10 reasons the 49ers will be in the Super Bowl in 2024: San Francisco’s historic comeback against the Lions

10 reasons the 49ers will be in the Super Bowl in 2024: San Francisco’s historic comeback against the Lions

The NFC’s top seed didn’t have an easy playoff run. The 49ers barely made it past the young Green Bay Packers beforehand, falling behind 24–7 against Detroit.

1. Kyle Shanahan put together an all-star team

Coach John Lynch deserves thanks for assembling such a great team, but it is Shanahan’s plans, particularly those aimed at creating space and distributing the ball to versatile players who can make plays in various ways, that truly drive the 49ers’ success every week.

2. Brock Purdy has become Shanahan’s best quarterback.

Not to mention that it’s not very close. Jimmy Garoppolo made it to the Super Bowl as Shanahan’s former leader, but Purdy, who is 24 years old and has been the starter for one and a half seasons, has already shown that he is much more versatile as both a play-extender and a downfield thrower. Even though he gets angry sometimes, this kid always seems so calm and put-together.

3. Christian McCaffrey served as a real MVP.

As Shanahan’s point guard, Purdy has been the off-field MVP, but McCaffrey has become the heart of the team, refusing to give up as both a runner and a receiver. He is a real safety valve and a proven momentum-maker in a position that isn’t given much credit. If anyone on this team is going to win the Super Bowl MVP, it’s him.

4. The defense gets stronger and wears down the other teams.

On Sunday, Detroit scored 31 points, so it’s not like the 49ers can’t lose. They got into a rhythm near the end of the NFC title game, and they’ve been very physical all year, a lot like the Chiefs as well as the Ravens in the other division championship. They are built to last longer than their opponents because they have so many experienced leaders, like Fred Warner.

5. They’ve been on the major stage before.

The 49ers’ roster has undergone some changes since the Super Bowl, yet this team is accustomed to playing in big games; they have reached four of the past five NFC title games. Most of the attention will be on the Chiefs because they’ve been there and done that; however, the Lynch-Shanahan squad and player infrastructure have been in the running for a while.

6. Their best pair of wide receivers is still not rated highly enough.

This year, Purdy and McCaffrey were the MVP favorites, but Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk remain Grade-A wide receivers. Samuel is an explosive human wrecking ball, and Aiyuk is a spectacular downfield outlet. Both targets had been reliable for the Lions, which is something that has been happening all season.

7. The ‘D’ is a difference-maker at every level.

On the front lines, it could be Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave. Warner or Dre Greenlaw could be in the middle. Charvarius Ward is most likely on the back end. You’ll have trouble with San Francisco’s defense, no matter how you look. It’s a big part of their success as ball-control winners, and you could call it a component of how they build their all-star teams.

8. They can win any game.

When it comes to controlling the ball, the 49ers are best able to get and keep an early lead because they are good at running the ball. But they’ve shown in back-to-back playoff matches that they can also come back from behind and win a shootout by outgunning both their opponents and the Lions after having trouble with the pass at first.

9. Their staff can change things.

The Lions got deeper into trouble in the second half by putting their usual aggression ahead of situational awareness. On the other hand, the 49ers changed strategies at halftime to get back in control when things mattered most. Two weeks in a row, both players and the coaches on San Francisco’s team showed they could tough it out.

10. The NFC playoff field was a little strange.

This doesn’t mean to downplay the 49ers’ journey, but the conference’s playoff picture was a surprise: Some teams that were thought to be heavy favorites, like the Cowboys and Eagles, fell early. This let teams like the Buccaneers, Packers, and Rams move on, which in a way made it easier for San Francisco to make it to the big game.