Christian Booher
Motivation will be running high for the Detroit Lions in Monday night’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. While the stakes aren’t as high as a Super Bowl berth, the Lions have an opportunity to avenge the pain of last year’s loss.
Detroit holds an edge in personnel over a battered 49ers team missing key players like Christian McCaffrey on offense and Dre Greenlaw on defense. Despite these absences, San Francisco still has plenty of talent and should come out energized by the primetime spotlight.
Although the 49ers could strike early with some big plays, the Lions are unlikely to falter given what’s at stake. Detroit thrives when playing with a chip on its shoulder, and I anticipate a strong second-half performance that secures a comfortable win.
Prediction: Lions 35, 49ers 17
Camren Clouthier
The 13-2 Detroit Lions are set to take on the San Francisco 49ers in a Monday night rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game. That contest ended in heartbreak for the Lions, but this time, they’ll be looking to flip the script.
The 49ers, now 6-9, have fallen short of preseason expectations. Plagued by injuries, they’re already out of playoff contention. Even so, they still boast playmakers like George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, who are among the league’s best when healthy.
Statistically, the Lions have a clear advantage across the board. Despite their own injury struggles, Dan Campbell’s team has more than enough firepower to exact revenge and continue their playoff march.
Prediction: Lions 31, 49ers 10
Vito Chirco
Monday night’s clash between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers is one of the Lions’ most anticipated games of the 2024 season. This Week 17 showdown is a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game, a contest that ended in heartbreak for Detroit.
However, the 2024 49ers have not lived up to expectations. With a 6-9 record, they sit in last place in the NFC West and are already out of the playoff race. Injuries have ravaged the team, sidelining key contributors like wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, running back Christian McCaffrey, and left tackle Trent Williams. Additionally, linebacker Dre Greenlaw will miss this game with a calf injury.
Despite still having impactful players like Nick Bosa and George Kittle, the 49ers are simply too depleted to keep pace with the Lions. I expect Detroit to avenge last year’s loss with big performances from Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams.
Prediction: Lions 37, 49ers 27
John Maakaron
The Detroit Lions are already looking ahead to next week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, a matchup with significant implications. However, they’re also focused on finishing strong against the San Francisco 49ers.
Even though this game won’t affect the standings much, the Lions are determined to play their best football as they prepare for the postseason. Look for Detroit to establish the run early with Jahmyr Gibbs and let Jared Goff lead a high-powered offense designed by Ben Johnson.
It will also be interesting to see how many trick plays Johnson dials up in this revenge game, which Dan Campbell’s squad is treating with great importance. Ultimately, the Lions will head home with a dominant victory.
Prediction: Lions 38, 49ers 17
