49ers’ Deebo Samuel, Lions’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson reignite beef in NFC title game after premature wave goodbye

The San Francisco 49ers hosted the Detroit Lions for the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII, and it was a rematch from last year’s NFC Championship Game in a way. While the Philadelphia Eagles are nowhere to be found, we did get a player-on-player rematch from last year’s NFC title game: Deebo Samuel vs. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.

Gardner-Johnson was flagged for an unnecessary hit on Samuel while blocking in Sunday’s game.

By Monday morning, Samuel was ready to rub it in. It turns out that CJGJ waved goodbye to 49ers fans with the Lions leading 20-7 in the second quarter. They’d eventually claim a 24-7 lead before falling 34-31 in dramatic fashion. And Samuel had a lot to say about it.

But their rivalry dates well before Sunday’s game.

As you’ll recall, Philly defeated San Francisco, 31-7, in the NFC title game last year after 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy injured his elbow in the first quarter.

“We lost because we played with 10 people,” Samuel said of the NFC title game last offseason, via Complex Sports. “I ain’t going to keep going on about what could’ve happened and what would’ve happened but yeah, it would’ve definitely been a different outcome (if healthy).”

Samuel also said that the Eagles were his “most hated team” after the playoff loss, pointing to all the trash talk that comes from Philly’s fan base and players. Gardner-Johnson fit that Philly mold perfectly, but he has now brought his energy to Detroit. 

For when Deebo and CJGJ got into it, let’s go back to Week 6 of the 2023 regular season. Prior to the Cleveland Browns’ upset win over the previously unbeaten 49ers, the two teams were involved in a skirmish before the opening kickoff. Multiple players were seen pushing and shoving, including Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Juan Thornhill and Trent Williams.

Gardner-Johnson saw a clip of the fight, and decided to take a shot at Samuel to ignite the…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/49ers-deebo-samuel-lions-c-j-gardner-johnson-reignite-beef-in-nfc-title-game-after-premature-wave-goodbye/

Author : Jordan Dajani

Publish date : 2024-01-29 16:49:48

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