Surreal comeback gets Niners to Super Bowl

It was a comeback that seemed as much surreal as successful, one that equaled the greatest in NFL postseason history and no less meaningful elevated them into the Super Bowl.

The 49ers were being overrun and overwhelmed in the NFC Championship Sunday by the Detroit Lions, seemingly destined to be left in the dust as well as the distance in their quest for the championship game.

They couldn’t stop the Lions on defense and couldn’t score against them on offense, behind almost from the opening moments and trailing by two touchdowns and a field goal as late as the third quarter.

But it changed so quickly, and for the home team, so magnificently. And there after key stops and against-the-grain maneuvers by nonconformist Detroit coach Dan Campell who defied basic football logic, going for it twice on fourth down and short—and failing—the Niners were 34-31 winners. 

They advance to Super Bowl LVIII on February 12 in Las Vegas against the Kansas City Chiefs, whose victory over the favored Baltimore Ravens earlier in the afternoon appeared to preview a Niners defeat.  

Not so fast. 

The defense started making tackles and quarterback Brock Purdy engineered a rally that would have made Joe Montana—a spectator at Levi’s Stadium—almost envious. San Francisco came out aggressively and determinedly after halftime—“We had no other choice,” said a weary head coach, Kyle Shanahan.

Campbell, the Lions’ third-year coach, had choices on fourth down—his reputation is that of a man who takes chances—and decided even with the lead to go for the first down instead of kicking a field goal.

The first time was with some seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Lions, in front 24-10, had a fourth and two on the Niners 28. Does a field goal give Detroit an insurmountable margin? An incomplete pass from Jared Goff gave San Francisco the life it seemed to lack.

The Niners kicked a field goal, and—which, yes, the Lions could have done—and now it was all different.

Early on, Goff, the kid from Marin County and Cal, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016, was outperforming the Niners’ Brock Purdy, who as we know was the last pick in the 2022 draft.  

Purdy has been criticized—unfairly perhaps—for being a “game manager”, however that’s defined, and never bringing the Niners from behind to a victory.

That belief was erased emphatically as he produced the win. ”Brock was great,” said Shanahan. “He did it as much with his legs as with his arm.”

Purdy scrambled away from tacklers several times and completed 20 of 31 passes for 267 yards.

Still attempting to remain the low-key guy he’s been, Purdy talked about the blocking and the defense. Not until pressed, did he comment on going where so few get the opportunity, the Super Bowl.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

So certainly is Shanahan. Five seasons ago, he coached the Niners to a Super Bowl against, yes, Kansas City. San Francisco then was unable to hold a second-half lead in that game.

Shanahan, however, preferred to talk about what happened against the Lions.

“I’ve never been in a game like this,” he said.

He’s not alone.

The 49ers, Lions and an unchanging halftime score

I know the halftime score of the 49ers-Detroit Lions playoff game in 1957. I kept giving it to phone-callers years after it had been played.  

No internet in those days, very little TV coverage of the NFL, but far too many people involved in sports arguments, mostly at bars, a few at homes. 

And on the night desk at the San Francisco Chronicle, having arrived in 1965 with dreams of creating stories, was a relatively young guy consigned to the night desk, writing headlines and answering questions from callers.  

The most frequent of which had to do with the halftime score of that Niners-Lions contest. Which was 24-7, Niners.

Before, moments into the second half it was 27-7, and should have been even more. Sorry. I don’t believe in should-haves or could-haves.

Callers wouldn’t believe the score 50 years ago, maybe they still don’t. In sports, it either happens or it doesn’t happen. For the Niners in 1957, it didn’t happen.

I’ll cut to the chase. The underdog  Lions won 31-27. Heartbreak by the Bay. Explanations (excuses?) by the barrel. A region in dismay.`  

The Warriors ascended for a decade. The Giants won three World Series. Still deep down, historically (and hysterically), no franchise has been as popular as the Niners, who were born here in 1946, and never left, if you don’t include a slide down the Peninsula to Santa Clara.=

They owned the place. And also the legacy of disappointment.

Now there are Super Bowl trophies in the Niners offices and frequent references to Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, Jerry Rice and others who helped win those trophies. 

Back then in the 1950s however, they were in a constant struggle to break the bonds, get over the barriers, and finally prove they belonged. For 30 minutes of what was called the Western Conference Championship, they definitely belonged.

