The San Francisco 49ers face the Detroit Lions in Week 17 in a rematch of last season's dramatic NFC Championship Game.

But rather than being a potential preview of another playoff encounter, next Monday's reunion between two teams that served up a classic last January is one that sees a Super Bowl favorite come up against a team that is playing out the string.

While the Lions have gone from strength to strength since surrendering a 17-point lead in last season's title game, the 49ers have endured a dreadful Super Bowl hangover.

The 49ers are 6-9 following Sunday's defeat to the Miami Dolphins, and the opening line for their final home game of the season against the Lions is indicative of how far the reigning NFC champions have fallen in a season defined by injuries and a failure to finish games.

San Francisco, per OddsTrader, opened as 3.5-point underdogs against the Lions. 

For context, the 49ers were seven-point favorites for the NFC title game before ultimately winning it 34-31.

That is a 10.5-point swing in the space of 11 months, and the only surprise is that the odds aren't stacked even higher in the Lions' favor. Monday Night Football is unlikely to be pleasant viewing for 49ers fans, for whom the season cannot end quick enough.

49ers’ first losing season since 2020 should force Kyle Shanahan to accept reality around their final two games

It’s time to face facts and react accordingly.