Lions head into Sunday’s NFC North title clash with momentum after defeating 49ers

Jared Goff (30) passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns, while Jahmyr Gibbs (22) rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on Monday, leading the Detroit Lions to a 40-34 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

With this win, the Lions improved their record to 14-2, tying with Minnesota at the top of the NFC North division. This sets up a crucial matchup between the two teams next week in Detroit, which will determine the top seed for the NFC playoffs.

The Lions boast the highest-scoring offense in the NFL; however, their defense has been plagued by injuries and struggled once again to contain the 49ers.

Goff and San Francisco's Brock Purdy, who achieved a career-high 377 passing yards along with three touchdowns and a rushing score, started the game by completing their first 15 passes, showcasing an offensive dominance as Detroit began to rally in the second half.

Goff connected with Sam LaPorta for a 6-yard touchdown pass and followed it with a 2-point conversion to Tim Patrick, leveling the score at 21-21 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

The 49ers (6-10) quickly responded, with Purdy throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel, but Detroit's Jake Bates countered with a 57-yard field goal to narrow the gap.

Following an interception by Kerby Joseph off a Purdy pass, the Lions took their first lead of the game when Goff threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, putting Detroit ahead 31-28.

Bates then added a 42-yard field goal to extend the Lions' lead, while Joseph recorded another interception, his ninth of the season, halting a 49ers drive.

This turnover paved the way for a 30-yard touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs, and despite a missed conversion attempt, Detroit held a 40-28 advantage with 2:58 left on the clock.

Joshua Dodds scored on a 7-yard run for the 49ers with 43 seconds remaining, establishing the final score.

The winner of next week's Lions-Vikings clash will secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, while the losing team will enter as a wildcard fifth seed, facing a playoff journey on the road.

This season finale will mark a historic moment, as no teams in NFL history have concluded a season with such a high number of combined victories.