The 49ers and Lions are set to face off in the 2024 NFC championship game with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
San Francisco is no stranger to this stage, coming up short in the last two NFC championship games.
The 49ers lost to the Eagles in a bizarre fashion last season. Starting quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a serious elbow injury, but after his backup went down, he was forced back into the game despite not being physically able to throw a pass. The year prior, San Francisco fell to the eventual champion Rams on a game-winning field goal with under two minutes to play.
Detroit, on the other hand, is very unfamiliar with this stage. The Lions will be playing in their first NFC championship game since 1992, going over two decades without a single playoff win. The franchise has never been to a Super Bowl, last reaching the title game in 1957 when it was still the “NFL Championship.”
Purdy will hope to lead the 49ers back to the Super Bowl on Sunday, while Jared Goff will try and do the seemingly impossible and lead the Lions into the big game for the first time in the Super Bowl era.
For live updates, highlights, and more from what should be an exciting NFC championship game, The Sporting News has you covered below throughout the night.
MORE: Watch Lions vs. 49ers live with Fubo (free trial)
Lions vs. 49ers score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| 49ers | 0 | 7 | |||
| Lions | 14 | 0 |
Lions vs. 49ers live updates, results, highlights from 2024 NFC Championship
(All times Eastern)
Second quarter
7:33 p.m.: The broadcast has categorized Dre Greenlaw’s injury as a “stinger” and he is expected to return to play.
7:30 p.m.: 49ers star linebacker Dre Greenlaw appeared to have injured his shoulder delivering a hit on Sam LaPorta to keep him short of the first down marker on 3rd & long. San Francisco’s offense will take over from its own 12-yard line after the punt, but Greenlaw’s status will be one to monitor.
7:27 p.m.: Facing a big 3rd & 10 near midfield, Jared Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown who bullied his way to a first down for a gain of 11 to keep the Lions drive alive.
Lions 14, 49ers 7
7:20 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — Christian McCaffrey right up the gut for two yards. The 49ers have woken up.
Scheduled @CMC_22 touchdown tweet. @49ers go 75 yards to cut the deficit to 7.
📺: #DETvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/AwYVXSnA55— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024
7:19 p.m.: Christian McCaffrey shot out of a cannon on a 28-yard reception! The star RB ran over several Lions tacklers to bring the ball down to Detroit’s five-yard line.
CMC running with authority 😤
📺: #DETvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wDlzjUeavN— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024
End of first quarter: Lions 14, 49ers 0
7:15 p.m.: Brock Purdy scrambles to keep the play alive and finds Kyle Juszczyk for a 23-yard reception to inject some life into the Levi’s Stadium crowd after a slow start. The drive will continue from Detroit’s 38 at the start of the second quarter.
Lions 14, 49ers 0
7:10 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — David Montgomery plows through the end zone on a one-yard rush. The Lions have come out and thrown a massive haymaker in the first quarter.
These @Lions are roaring early. 14-0 lead for Detroit! @MontgomerDavid #OnePride
📺: #DETvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/vogJ6RzU1I— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024
7:05 p.m.: The Lions are going right at this elite 49ers defense. Jared Goff has sprayed the ball out to Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown to march into 49ers territory.
7:00 p.m.: MISSED FIELD GOAL — Jake Moody pushes it right from 48 yards out and the 49ers’ first drive comes up scoreless. The Lions will take over from their own 30.
6:53 p.m.: Brock Purdy has the 49ers’ offense moving the ball down the field on their first drive, connecting with Brandon Aiyuk for a gain of 11 yards and Deebo Samuel for a gain of 15 yards. San Francisco is in Detroit’s territory on its 41-yard line.
Lions 7, 49ers 0
6:44 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! — The Lions waste no time to break this one open as Jameson Williams takes a reverse 42 yards to the house! Detroit strikes first on the fourth play of the game from scrimmage.
JAMESON WILLIAMS 42-YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN FOR THE LIONS 🔥
🎥: @NFL pic.twitter.com/81rBAhxvFg
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 28, 2024
6:40 p.m.: The 49ers won the coin toss and deferred. The Lions will receive to start the game and we are underway!
Pregame
5:00 p.m.: Here are the 49ers’ inactives.
#49ers inactives:
QB Brandon Allen
WR Willie Snead
LB Jalen Graham
T Matt Pryor
WR Ronnie Bell
CB Sam Womack
LB Curtis RobinsonThat means LB Oren Burks (shoulder) is active for the game.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 28, 2024
5:00 p.m.: Here are the Lions’ inactives.
