Sunday Night Football tonight features an excellent NFC Championship matchup between two quarterbacks and teams looking to be crowned the conference’s premier team.
The latest chapter of a highly competitive NFL season adds another chapter with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line, what could be better?
Who Plays on Sunday Night Football Tonight?
- Teams: San Francisco 49ers vs. Detroit Lions
- Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
The No. 1 seeded San Francisco 49ers will welcome the No. 3 seeded Detroit Lions in a battle of the two top teams in the NFC with a ticket punched to the Super Bowl on the line.
The Lions have been a fan favorite throughout their playoff run, as head coach Dan Campbell and his coaching style, paired with a long history of losing for the Lions franchise, has made them a likable team many have chosen to root for.
Campbell understands that the Lions’ decision-makers took a chance on him. He’s hoping to continue to prove that they made the right decision when they entrusted him with their franchise.
“She’s [Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp] one of one. She’s unique, and I’ll say this, everything that we kind of are and what we’re about has started with her,” Campbell said.
“It’s really her, it’s her vision. Like I’m fortunate she allows me to be myself. I don’t feel like I have to be somebody I’m not, and you can’t always do that. You can’t — and so with that, I can coach.
“I can do what I need to do, and I appreciate that. So, she took a chance on me, and yeah, it feels good to prove her right, but we’re not done either.”
The Lions hadn’t won a playoff game in 32 years before breaking the streak this season. They have a chance to break another streak with a win today, as they have never appeared in a Super Bowl in their existence.
For the 49ers, this is a familiar setting for them as this will be their third straight NFC Championship appearance. QB Brock Purdy got injured in this game last year and derailed San Francisco’s hope of making it to the Super Bowl. This year, they hope to stay healthy and show once and for all that they’re the superior team in the conference.
Health will be a big factor for the 49ers as their star, do-it-all wide receiver Deebo Samuel exited the game last week due to an injury. As a result, there were several questions surrounding his availability for this game.
Fortunately, Samuel has been cleared, which is something that head coach Kyle Shanahan knows surely is a relief for him and his team.
MORE: NFC Championship Game Preview — A Defining Moment for San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan
“It was a little scary at the beginning of the week, but the fact that he was able to be full-go today and have no restrictions on him is a good thing for us,” Shanahan said.
“Right when I figured out it wasn’t the same thing as the Browns game, it was a relief,” Samuel said. “I’m talking about countless hours in here day in and day out to get here… I want to give credit to our physical therapists in there Ben (Peterson), (Dustin) Little, and (Ryan) Donahue for getting right where we need to be.”
It looks like both teams will be as close to all hands on deck as you can be for a game at this juncture in the season. And with a trip to the Super Bowl up for grabs, that can’t be understated.
What Time Is Sunday Night Football Tonight?
- Date: Jan. 28, 2024
- Start time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel and Live Stream for SNF
- TV channel: FOX
- Live stream: FOX
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