The San Francisco 49ers were in need of a spark, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk delivered it.
After opening the game with a two-touchdown deficit, the 49ers were fighting to stay competitive with the Detroit Lions in the NFC championship on Sunday night.
The San Francisco defense came up with a huge stop on fourth down, and just a few plays later, Aiyuk came through with the play of the game.
Quarterback Brock Purdy dropped back and sailed a deep ball down the center of the field. Aiyuk was smothered by Lions’ cornerback Kindle Vildor, who was tracking the ball well. Vildor had a shot at intercepting the pass, but the ball sailed through his hands and bounced off his helmet back into the air.
Aiyuk never lost track of the ball, and hauled it in for the 49ers’ biggest play of the game.
OH MY WORD!? Brandon Aiyuk are you kidding me??
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/JD6tw9M02f
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 29, 2024
NFL fans were stunned at the 49ers’ sudden turn of good fortune.
NFL scriptwriters went crazy on this one https://t.co/zLGCVfAMXp
— Cornell (@Ethanjonc) January 29, 2024
What. A. Play!!!! Wooooww! https://t.co/lkCEeIjukM
— Shanda (@shanda) January 29, 2024
This catch is absurd https://t.co/97OjBIlm6I
— Sara Palczewski (@SaraPalczewski) January 29, 2024
Oh my https://t.co/DPEeHfYyvM
— davina (@pristinedavina) January 29, 2024
What in the Madden-computer-AI was this lol #49ers #aiyuk https://t.co/rUGWjYCP5A
— Chris Bolseng (@highlevelchris) January 29, 2024
What a catch. https://t.co/UgH5BXn5xB
— tbjstudios (@tbjstudio1) January 29, 2024
Aiyuk would finish the drive with a touchdown a few plays later.
BRANDON AIYUK MAKES IT A ONE-SCORE GAME!
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/PSd0FpeGFQ
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 29, 2024
On the ensuing possession, the Lions fumbled the ball back to San Francisco immediately, setting up another touchdown to tie the game 24–24 late in the third quarter.
We got ourselves a ballgame.