Five 49ers Players Lions Must Worry About

Lions must focus their attention on these five 49ers.

On Sunday, the Detroit Lions will face their biggest test of the postseason yet. They'll square off with the NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. 

The 49ers, which have made three straight NFC Championship Game appearances, are loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball.

As a result, the 49ers, per SI Sportsbook, are 6.5-point favorites going into the contest. 

In order for Detroit to come away with the victory Sunday, here are five 49ers players that the Lions must keep in check. 

QB Brock Purdy 

Purdy is one of the best stories in all of football.

Purdy, “Mr. Irrelevant” of the 2022 NFL Draft (pick No. 262), has proven to be ultra relevant since taking over the 49ers’ starting quarterback job a season ago. In 25 games, including the playoffs, as the team's starter under center, he's led San Francisco to a 20-5 mark. 

And, this past regular season, the Iowa State product had a “coming-out party.” He completed 69.4 percent of his passes, and threw for 31 touchdowns and 4,280 yards. He was also in serious consideration for MVP for the first half of the season, and finished with a league-best QBR (72.8).

He won't be confused with the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson anytime soon, but he's certainly earned his stripes and the respect of the NFL. 

In last week's divisional round, the Packers limited the second-year passer to just 252 yards and a single touchdown pass. Plus, Green Bay held him to his third-lowest completion percentage of the season (59.0). 

If the Lions can do the same (or close to the same) against the 24-year-old, it will go a long way toward Detroit securing the upset win over the 49ers.  

RB Christian McCaffrey 

“Run CMC,” as he's affectionately known, has posted 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage in five of his first seven NFL seasons. Additionally, he's produced two seasons with 2,000-plus scrimmage yards, including 2,023 in 2023.

He's also been hugely integral to the 49ers’ winning efforts since being acquired by San Francisco from Carolina midway through the 2022 season. In the 31 games he's suited up for the 49ers (counting the postseason), the Kyle Shanahan-led squad has gone a staggering 25-6. 

McCaffrey is an uber-talented, multi-purpose back, and has been a near unstoppable force all season. He's coming off a 98-yard, two-touchdown performance on the ground against the Green Bay Packers.

You can argue he'll be the biggest test of the season for Detroit's stout run defense. 

TE George Kittle

Kittle is one-half (the other being Sam LaPorta) of the must-see matchup between former Iowa tight ends this weekend. 

Kittle, who appears bound to be enshrined in Canton as a Pro Football Hall of Famer one day, is arguably the best tight end in the league today.

The seventh-year pro went over 1,000 yards (1,020), and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2023. He also amassed a career-best 15.7 yards per reception. 

Just a week ago against the Packers, the five-time Pro Bowler accumulated four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. 

He poses a serious threat to the Lions’ linebackers group and secondary Sunday.

George Kittle Sees 'Hot' Lions Team Ready to Battle

EDGE Nick Bosa

The sack-master of the 49ers, Bosa has been a force at the EDGE position ever since entering the league in 2019. 

He's produced north of 10 sacks in three consecutive seasons, including 10.5 in 2023. This past regular season, he also amassed a career-best 95 pressures, and earned career-high marks from Pro Football Focus in both his pass-rush grade (92.6) and overall grade (92.7).

Additionally, in San Francisco's divisional playoff triumph over Green Bay, he recorded five quarterback hits and seven total pressures of Packers passer Jordan Love.

Bosa going head-to-head with Detroit's tackles, Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell, will be one of the best matchups this weekend.

WR Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk might not grab as many headlines as Kittle and McCaffrey, but he definitely deserves the attention of the Lions this weekend.

The 2020 first-round pick has amassed north of 1,000 receiving yards each of the past two seasons. Additionally, he put together a career-best campaign in 2023. He recorded career-high marks in receiving yards (1,342), yards per reception (17.9), yards per game (83.9) and catch percentage (71.4).

He's not as dynamic of a playmaker as Deebo Samuel, but there's no doubt he's still a player the Lions’ defense will have to worry about all Sunday evening.