Amon-Ra St. Brown has carried the sting of last season’s heartbreak into every game this year. The Detroit Lions came within a whisper of making their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, only to watch their dreams slip away in a gut-wrenching NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers pulled off a stunning 34-31 comeback victory, fueled by one of the most improbable plays of the season: a tipped 51-yard reception that bounced off the facemask of Lions’ defensive back Kindle Vildor and into the hands of Brandon Aiyuk. That miraculous catch set the stage for San Francisco to erase a 17-point halftime deficit, clinch the NFC title, and ultimately lose a hard-fought Super Bowl in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, nearly a year later, the Lions have a golden opportunity for revenge. Riding the momentum of a phenomenal season, Detroit returns to Levi’s Stadium in Week 17 to face the 49ers on the grand stage of Monday Night Football.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions’ star receiver, has been nothing short of extraordinary this season, despite battling through injuries. With 101 receptions, 1,126 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns so far, St. Brown has established himself as one of the league’s premier offensive threats. But even with his individual success, last year’s NFC Championship loss still haunts him.

“For me personally, I want to win,” St. Brown said in a press conference, as reported by Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “I remember that feeling walking off the field last year, and it didn’t feel good. Going in there, we obviously all want to win. Every player who was here last year knows the feeling we had, and we want to go in there and come out with a dub.”

Reflecting on the loss, St. Brown didn’t hold back about the emotional toll it took on him and his teammates.

“I would say that game was probably up there with the worst L’s I’ve had in my life, in my football career,” St. Brown admitted. “Just the way everything played out—it was like a horror movie. But it’s a new year, and we have a chance to redeem ourselves, so I think we’re pretty excited.”

Although the stakes are different this time around, the matchup still carries significant weight for Detroit. The Lions are eyeing a strong finish to solidify their playoff positioning, while the 49ers, eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the Miami Dolphins, are fighting for pride. For the Lions, this is about much more than just one game—it’s about rewriting the narrative and exorcising the demons of last year’s devastating loss.

As the Dec. 30 clash approaches, all eyes will be on Levi’s Stadium. For St. Brown and his teammates, it’s not just another game. It’s a shot at redemption. And for Lions fans, it’s an opportunity to witness their team rise from the ashes of heartbreak and claim a much-needed victory on a national stage.