There's always a bit extra when it comes to media sessions during the week of the NFC Championship game, which means there was no shortage of content provided on Wednesday by the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
With the two teams in preparations for their NFC Championship showdown at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, FOX), 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Lions head coach Dan Campbell, and several players from each team took time to speak to reporters about the upcoming matchup as well as a number of other topics.
We've already discussed a number of those at 49ers Webzone, including the injury status of 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's return to the NFC Championship game. In this version of 49ers Notebook, we're going to dive into what the Lions are saying, including some words from former 49ers fan and yearly foe Jared Goff. We'll also touch on what Purdy said about his in-game disagreement with wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud and much more. Let's get it started...
Back in the Bay
Sunday's NFC Championship will be a homecoming for Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who grew up in Marin County before playing his college ball at Cal. But Levi's Stadium isn't going to present any degree of unfamiliarity for Goff, given the fact he grew up cheering for the 49ers and played in Levi's Stadium multiple times as a member of the Los Angeles Rams before being traded to the Lions in 2021. So Sunday may bring a touch of extra emotion for Goff as a result of playing in the Bay Area, but it will also bring a "been there, done that" mentality as well.
"I grew up a Niner fan and I was able to get all those 'playing the Bay Area team" (things) done in my time with the Rams," Goff said Wednesday. "It'll be fun to play a big game there, but I've played there quite a few times, and I'll have some friends and family there. It'll be cool."
Goff has a 3-6 record against the 49ers in his career, with two of those wins coming in Levi's Stadium. But he's been on the losing side in his last five contests against the 49ers, a trend that Vegas oddsmakers believe will likely continue on Sunday as the 49ers are currently seven-point favorites over the Lions. But if Goff's record falls to 3-7 on Sunday, it's likely it won't have anything to do with any added distraction of coming back to the Bay.
"He's the least of my concerns. He's going to be just fine," Campbell said.
Is this a better version of Jared Goff?
The 49ers haven't faced Goff since defeating the Lions in Detroit in the 2021 season opener. At the time, Goff was viewed as somewhat of a castaway from the Rams, who included him in the trade that sent former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles. But Goff has gone from being a possible placeholder to being the face of the franchise in Detroit after an outstanding 2023 season that saw him throw for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
So, has Goff improved since September 2021? Or will the 49ers be facing the same quarterback they faced when he was with the Rams? There were some differing opinions on that subject Wednesday.
"Yeah, I think he is the same guy," 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said. "He's played great in L.A. and he's played great with Detroit, but the key is obviously getting pressure on him. He's got a really good O-Line, so it makes it tough, but you cover up his first couple of reads and you get after him, hit him a few times, it changes things a little bit."
49ers linebacker Fred Warner, on the other hand, sees a great deal of improvement in Goff.
"A lot better," Warner said. "Not to say that he wasn't good when we played him back when he was with the Rams, but I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now with the way that he's playing. I think he finished top three in passing yards this season and I think just the delivery of the football, his decisiveness, obviously with the amount of playmakers that he has on that side, I think he's the one that's leading that group and he's the reason why they're at where they're at right now. You need your quarterback to be the leader of the team and the offense and get yourself in a position to be in a game like this."
Goff, who has 1,918 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions against the 49ers, will obviously have plenty of opportunity to state his case on Sunday. He'll be facing a number of players he's very familiar with, including Warner and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
"Both those guys are really dang good, and I've been fortunate or unfortunate to be on the other side of the ball from them quite some times," Goff said. "They're really good. They've both very smart. They're both very fast. They both play sideline to sideline. They're both involved in the run game and the pass game. A lot of respect for both those guys."
No hard feelings
At one point during the 49ers' 24-21 win over the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round, Brock Purdy could be seen having some heated words with wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud. On Wednesday, Purdy explained what caused him to yell at McCloud, saying he was expecting McCloud to stick to his scripted route but McCloud saw an opportunity to break off for a bigger play.
"I'm just going through my progressions, and from where I'm at with the pocket closing and stuff, I'm expecting him to be where he's supposed to be with the route that we had called on," Purdy said. "The corner actually slipped that was guarding him, so he was trying to be smart and throw up his hand and run the space, which I get. And so in the moment, I was like, 'Man, you just got to be where you got to be where I'm expecting you to be.' But I totally understand what you're doing. If a guy falls, there's a big play to be made out there."
Purdy and McCloud (who caught Purdy's first NFL completion in October 2022) went on to discuss what happened on the play and eventually came to an understanding.
"We had talked about it, and then we ended up on good terms and moving forward," Purdy said. "We know what to expect out of each other and stuff and when we're in that moment again. So it's just communication.
"We're competitors in the heat of battle. Things like that happen, and we needed that in that moment in the game -- that third down, so I had a little frustration come out and stuff. But it's nothing but love. I totally trust and respect Ray Ray and what he's done, and we're going to get better from it."
Why the Lions believe
Sunday's NFC Championship contest presents a true contrast when it comes to overall franchise success, with the 49ers aiming for their eighth Super Bowl appearance in an NFL-record 19th conference championship game while the Lions will be attempting to reach their first Super Bowl in just their second conference championship game. The game will mark the third consecutive appearance in the NFC Championship game for the 49ers and their fourth in five years.
