Detroit Lions use starters to outlast San Francisco 49ers

 Detroit Lions use starters to outlast San Francisco 49ers

Detroit Lions use starters to outlast San Francisco 49ers

Here’s a rewritten version of the article:

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Play or rest? That was the question.

Heading into "Monday Night Football" against the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell faced a tough decision: Should he play his starters or rest them?

After much deliberation, Campbell chose to stick with his primary lineup. The move paid off as the Lions secured a thrilling 40-34 victory at Levi’s Stadium, avenging their loss in last season's NFC Championship Game, all while avoiding significant injuries.

“Yeah, it was on my mind, and I thought about it a lot—leading up to the game, last night, and even this morning,” Campbell said. “I told the staff, and ultimately, I decided it was the right call to play our guys. We owed it to the team.

“It was a tricky situation. Deciding who to sit and who to play wasn’t fair to the players, especially those who weren’t prepared to step in,” he continued. “More importantly, there were things we wanted to clean up offensively from last week, and we did just that.”

The Lions approached the game with a winning mentality, even though it had no playoff implications. For Detroit, it was about redemption. After squandering a 17-point halftime lead to the 49ers last postseason, falling one step short of the Super Bowl, this game meant much more than the scoreboard suggested.

For Lions safety Kerby Joseph, the sting of last year’s loss lingered.

“I really wanted this one,” Joseph said, reflecting on his performance, which included two interceptions. “Last year, they got us here, and I’ve had a chip on my shoulder ever since. People can say this game didn’t mean much, but for us, it meant everything. Coming back here, to San Francisco, and leaving with a win—it feels incredible. We started slow on defense, but we finished strong.”

Quarterback Jared Goff echoed Joseph’s sentiments. In a triumphant return to his home state, Goff threw for 303 yards, completing 26-of-34 passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

With Campbell committed to playing the starters, Goff entered the game fully prepared to compete, dismissing any thoughts of sitting out early in the week. His three-touchdown performance marked the seventh such game this season, tying Matthew Stafford's 2011 franchise record.

“I'm sure it wasn’t an easy call for him,” Goff said of Campbell’s decision. “But that’s just who we are as a team. We go out there, and we compete. This was the team that ended our season last year, so for a lot of guys, this game mattered. It might not have had playoff implications, but it was about pride—for us and for them. It turned into a really fun game.”

Now, Detroit shifts its focus to Sunday night’s showdown against the Minnesota Vikings. With both teams at 14-2, the NFC North Division title and the conference’s No. 1 seed are on the line—a first for the Lions, who have never achieved the top seed since the seeding system began in 1975.

“This is what it’s all about,” Campbell said. “You couldn’t script it better. Two teams at 14-2, fighting for the division and the No. 1 seed. It’s fairytale stuff. Our guys are ready, and the excitement speaks for itself.”

Detroit will aim to make history in front of their home crowd as they chase a top spot in the NFC and a long-awaited chance at Super Bowl glory.



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