Lions vs. 49ers: Live score updates, highlights from MNF

Live score updates, highlights, and injury news from Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”

Not much is on the line for the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers , but that isn’t going to stop the Lions from going all out on “Monday Night Football.” The Lions have already clinched the playoffs and the 49ers have already been eliminated from postseason contention. And while there is a unlikely scenario in which Monday night’s game matters (if the Lions and Vikings tie next week), this game is mostly being played for pride.

But coach Dan Campbell isn’t the type of coach that is going to bench his players, particularly when revenge is on the line. Detroit lost to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game last year, and you know they haven’t forgotten. And while Campbell didn’t say it outright, that certainly is playing a factor in his decision to play starters despite the low stakes of the game.

“I’ll make this easy for everybody, that way all the critics can jump out and start attacking, but that way you don’t have to debate them anymore. We’re bringing everything that we have to this game, and we are playing,” Campbell said last week. “And I don’t care what it looks like, and where it’s at, or who’s this, who’s that, we’re going out to play and win this game out on the west coast. So, there you go.”

Detroit is playing to win on Monday, like it or not. And that means a highly-entertaining game is likely on the horizon.

In this post, we’ll be keeping track of all the ongoings from Levi’s Stadium, including drive-by-drive analysis, live score updates, highlights, and injury news that will hopefully be unnecessary. Just refresh this page after the game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET.

First quarter

The Lions won the toss and deferred, putting faith in their defense to kick off the game. After a good kickoff return, the 49ers started at their own 39-yard line. Riding Deebo Samuel as a rusher, San Francisco worked into Lions territory with relative ease. Then Brock Purdy hit George Kittle on a play-action pass for 18 yards into the red zone. Detroit had an opportunity to get off the field, as San Francisco then faced a fourth-and-1 from the Lions’ 5-yard line, but Purdy ran a QB sneak for a first down. Two plays later, the 49ers scored on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Pearsall.

Jared Goff and the Lions would attempt to respond, starting on their own 35-yard line. Jahmyr Gibbs picked up an early third-and-2 on the ground and pushed Detroit to midfield. Then Gibbs picked up 21 more yards on a stretch play. After a failed trick play to Jameson Williams, Goff checked it down to Craig Reynolds, who took the ball all the way down to the 49ers 9-yard line on a 26-yard pickup.

Detroit then faced a third-and-goal from the 3-yard line, and a nifty run to Williams put the Lions on the board, but the extra point was blocked. 7-6 49ers.

The 49ers converted a big third-and-4 with a bobbling catch from Pearsall for 14 yards and into Lions territory.

Then another play-action pass to Kittle sucked in all of the Lions linebackers, creating space for the 49ers tight end to earn 20 yards into the red zone.

Second quarter

Yet another play-action pass earned the 49ers their next score on the first play of the second quarter. A play-action bootleg allowed fullback Kyle Juszczyk to break open and score on a 9-yard touchdown pass. 14-6 49ers.

Detroit was able to move into 49ers territory thanks to Goff finding LaPorta for a third-down conversion. A pair of Gibbs runs then went for 22 yards. A holding penalty and Goff sack appeared to stall the drive, but on a third-and-12, the Lions ran yet another hook-and-ladder to perfection. St. Brown lateraled it to Williams, who took it up the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown. 14-13 49ers.

The Lions had another early opportunity to get off the field quickly, but on third-and-7, Purdy found Pearsall for 40 yards after Terrion Arnold was picked on the play by Brian Branch.

Then Purdy scrambled up the middle for a 9-yard touchdown and a 21-13 49ers lead.

A pair of passes to Gibbs moved Detroit to midfield and set up a third-and-3. Then Goff hit St. Brown for a 4-yard gain to move the sticks, and hit him again for a 14-yard gain into the red zone as the clock moved to the two-minute warning. On the next set of downs, the Lions faced a fourth-and-3 from the 49ers’ 8-yard line. Of course, Detroit opted to go for it, but Goff couldn’t connect with LaPorta, and the 49ers took over with 1:13 left.

Despite being backed up in their own zone, the 49ers would threaten toadd to their lead before the end of the half. That’s because Purdy hit Isaac Guerendo on a 40-yard bomb to kickstart the drive.

However, an offensive pass interference penalty and a missed 51-yard field goal kept the score at 21-13 49ers at halftime.