The Detroit Lions (13-2) visit their NFC Championship Game opponent from last season, the San Francisco 49ers (6-9). Our Lions vs 49ers prediction is for favored Detroit to cover the 3.5-point spread.
The Lions’ path to the NFC’s top seed seemed clear a few weeks ago. But their loss to Buffalo and Minnesota’s nine-game winning streak has jeopardized that. Now they need to beat the Vikings in Week 18 to secure it. The 49ers game is irrelevant to the Lions. If they lose to Minnesota, they will fall to the fifth seed.
Head-to-head, San Francisco leads with a record of 40-28-1.
Offshore Odds: Detroit is Favored by 3.5 Points
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | -3.5 (-101) | -177 | O 50.5 (-110) |
| 49ers | +3.5 (-119) | +157 | U 50.5 (-110) |
The Lions’ Season Could Unravel Quickly
Detroit looked unstoppable in its 11-game winning streak when they rose to 12-1. However, that 48-42 loss to the Bills combined with the Vikings’ winning streak has put everything they worked for in doubt.
Their secondary is battered and they have lost running back David Montgomery to a knee injury. Both Montgomery and Aidan Hutchinson (broken fibula) hold out hope that they can rehabilitate in time for the Super Bowl…if they make it that far.
Still, they are in a great position. For extra insurance, this week they signed veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater off the street so they have a proven commodity in case starter Jared Goff gets hurt.
Detroit has been vulnerable to the pass all season, ranked near the bottom in passing yards allowed per game in the NFL.
Although it was not why they lost to Buffalo, head coach Dan Campbell’s ill-fated onside kick will be viewed as the flashpoint to their season coming apart. It’s up to his team to save him.
How Hard Are the 49ers Pushing Here?
San Francisco has an injury list that could fill 20 percent of an expansion team’s roster and they’d be reasonably competent on the field. They’re without Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams, Jordan Mason, and Dre Greenlaw. Nick Bosa is banged up. Quarterback Brock Purdy was dealing with a shoulder issue earlier in the season.
Succinctly, they will undoubtedly play hard with the players they have, but this game means nothing. Objectively, they would probably be better off losing to get a higher draft pick. It’s trendy for broadcasters — particularly former players in the booth — to talk about competitiveness and how players try to win every game. But they also think about their future as individuals.
Again, this is a situation where the veteran players will do the best they can, but if it gets out of hand, they could concede the point.
Lions vs 49ers Prediction: Detroit Will Win by Double-Digits
Expect Detroit to come out firing, end the game early, and get ready for next week.
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