This one, as all Niners home games, at the time, was at old Kezar Stadium located on the southeast corner of Golden Gate Park where there were so many local politicians invited, the late sports columnist Jim Murray said it was the only press box in the country to which you had to be elected.

The Niners had their “Million-Dollar Backfield” of Y.A. Tittle at quarterback, Joe Perry, John Henry Johnson and Hugh McElhenny (money was different then, but those guys were outstanding) and quickly dominated.

The placekicker was Gordy Soltau, whose son, Mark, was a sports writing (and phone-answering) colleague of mine, and was able to watch the Niners do what they couldn’t when his father played.

What happened the second half that day, Dec. 27, 1957, depends on whose words you find credible after a game Niners fans—they weren’t yet nicknamed “The Faithful”— found disagreeable.  

Only a thin board separated the two locker rooms at Kezar. The Lions players contended they heard the Niners whooping it up at half as if the game were over. That’s all Detroit needed to get inspired and get in front

Niners players, including Gordy Soltau, denied the charge. Whatever, the Lions rallied and the Niners came unglued.

And the halftime score was 24-7. No phone calls, please.

As Goff learned, they love you — until they don’t

By Art Spander

This is the way it is in pro sports: They love you — until they don’t. And that’s management, the people in control. Sometimes the fans never love you. No matter what you accomplish.

The linking of Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams was perfect. Until, alas, it wasn’t.

He was born and raised in California; played quarterback at Cal so effectively the Los Angeles Rams made him the overall No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft; helped lead the Rams to the Super Bowl in his second season.

A golden boy from and in the Golden State.

Then, whup, traded to the Detroit Lions. For another quarterback, Matthew Stafford, also an overall No. 1 pick. Well, maybe “whup” isn’t quite accurate.

As of a few days ago when the Rams failed to offer anything more than unqualified support — “He is our quarterback right now” was the cryptic comment from L.A. coach Sean McVay after the Rams’ playoff loss two weeks ago — change was a possibility.

The hero has become a bum. The golden boy has been tarnished. At 26, Jared Goff was dispatched. Thanks for dropping by, and good luck on that team that never has any luck — real or Andrew Luck.    

He’s the Stanford quarterback also selected No. 1 overall, in 2012, who after injuries retired before the 2019 season. And is rumored to be coming back.

Those QBs are so valuable. You don’t win only with a quarterback. You need a defense, receivers, running backs, a kicker. But rarely do you win without a quarterback. He is the leader, the one who — as we’ve been taught — handles the ball on every play.

Norv Turner, who has coached several teams, including the Chargers, said during a season a great quarterback will win a couple of games that, without him, you would have lost.

Then again, if Stafford is the answer, the savior, someone the Rams preferred over the man they had, Goff, why didn’t the Detroit Lions ever win a playoff game in Stafford’s 12 seasons?

This is the start of Super Bowl week, and unquestionably the teams who made it, Tampa Bay and Kansas City, have brilliant quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes of K.C. arguably the best now playing, and Tom Brady, arguably the best of all time.

Such a quest to find somebody of quality, if not another Mahomes or Brady. Or Joe Montana. Or John Elway. Or Terry Bradshaw. Someone to win those couple of games along the way you would have lost.

The 49ers have the guy who once was Brady’s backup at New England, Jimmy Garoppolo. He helped direct the Niners to the Super Bowl in 2019. As with Goff when the Rams got there, Garoppolo was on the team that didn’t win.

The 49ers are looking for someone else, according to the rumors. Stafford was one of their preferences. Now he’s joined one of their division opponents.

What happens to Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, as Goff a Cal alum, who describes his future as a “beautiful mystery,” is, well, beautifully mysterious.

Everybody except K.C. and Tampa Bay (and of course the Rams and Lions) wants Houston’s Deshaun Watson, who wants out of Houston — but according to the Texans will remain.

So much instability. So much uncertainty.

A year and a half ago, the Rams signed Goff to a four-year $134 million contract extension. He was their quarterback. He’s now the Lions’ quarterback.

Goff incurred a broken thumb in the last game of the 2020 season. Yet it was broken trust by McVay and the Rams’ front office that cost the quarterback his job.

Along the way the decision was made, quoting that nefarious phrase bosses often employ, to go in a new direction.

How far the Rams — and Lions — will go after trading their franchise quarterback for a franchise quarterback should create as many questions as answers.

SF Examiner: When big plays are needed, Raiders are unable to deliver

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

The Raiders had the game, and then they didn’t.

“We let it slip,” Raiders safety Tyvon Branch said.

