The Uniquely Cruel Collapse of the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions, until now the most likable team left in the NFL playoffs, subjected their fans to one of the worst days of their lives on Sunday. The Lions carried a 17-point lead into halftime in the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, then lost it in all of 12 minutes. They never recovered for more than a couple of plays at a time, and when it was over, the 49ers were in the Super Bowl on the strength of a 34–31 victory. Instead of the Lions getting a chance to cap a Cinderella story, America will watch second-year quarterback Brock Purdy take on Patrick Mahomes in Las Vegas.