#DETvsSF inactives presented by Henry Ford Health pic.twitter.com/xFv0Ytkq0K
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 28, 2024
4:30 p.m.: Two hours until kickoff and there is nothing but sunshine at Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, Calif. The current temperature is 69 degrees Fahrenheit. It is expected to be a perfect 66 degrees when the NFC Championship gets going.
Championship Sunday details ✨ pic.twitter.com/nxe7SlyqWD
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 28, 2024
3:15 p.m.: There is not much history between San Francisco and Detroit in the playoffs during the Super Bowl; the two sides have only met once since 1966. However, the Lions’ last road win came against the 49ers back in 1957, which was also the last time the Detroit franchise won an NFL Championship. It hasn’t won a road playoff game since.
Lions have not won a road playoff game in 66 years and have gone 0-11 in road postseason games since then. But the last time they won on the road in the postseason was in San Francisco, where Detroit advanced to the 1957 NFL Championship Game and won its last NFL championship. pic.twitter.com/MmLiEzK6e7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 28, 2024
2:25 p.m.: As previously reported, Kyle Shanahan said that Deebo Samuel won’t have any limitations in the NFC Championship, and the wide receiver confirmed that notion as well. Samuel said that he “ain’t protecting nothing” on Sunday, despite operating with an injured shoulder.
49ers’ WR Deebo Samuel to @DanGrazianoESPN about whether he might be protecting his injured shoulder during today’s NFC Championship Game vs. the Lions: “I ain’t protecting nothing.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 28, 2024
2:00 p.m.: San Francisco should receive another boost. This one could be more symbolic than anything. Injured safety Talanoa Hufanga will set the ceremonial foghorn ablaze ahead of tonight’s game.
Talanoa Hufanga will ignite the pregame foghorn at Levi’s Stadium for today’s NFC Championship Game vs 49ers and Lions
Hufanga sustained torn ACL in win here vs Bucs in November and has kept low profile since then, although a player-of-game gets his kukui-nut necklace weekly pic.twitter.com/mPu08nOJvX
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 28, 2024
1:30 p.m.: For those still wondering, 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel will have no limitations as he takes part in Sunday’s NFC Championship. Should offer a major boost for Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
From @NFLGameDay: #49ers WR Deebo Samuel will play with no limitations today, while #Chiefs All-Pro guard Joe Thuney may not play even if KC reaches the Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/o0t2sEJq8q
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 28, 2024
What channel is Lions vs. 49ers on today?
Lions vs. 49ers will air nationally on Fox.
Viewers can also stream the game on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Viewers in Canada can watch the game live on DAZN, which is the country’s exclusive carrier of NFL Game Pass.
Lions vs. 49ers start time
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 28
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET | 3:30 p.m. PT
The Lions and 49ers will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 28. The game will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
NFL playoff schedule 2024
Below is the complete schedule for the 2024 NFL postseason.
Wild-card round
Saturday, Jan. 13
| Results | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Texans 45, Browns 14 | 4:30 p.m. | NBC | Peacock, Fubo |
| Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7 | 8:15 p.m. | Peacock | Peacock |
Sunday, Jan. 14
| Results | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Packers 48, Cowboys 32 | 4:30 p.m. | Fox | FoxSports.com, Fubo |
| Lions 24, Rams 23 | 8:15 p.m. | NBC | Peacock, Fubo |
Monday, Jan. 15
| Results | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Bills 31, Steelers 17 | 1 p.m. | CBS | Fubo |
| Buccaneers 32, Eagles 9 | 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN | ESPN+, Fubo |
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 20
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Ravens 34, Texans 10 | 4:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN | ESPN+, Fubo |
| 49ers 24, Packers 21 | 8 p.m. | Fox | FoxSports.com, Fubo |
Sunday, Jan. 21
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Lions 31, Buccaneers 23 | 3 p.m. | NBC | Peacock, Fubo |
| Chiefs 27, Bills 24 | 6:30 p.m. | CBS | Paramount+, Fubo |
Conference championships
Sunday, Jan. 28
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| AFC championship game: Chiefs at Ravens | 3 p.m. | CBS | Paramount+, Fubo |
| NFC championship game: Lions at 49ers | 6:30 p.m. | Fox | FoxSports.com, Fubo |
Super Bowl 58
Sunday, Feb. 11
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV | Live stream |
| Super Bowl 58 | 6:30 p.m. | CBS | Paramount+, Fubo |
