4 reasons why 49ers beat Lions in NFC Championship (and 2 reasons why they don't)
Why the 49ers win: Niners' red-zone offense is elite, Lions red-zone defense is not
The 49ers didn't have the best offensive performances against the Packers, and their inability to get down the field for most of the game meant they only made the red zone once during the game.
Mind you, it was for the game-winning touchdown. So at least there's that.
The Niners have been the best in the league when it comes to red-zone offense, though, and coming away with seven points instead of three. This is promising when you consider the Lions are one of the worst teams in the NFL when it comes to their red-zone defense.
Lions are the #29 red-zone defense in the NFL this season, they're giving up touchdowns on 64.4% of red-zone trips. #49ers are the #1 red-zone offense in the NFL this season, scoring touchdown on 67% of trips.
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) January 23, 2024
Scoring touchdowns vs. a really good Lions' offense is key.
Offensive efficiency will be critical for San Francisco, given the Lions possess their own elite scoring unit, so it's critical that the 49ers take advantage of the red-zone mismatch and up the score as much as they can, given they can never be sure how many opportunities they have.
And if the 49ers can exploit the Lions and their problems in the red zone, then they could be one step closer to their sixth Super Bowl victory.
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