LIVE BLOG: Follow Lions' NFC Championship Game against 49ers

Live updates from the NFC Championship game.

The Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers will square off Sunday for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. 

It's only the second time in franchise history that the Lions have reached this stage, with the last appearance coming in the 1991 season. A key for the Lions' success on Sunday will be their ability to run the ball. 

Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as a star in his rookie campaign for Detroit. His combination of speed and physicality make for a tough challenge, even for San Francisco's talented defense. 

His presence, along with that of bruiser David Montgomery, create a dynamic, run-oriented offense that has been among the best in the league. 

His talents are no secret, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan explained the challenges of slowing down his impact on Sunday's game. 

“I don’t know if you can contain him. We have to do a great job swarming the ball, and he’s phenomenal," Shanahan said. "He’s four-three (40-yard dash speed) on paper, he is four-three on tape. He plays to that speed. Again, they do a great job getting him out in space, trying to create one-on-ones with the backers, great job on third down, and he can run in between the tackles and he’s most explosively taking the ball outside. 

"So, definitely someone we have to definitely rally to. And as I said before to the defense, we have to swarm tackle this Sunday in order to stop this run game.”

Follow along all throughout Sunday's Lions-49ers game for live updates. 

9:50 p.m. -- FINAL: 49ers 34, Lions 31. 

9:45 p.m. -- George Kittle recovers the onside kick and the 49ers will take over with :53 seconds remaining.

9:42 p.m. -- Jared Goff hits Jameson Williams for a 3-yard touchdown. The 49ers lead the Lions, 34-31, with :56 remaining in the game.

9:40 p.m. -- On third-and-goal, David Montgomery is stopped for a two-yard loss. The Lions are facing a fourth-and-goal.

9:38 p.m. -- Jared Goff hits Josh Reynolds, Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown on consecutive plays to put Detroit deep in the 49ers' red zone.

9:35 p.m. -- Two-minute warning: 49ers 34, Lions 24. Detroit has the ball on its own 49-yard line.

9:31 p.m. -- Elijah Mitchell scores a 3-yard touchdown. The 49ers lead the Lions, 34-24, with 3:02 remaining.

9:30 p.m. -- Christian McCaffrey runs 25 yards to Detroit's 3-yard line.

9:29 p.m. -- Brock Purdy scrambles 21 yards on third-and-4, putting the 49ers at Detroit's 28-yard line with under four minutes remaining.

9:25 p.m. -- Jared Goff throws incomplete and the Lions turn the ball over on downs.

9:24 p.m. -- On third-and-10, Goff hits St. Brown for seven yards. The Lions are facing a fourth-and-3 with 8:15 remaining.

9:20 p.m. -- Jared Goff connects with Jameson Williams for a 22-yard gain, then David Montgomery runs 16 yards. The Lions have the ball inside the 49ers' 40-yard line.

9:15 p.m. -- Jake Moody hits a 33-yard field goal. The 49ers lead the Lions, 27-24, with 9:52 remaining in the game.

9:13 p.m. -- Tyson Alualu and Ifeatu Melifonwu team up for a sack on Brock Purdy, driving the 49ers back seven yards. On the next play, Alim McNeill records a sack.

9:12 p.m. -- Brock Purdy scrambles for 10 yards to Detroit's 13-yard line.

9:10 p.m. -- Brock Purdy connects with George Kittle for 28 yards to Detroit's 27-yard line.

9:06 p.m. -- END Q3: Lions 24, 49ers 24.

9:02 p.m. -- The Lions are forced to punt, and Jack Fox punts 74 yards for a touchback.

8:55 p.m. -- Christian McCaffrey scores a 1-yard touchdown. The game is tied, 24-24, with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter.

8:54 p.m. -- Brock Purdy runs 21 yards to give the 49ers a first-and-goal at Detroit's 4-yard line.

8:51 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs loses a fumble and San Francisco takes over after Arik Armstead recovers at Detroit's 24.

8:49 p.m. -- Kerby Joseph is questionable to return with an arm injury.

