Have The Detroit Lions Ever Been To The NFC Championship Game? NFC Championship Outlook

The Detroit Lions continue to impress after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 in the NFL Divisional Round this past weekend. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 287 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions, while rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed nine times for 74 yards and one touchdown.

The organization will now advance to the NFC Championship, where they will match up against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are coming off a 24-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

However, when was the last time the Lions were in the NFC Championship Game? Have they ever been to one? Let's dive into it.

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Were The Lions Ever In A NFC Championship Game?

Despite being a part of the NFL since 1930, the Lions will be facing the 49ers in just their second NFC Championship Game in franchise history! Before this season, the team had made an NFC championship game just once in 1991. During that season, the Lions finished 12-4 and were led by Hall of Famer, Barry Sanders. Sanders played 15 games that season where he ran 342 times for 1,548 yards and 16 touchdowns while also recording 307 yards and one touchdown through the receiving game.

In the Wild Card Round during the 1991 season, the Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 and wide receiver Willie Green caught two touchdowns. Detroit would go on to play against the Washington Redskins in their first-ever NFC Championship Game. The Redskins went 14-2 during the regular season and were led by wideout Gary Clark who recorded 70 catches for 1,340 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1991.

Ultimately, the Lions would end up losing to a very good Redskins team 41-10. Sanders was held to just 44 rushing yards in the loss. Washington would go on to win Super Bowl XXVI.

How Will The Lions Do In The NFC Championship Game?

On Sunday, the Lions will face against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. After previously playing their first two home games in front of familiar faces in Detroit, the team will be on the road in San Francisco as the game will be played at Levi's Stadium. The Lions opened up as seven-point underdogs in the game, but have continued to prove people wrong all season after defeating the red-hot Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 49ers have struggled at times this year in defending the passing game, so quarterback Jared Goff will have to take advantage of big play opportunities when they present themselves. Expect wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to have a monster game as he remains the team's number-one option in the receiving game. Brown has 1,515 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this year.

The NFC Championship Game is scheduled for 6:30 ET and can be viewed on Fox.

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