Failed 4th downs contribute to blown lead for Lions in NFC title game loss to 49ers
Associated PressSANTA CLARA, Calif. — The aggressiveness that characterized the turnaround for the Detroit Lions under coach Dan Campbell backfired at the worst possible time. Detroit failed on two fourth-down tries in field-goal range in the second half, contributing to a blown 17-point halftime lead and a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game Sunday. “It just didn’t work out.” The success-starved Lions appeared poised to make their first Super Bowl in franchise history when they took a 24-7 halftime lead against the Niners — only to allow 27 straight points in a mistake-filled second half. But Goff wasn’t second-guessing the decisions after so many success fourth-down conversions helped the Lions even make it this far this season. “I don’t know what the numbers are, but we had a lot of big-time conversions this year that changed games.” A magical season for the Lions ended one game short of the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance.