49ers are headed back to the Super Bowl: Rapid reactions

The San Francisco 49ers are Super Bowl-bound. And in typical 49ers' fashion, they didn't make it easy on themselves or their fans. But in the end, the 49ers overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to beat the Detroit Lions and win the NFC Championship. The reward for doing so? A trip to Las Vegas to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

The game will be billed as a re-match of Super Bowl LIV, but that was four years ago, and both teams have changed a lot. There will be plenty of time to talk about that game. First, we need to talk about the impressive comeback to win the NFC, which the 49ers owned. This season, the 49ers beat every team that was in the NFC playoffs. That's a dominant season.

Below are my rapid reactions to the game. These are my live notes. That's why they often have an emotional feel to them. So when you read something that sounds like a fan overreacting to a specific moment in the game, it's because that's exactly what it is. Don't judge me.

Here are my live reactions:

• The 49ers' defense still hasn't figured out how to stop the run. Although they did shut down the Lions run game in the second half.

• I still remember back in the day when the San Francisco defense was elite.

• It seems like Brock Purdy has a lot of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. His interception wasn't a batted pass, but his arm was hit on that throw.
• Jake Moody. Not money. In the first half, at least.
• It's like the 49ers' defense tore its UCL early in the game. They couldn't buy a defensive stop.
• George Kittle putting Aidan Hutchinson on his back was fun to watch.
• Christian McCaffrey is so special.

• It was well into the second quarter before the 49ers' defense stopped the Lions' offense. Thanks, in part, to Nick Bosa, who finally got to the quarterback.

• Jon Feliciano did not have a good game.
• Maybe Steve Wilks should have gone back to the booth. Wilks got out-coached in the first half. But he had his way in the second half.
• John Lynch needs to go get some run stuffers in the offseason. And the defense needs to get faster.
• Was Chase Young a good pickup? He had a good second half.

• Tashaun Gipson was bad in the first half. He was a star in the second half. There seems to be a theme here.
• That third-quarter catch by Jauan Jennings was ridiculous.

• Good for Moody to connect on a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter. He needed that.
• Brandon Aiyuk is so good. What a catch on the Purdy overthrow. He deserves a new contract.

• Deebo Samuel makes the 49ers offense different. He's special.
• How did Purdy escape on that big run in the third quarter? His legs were the star in this game.

• Great job by the 49ers to not quit and get back in the game.

• Some of the things Purdy does are incredible. Steve Young says Purdy has the force. I'm starting to think so.

• And that was a textbook catch by Kyle Juszczyk.
• Logan Ryan made a couple of big plays when he came in for Ambry Thomas. I had a fan reach out to me and ask if Ryan will start the Super Bowl ahead of Thomas. But I doubt that will happen.
• The defense came back to life in the second half. Two stops on fourth down, and a takeaway.
• What a great comeback by the 49ers. I'm so proud of this team. San Francisco overcame a 17-point halftime deficit. It's tied for the largest comeback in NFC Championship Game history. The team they tied? The 2012 San Francisco 49ers, who overcame a 17-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons.
• It's fitting that Journey played during halftime. Don't stop believing, 49ers fans.
• The 49ers are undefeated at Levi's Stadium in the playoffs, including a 2-0 record in the NFC Championship.

The 49ers blew a 10-point lead in Super Bowl LIV and also in the 2021 NFC Championship Game. This time, they held on.

Next stop: Las Vegas!

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