Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers keeps Dan Campbell on Detroit’s mind during Super Bowl LVII.
Lions supporters had a rough time watching Super Bowl 58.
Some Detroit Lions fans may have felt a little salty while watching Super Bowl 58 on Sunday night. After all, the Lions were just one win away from participating in the game. Ultimately, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Lions and advanced to the big game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
To make matters worst for Lions supporters, the 49ers’ important conversion in the game likely reminded them of a few of Detroit’s fourth-down misses in the NFC championship.
Down 13-10 early in the fourth quarter, the 49ers chose to go for it on fourth-and-three from Kansas City’s 15-yard line rather than shoot a game-tying field goal. The decision paid off, as the Niners converted the play and finished the drive off with a touchdown.
Going for it in that situation was a bold decision by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, and it paid off. Lions coach Dan Campbell demonstrated similar tenacity against San Francisco in the NFC championship game, but the Lions did not have the same success.
The Lions chose not to kick a respectable field goal on fourth down twice in the second half of the game, and they failed to convert both times, leaving six points on the board in a three-point loss to the Niners.
Campbell received a lot of criticism for his actions in those situations, but he stood by them.
“It’s simple to look back. I got it. I understand, but I don’t regret my decisions, and it’s difficult,” Campbell remarked. “It’s difficult because we didn’t follow through and it couldn’t work out, but I don’t. And I recognize the scrutiny I’ll face — that’s part of the job — but it simply did not work out.”
The 49ers, however, did not fare well, losing to the Chiefs 25-22 in overtime.