They had the game, then the Detroit Lions had it.

“We can’t finish,” said Oakland coach Hue Jackson. “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement.”

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2011 SF Newspaper Company

Alex on Niners: It wasn't like we were inept

By Art Spander

SAN FRANCISCO -- It didn't rain. Two thirds of the seats had people in them. And the 49ers won. And you thought sportswriters only emphasize the negative.

Let those guys in Detroit pick on the Lions. Which they've done. And they will do. "Three wins in three seasons," one of the Detroit scribes moaned in the elevator at Candlestick Park.

The 49ers are better than that. But not good enough for the postseason. They keep making you wonder if and when they'll reach that pinnacle.

Alex Smith, who's supposed to lead the offense, got a bit defensive  Sunday when someone wondered why San Francisco started slowly against Detroit.

"It wasn't like we were inept or anything," mused the quarterback.

Not when compared to the Lions. They are inept.

They also have the worst defense in the NFL, ranking 32nd of the 32 teams, allowing 31 points and 396 yards a game. So when the Niners finished with 310 yards and a 20-6 victory, questions had to be asked. That they will remain unanswered is just part of the equation.

The question about the lack of fans is easily solved. No matter that the "paid attendance" was listed at 69,732, there were no more than 45,000 -- and maybe around 42,000.

That's understandable for a game between the now 2-13 Lions and the now 7-8 Niners held two days after Christmas. Even if it was the home finale.

The Niners won't be back at Candlestick until August, and what changes will have been made, what players added or subtracted, we'll have months to learn.

San Francisco's last game of the season-which-might-have-been is Sunday at St. Louis against the 1-13 Rams. The word "inept" also is applicable in their case.

Although Smith suggested the Niners offense Sunday wasn't as bad as it appeared, San Francisco's defense won the game, as it has won a few games over the last three months.

There were three interceptions and three fumble recoveries, enough turnovers to stagger even the Patriots or Colts and certainly enough to be the ruination of a team already close to ruination, even if it doesn't give up the ball.

"Hopefully," Niners coach Mike Singletary explained, "they (the takeaways) will be the trademark of any defense we have. You can't really achieve things that you want to achieve as a defense unless you take away the ball. That's when teams turn around. It really makes a difference.

"You can look at any game we won this year, and there's a pretty good chance we won the turnover ratio."

When you look at this one, you are no nearer deciding whether Alex Smith will be the essential quarterback, whether he can win games and not just keep the Niners from losing them.

Was the sputtering offense, two field goals and no touchdowns in the first half, Alex's fault? Or the fault of the offensive line? Or the fault of the play calling and decisions of coordinator Jimmy Raye? Or any combination thereof?

Frank Gore did run for 71 yards, and became the first Niner ever to rush for 1,000 yards or more for four straight years. Vernon Davis did catch three more balls, one of those for his 10th touchdown reception, a single-season Niner mark for tight ends. Yet, there are problems.

"Could it be because of distractions of the holidays?" Singletary asked rhetorically of the offense before halftime, "or are we still in a funk because we're not playing for a playoff position? It might be a number of things, but we picked up in the second half."

Smith was less discontent. He completed 20 of 31 for 230 yards and a touchdown, and didn’t have an interception, solid if not outstanding. No apparent mistakes, which always works for a quarterback at any level.

"I didn't think it was a slow start," said Smith in rebuttal to someone's query, "anywhere except on the scoreboard. We were doing some things, moving the ball, kicking two field goals. We didn't convert on fourth and one and missed a field goal (the kicker was just-signed Ricky Schmitt). If you convert one or two of those, it's a completely different game."

But they didn't convert one or two of those.

The Niners' first touchdown, in the third quarter, was a play perplexing enough for Singletary to say he would have those involved, Smith and Davis, come to a room for a bit of conversation. On third and goal from the Detroit two, Alex swept right and seemed destined for the end zone. But just as he arrived at the line of scrimmage, Smith tossed a moon ball to Davis in the corner.

"I need to find out if Vernon needed another touchdown, something like that," Singletary said. "Because Alex came to the sideline, and I scratched my head, and he knew what I was going to say. He said, 'Coach, be nice, be nice.'"

Will Singletary? "It depends what the answer is. If the right answer is, 'Vernon really wanted one,' I can live with that."

For now, Singletary and the Niners will have to live with a win over the Lions. Sure, virtually everybody has one of those, but it's still acceptable, even mandatory.