The San Francisco 49ers pulled off an astonishing fightback in their NFC Championship Game versus the Detroit Lions to reach Super Bowl LVIII, where defending champions Kansas City Chiefs await.
The California franchise faced a 7-24 deficit at half time in the encounter at Levi's Stadium but rallied to triumph 34-31 and clinch their eighth Conference Championship, thus denying the Lions a long-awaited first Super Bowl appearance.
Only four NFL teams - including the Lions - have never appeared in a Super Bowl, but Dan Campbell's men were seemingly on the way to ending that hoodoo as they dominated the first two quarters.
However, an exceptional 49ers turnaround saw Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell register touchdowns, and Jameson Williams's last-gasp effort for the Lions with 56 seconds remaining came too late to save their playoff bacon.
Standing in the 49ers' way of a sixth Super Bowl crown - and a first since 1994 - will be the reigning holders Kansas City Chiefs, who made it back-to-back AFC Championship titles with a 17-10 beating of the Baltimore Ravens.
Patrick Mahomes threw for 241 yards and a first-quarter touchdown for Travis Kelce, but the Ravens got back on level terms a few minutes later as Zay Flowers collected a 30-yard drive from Lamar Jackson.
Isiah Pacheco's touchdown and a Harrison Butker field goal gave the Chiefs a healthy half-time lead, though, and after a scoreless third quarter, Justin Tucker's closing field goal for the Ravens was futile.
Ben Knapton
