions’ offense, however, never seemed to be out of balance, as quarterback Jared Goff threw for 303 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Detroit also rushed for 152 yards, with running back Jahmyr Gibbs leading the way with 18 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown.

“We flew here. We prepared like this. “We came to win,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “And that’s how it ended up, and yes, you do, you keep your fingers crossed that no one gets hurt.”

Another explosive night for the Lions offense

The Lions’ formula for success this postseason is to outscore their opponents. I know it’s a high level analysis – but that’s exactly the point. Their defense isn’t what it used to be, so the pressure will be on the offense to win shootouts like the one we saw on Monday night.

The good news is that Detroit has the horses to do it. Goff was outstanding again, leading an offense that needs to be at its best week in and week out. In the last four games, he has thrown for 1,416 yards, 14 touchdowns and just one interception. The Lions recorded 441 yards of offense and 40 points. To the defense’s credit, only 13 points were allowed in the second half – six of them in the final minute of the half. Not pretty, but the Lions can handle it. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer

Detroit needs more defense for Sunday’s showdown

The Lions’ 14 wins are the most they have achieved in a regular season in franchise history. And yet they will play Minnesota in Week 18 to crown the NFC North winner and the conference’s No. 1 seed. The stakes are as high as you can get in a regular season game.

Detroit’s shaky defense was good enough on Monday night, but it needs to be even better next week against Sam Darnold, Justin Jefferson and Co. That unit will be in the spotlight when “Sunday Night Football” comes to Detroit for the biggest game of the year. — Pouncy

Purdy-Pearsall connection sees progress, not perfection

It was a productive – if certainly not perfect – performance for Purdy and Pearsall on Monday, with the rookie wideout catching eight passes for 141 yards, both season highs. Their connection was questionable earlier this season when Pearsall went three games without a catch. However, the two have spent extra time after practice in recent weeks building a connection that may have been missing after Pearsall missed much of training camp due to injury and was recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest early in the regular season.

It wasn’t a flawless day for the duo. Purdy rushed Pearsall in the third quarter and telegraphed a pass to him in the fourth quarter. The throws led to Purdy’s 11th and 12th interceptions in a 15-start season. Last year he threw 11 in 16 starts. — Matt Barrows, 49ers beat writer

Jake Moody misses despite recent support

Four days after 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan gave Moody strong – and sustained – support, the kicker missed both field goal attempts. The first shot from 51 meters was not close and went wide to the right of the goal. The second, from 58 yards, was also outside the line, this one on the left side. He also missed an extra point.

On Thursday, Shanahan said Moody, who missed from 41 yards in Week 16 at Miami, is “made of the right stuff” and “has all the skills to be a great kicker in this league.” Shanahan asked several questions about the kicker and asked if he endorsed Moody as kicker for next season. However, Moody has already missed nine kicks this season after missing four last year. By Monday, all of Moody’s missteps had been on the way. — wheelbarrow

Required reading

(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)