Detroit Zoo’s Wishing Tree sending up wish for Lions Super Bowl win
Detroit Zoo’s Wishing Tree will send your worldly wishes up for consideration during Wild Lights exhibit. The tree is interviewed by Georgea Kovanis.
Yes, some of the luster has rubbed off the Detroit Lions’ matchup tonight with the San Francisco 49ers. The rematch of January’s NFC championship game — have you heard? — is more for bragging rights, with the Minnesota Vikings’ victory Sunday afternoon setting up a winner-takes-all showdown for the NFC North, the NFC’s 1-seed and a first-round playoff bye (and the ensuing homefield advantage until Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans).
But there’s still some history at stake tonight in Santa Clara, California.
First, a win would give the Lions 14 victories in the regular season, matching the franchise record — set just last year — for combined regular-season and playoff wins. Not only that, but a win at Levi’s Stadium would be the Lions’ eighth in eight tries and would make them the first team in franchise history to go 8-0 on the road (with the NFL only playing eight road games since 1978) and the second to go unbeaten at all. (The 1961 Lions went 6-0-1 on the road, with their tie coming against the 49ers, but went just 2-5 at home at Tiger Stadium.)
Four Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on whether the Lions can move closer to the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Dave Birkett
This isn’t the marquee matchup most predicted when the schedule came out in May. The Lions are a leading Super Bowl contender in the NFC, but the 49ers are playing out the string on a disappointing season. They’re averaging just 16.3 points over their past six games and likely don’t have the firepower to beat an explosive Lions team Monday.
The 49ers are too talented and too well-coached to take for granted, and they have enough playmakers on defense that points won’t come as easy for the Lions as they did last week against the Bears. Gibbs is in line for another big game, and as long as Goff keeps the turnovers at bay, the Lions should improve to 14-2 and take another step towards securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The pick: Lions 31, 49ers 21.
Carlos Monarrez
What was supposed to be an epic showdown is sure to turn into an epic beatdown. Maybe not quite to the level we saw in Dallas, but close enough.
The Niners were losing close games with Christian McCaffrey and now that he’s out of the season, they’re getting trucked by teams such as the Dolphins. In the final Monday night game of the season, Ben Johnson is sure to pull out some trickery that will haunt the dreams of defensive coordinators the Lions might face in the playoffs. The pick: Lions 42, 49ers 17.
Jeff Seidel
In a rematch of last season’s NFC title game, everything feels different. The Lions have continued to soar, while the 49ers have struggled through an injury plagued 6-9 season. But the 49ers have scored 30 points in three of their last six games. So, even though San Francisco will play without McCaffrey, the 49ers still have weapons, can still put up points and this will be another test for the Lions banged up defense — a test the Lions are going to pass, even though it will be close enough to feel uncomfortable. The pick: Lions 33, 49ers 31.
Shawn Windsor
If Caleb Williams can throw for at least 300 yards against this reworked Lions defense, then Brock Purdy should be able to move the ball, too. The 49ers are missing some folks, as are the Lions. They still have talent, though, and it won’t be easy for Detroit to put San Francisco away. The 49ers may have struggled to score as of late — six against the Rams, 17 against the Dolphins — but the Lions defense isn’t what it was even two weeks ago. Jared Goff will continue his elite level of play, and the offense makes the plays in the end. The pick: Lions 27, 49ers 24.
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