Yet the Lions are confident heading into Sunday's game, despite their lack of experience on such a big stage. Campbell explained why on Wednesday, saying the team has been built for this moment, even though they have only been there one other time.
"Everything starts with ability, right? You have to have ability in this league. We have ability. But deeper than that, you have to be able to handle the ebbs and flows of a game and a season and playoffs," Campbell said. "And that's what has been built for three years now. So that's what gives me faith. Look, there's going to be things that are going to happen in this game that it looks like it's out of control and it's not going to go well for us, and as long as we play the next play, it'll turn. That's what we've done all year, and that's the most important thing to keep in mind. But you've got to be made a certain way and the team has to be made a certain way to be able to handle that. Otherwise, you just crumble. So that's what gives me faith. We have a team that's built that way."
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson feels the same way as Campbell and told reporters the Lions believe their season is not going to be coming to an end at the hands of the 49ers on Sunday.
"I think we all believe it," Hutchinson said. "We all believe. We're going to come into that game with the expectation of winning it -- going to the Super Bowl. That's what we believe. We expect nothing less."
Extra hand?
The Lions added a former Pro Bowler their practice squad roster on Monday with the signing of tight end Zach Ertz, but how much of a role he will play in the NFC Championship game remains to be seen.
Ertz, 33, played in seven games with the Arizona Cardinals this season before asking to be released. Campbell didn't express any commitment to playing Ertz against the 49ers when the subject came up on Wednesday.
"He just got here," Campbell said. "I know he's in shape. I talked to him the other day. He understands we're just going to gauge this and see where we're at. So he'll be out here, but he's played -- played at a high level. There's things that he does well. It's just a matter of, 'Is this the week to use him?'"
Ertz told reporters he doesn't think there will be any problems in learning enough of his new offense to make an impact on Sunday.
"I'm confident I can get up to speed quickly from a mental standpoint," Ertz said. "It's just how much they want to put on me. I've played in a lot of different offenses in my eleven years now, so I'm confident I can pick it up mentally. But at the same time, I'm just getting the basics right now. We'll see how Thursday and Friday go. It's a long way to go to the game, but I'm excited to be here."
D-Mo's mouth will runneth over
49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir isn't afraid to talk smack on the football field, but his first outing against the Lions was a rare exception.
The game in Detroit on September 12, 2021 was Lenoir's NFL debut after joining the 49ers as a fifth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lenoir drew a start in the game, but he took a humbler approach than usual when he stepped on the field.
"That was the first game I ever played that I really didn't say nothing," Lenoir said. "I didn't say nothing. I feel like that was my first game where I had to earn my stripes without saying something."
It's highly unlikely Lenoir will do the same thing again when the Lions visit Levi's Stadium on Sunday. He's long since earned his stripes, so expect him to give the Lions an earful.
"I feel like you've got to kind of talk trash in this league to bring out that confidence, that swag," Lenoir said. "Deion Sanders did it. Look at him -- he's one of the greatest. So I don't knock people for talking trash. It's never personal."
Throwing opponents and teammates out of the club
A national TV audience got a good look at the blocking ability of 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings against the Packers on Saturday when he blocked a defender out of play and into the area where the Packers had their Gatorade buckets. Watch below:
LOOK AT JAUAN JENNINGS BLOCK!!!!! pic.twitter.com/X3UOe6ekDN
— THIS IS THE WAY! (@RoscoesMr) January 22, 2024
Jennings' block was nothing new to the 49ers. As a matter of fact, he's gotten so intense about his blocking at practice that it's almost started some fights.
"It's what he does every play out of practice," head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. "Our defense tried to fight him all last year because they thought he was going above and beyond. And the next day in the meeting, I had to show him what he does every single play and to say it's not personal, this is just how he blocks. He stops after the whistle. He just drives into people, puts his face and hands into people and never stops. And when it's over, he usually goes back to the huddle. But usually people take it personal, but it's not personal. That's just what he does."
But while the defensive players may not have always appreciated it on the practice field, they undoubtedly do on gamedays.
"I don't know if I've ever seen him dump anybody in the Gatorade in practice, but that's exactly who he is through and through," Warner said. "He plays the game exactly the way that you want it to be played, especially at that position. I've said it before, I think he's one of the best football players on our team. He doesn't get all the attention or the limelight, but he's going to be there in the clutch situations when you need him. He's steady Eddie as it comes, obviously with the run game stuff and also in the pass game, he just is a very complete player and I'm really happy he's on our side."
Jennings actually missed an opportunity to cause a literal splash on Saturday and heard some good-natured ribbing from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk as a result. But the block got the team fired up, as Jennings' play has a tendency to do.
"I didn't see it until I was watching the tape on Saturday night, but I was messing with him ever since then because he took him all the way to the Gatorade table, but he got turned at the last second," Aiyuk said. "So I was getting on him for that. But no, it's just he plays like that. The whole entire team feeds off of it. So when he's blocking like that, that's usually when we're at our best"
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