8:47 p.m. -- Brock Purdy hits Brandon Aiyuk for a 6-yard touchdown. The Lions lead the 49ers, 24-17, with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter.

8:45 p.m. -- Brock Purdy hits Brandon Aiyuk for a 51-yard gain down to Detroit's 4-yard line. 

8:43 p.m. -- Brock Purdy hits Deebo Samuel for a 17-yard gain. Kerby Joseph is down on the field for the Lions.

8:40 p.m. -- Jared Goff throws incomplete on fourth-and-2, turning the ball over on downs. San Francisco takes over at its own 28-yard line with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter. 

8:31 p.m. -- Jake Moody hits a 43-yard field goal. The Lions lead the 49ers, 24-10, with 11:02 remaining in the third quarter. 

8:28 p.m. -- The 49ers are driving into Lions territory thanks to a long completion to Deebo Samuel and an impressive catch by Jauan Jennings.

8:25 pm. -- The 49ers get the ball first to start the second half.

8:10 p.m. -- END Q2: Lions 24, 49ers 7.

8:06 p.m. -- Michael Badgley connects on a 21-yard field goal. The Lions lead the 49ers, 24-7, with :07 remaining in the second quarter.

8:04 p.m. -- Goff connects with St. Brown for another third down conversion, this time giving Detroit a first-and-goal.

7:59 p.m. -- The Lions again convert a third-and-long, this time with a completion from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

7:57 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs converts a third-and-12 with a 13-yard run.

7:53 p.m. -- Two-minute warning. Detroit is facing a second-and-12 at San Francisco's 47-yard line.

7:47 p.m. -- The Lions force a three-and-out and take over on their own 29-yard line with 4:59 remaining in the second quarter.

7:40 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs runs 15 yards for a touchdown. The Lions lead the 49ers, 21-7, with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter.

7:38 p.m. -- After a loss on first down, Goff hits Sam LaPorta for a big gain to move the chains. 

7:36 p.m. -- Malcolm Rodriguez intercepts Brock Purdy's pass. A penalty on C.J. Gardner-Johnson will bring them back to San Francisco's 31-yard line.

7:34 p.m. -- Dre Greenlaw reportedly suffered a stinger, according to the FOX broadcast. 

7:30 p.m. -- San Francisco takes over on its own 11-yard line after a Jack Fox punt.

7:29 p.m. -- The Lions come up short on third-and-15, but San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw appeared to suffer an injury.

7:27 p.m. -- Amon-Ra St. Brown converts a third-and-10. The Lions have the ball at midfield.

7:20 p.m. -- Christian McCaffrey scores a 2-yard touchdown. The Lions lead the 49ers, 14-7, with 13:49 remaining in the second quarter.

7:19 p.m. -- Christian McCaffrey gains 28 yards on a reception to give San Francisco a first-and-goal.

7:16 p.m. -- END Q1: Lions 14, 49ers 0. The 49ers have a first down at Detroit's 32-yard line.

7:09 p.m. -- David Montgomery scores a 1-yard touchdown. The Lions lead the 49ers, 14-0, with 2:34 remaining.

7:08 p.m. -- Jahmyr Gibbs gives the Lions a first-and-goal with a 10-yard gain.

7:05 p.m. -- The Lions convert a third down with a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. 

6:59 p.m -- Jake Moody misses a 48-yard field goal. The Lions take over on their own 38-yard line leading 7-0 with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter.

6:54 p.m. -- Derrick Barnes is questionable to return with a knee injury. Christian McCaffrey converts another third down for the 49ers.

6:53 p.m. -- Derrick Barnes is down on the field with an apparent injury after a short gain by Christian McCaffrey.

6:51 p.m. -- San Francisco converts its first third down with a completion to Brandon Aiyuk. Brock Purdy then hits Deebo Samuel for a first down to move the team inside Detroit territory.

6:44 p.m. -- Jameson Williams runs 42 yards for a touchdown. The Lions lead the 49ers, 7-0, with 13:18 remaining in the first quarter.

6:38 p.m. -- The 49ers won the toss and deferred, so the Lions will be on offense first.

Why are Lions winning the NFC Championship?

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