Although Jared Goff and Brock Purdy arrived in the NFL in very different ways, they will face off at quarterback on Sunday for the chance to advance to the Super Bowl.
The Rams selected Goff with the first overall choice in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has a 5-3 career postseason record and is a three-time Pro Bowler. During the regular season, Goff passed for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 97.9 rating. Throughout Detroit’s victories in the Wild Card and Divisional rounds of the playoffs, he has completed 564 yards of passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Purdy (No. 262) was the final selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Mr. Unimportant. By the end of his rookie season, he had moved up from his starting position to become the 49ers’ third-best quarterback. In his brief NFL career, he is 3-1 in the playoffs; his one loss occurred in the NFC Championship game of the previous year, when an elbow injury that required surgery forced him to leave the game early. This season, he threw for 4,280 yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, earning him a spot in his first Pro Bowl. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown in last weekend’s victory over Green Bay.
Which quarterback is more adept at turning plays into victories while minimizing errors? Each has participated in postseason games, and
The 49ers have attended four of the previous five NFC Championship Games, including three in a row. Their roster is full of veterans with a plenty of playoff experience. Out of all the playoff teams this season, San Francisco had the third-oldest squad (average age). The two rookies who have contributed the most to the 49ers this season are safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who has started five games, and kicker Jake Moody.
It has been thirty years since the Lions have been in this situation as a team. While certain players, like Goff and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, have experience in Super Bowls and Championship Games, this is new ground for the majority of the team. Detroit was the playoff club with the fourth-youngest roster. They also bring in newcomers.
Some folks might not be aware that Dan Campbell played the 49ers at Ford Field in his debut game as head coach of the Lions in 2021. A large portion of the Pro Bowl talent still in the 49ers was on that roster. Talent such as linebacker Fred Warner, tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, defensive lineman Nick Bosa, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and defensive lineman Arik Armstead.
Tyrell Williams and Kalif Raymond were the Lions’ starting wide receivers in that 2021 Week 1 game. As a rookie, Amon-Ra St. Brown only caught two passes in the 49ers’ 41-33 victory. Detroit’s top receivers that afternoon were running back D’Andre Swift and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Three years later, just two starters from Detroit’s defense remain on the field: defensive lineman Alim McNeill and linebacker Alex Anzalone.
Just goes to show how well Brad Holmes, the general manager of the Lions, has built a group over the last three seasons that they feel is far better capable of defeating the 49ers in Campbell’s 53rd game as opposed to his first.
