SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have been waiting a year to get back to the NFC championship game after another disappointing loss.
The wait for the Detroit Lions and their fans has been far longer, with the success-starved franchise one step away from its first Super Bowl appearance.
Either the host 49ers will shake off back-to-back defeats in this phase of the playoffs the past two seasons, or the Lions will win in their first appearance on this stage in 32 years when the teams meet in the NFC championship game at 6:30 pm. Sunday. Fox will televise the matchup.
“You worked so hard all season long. We talked about it all season. To be able to put ourselves in a position where we can play the NFC championship game again, we did that,” All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner of the 49ers said. “We have that opportunity right now. … I know the type of team we have, the type of players we have and talent.
“I know if we play our best ball for three hours, we’ll get the job done.”