4 Takeaways From the 49ers’ Win Over the Panthers

[ad_1] It might not have been fairly, however the 49ers got here out on high in a primetime sport with NFC playoff implications.

San Francisco (8-4) took down Carolina (6-6) Monday night time at Levi’s Stadium, 20-9. The 49ers transfer into the ultimate NFC wild-card spot and are 1 ½ video games behind the Rams within the NFC West. They've now gained back-to-back video games for the primary time since September.

The Panthers have misplaced three of their final 5 video games.

Listed below are my takeaways:

1. Brock Purdy’s turnovers may finally harm the Niners Purdy threw three interceptions within the first half, two of which had been passes behind the receiver (Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall) and one on the entrance finish zone, permitting the Panthers to make a play on the ball. On the third, Purdy did not appear to be he noticed cornerback Jaycee Horn, who got here throughout the sector to snag the move. The Panthers' Professional Bowler had two of the interceptions.

The Niners have had backup Mac Jones play properly this season rather than Purdy, who’s missed eight video games as a result of harm. The franchise is dedicated to Purdy, who signed a five-year, $265 million extension in Could. So, it should get cleaner soccer out of him down the stretch, as San Francisco seems to be to return to the playoffs after lacking it in 2024. He’s had a number of interceptions in three of his 4 begins this season, together with three giveaways twice.

2. Panthers passing assault comes again to earth Bryce Younger threw for a franchise-record 448 yards and three touchdowns within the Panthers’ extra time victory in Atlanta final week, main many league observers to consider that Carolina’s passing assault could possibly be turning a nook. This efficiency indicated that it could have simply been extra of an outlier.

Carolina struggled to maneuver the ball by the air in opposition to San Francisco. Younger didn’t have a completion that gained greater than 20 yards within the first 44 minutes of sport time, and he had his multi-interception sport since Week 1. The offense didn't benefit from three takeaways, scoring simply three factors off of San Francisco’s three turnovers, and went 1-of-7 on third down.

The Panthers had simply 161 web passing yards, marking the tenth time in 12 video games this season that they’ve thrown for fewer than 200 yards.

3. Christian McCaffrey maintains historic tempo in opposition to his former staff In his first sport dealing with the Panthers, who traded him halfway by the 2022 season, McCaffrey confirmed Carolina what it has missed — 31 touches (24 carries, seven catches) for 142 scrimmage yards and a landing. With 89 dashing yards and 53 receiving yards, the star tailback stays on monitor to surpass 1,000 yards dashing and receiving.

A frontrunner for comeback participant of the 12 months, McCaffrey leads the NFL in catches (81) and touches (298) coming into Week 13.

4. Panthers blow alternative to take management of NFC South With a win, Carolina would’ve moved one-half sport forward of Tampa Bay (6-5) for first place within the NFC South. As a substitute, the Panthers shall be one-half behind the Bucs with six weeks left within the common season.

The Panthers nonetheless have each of their head-to-head video games left in opposition to the Buccaneers in Weeks 16 and 18 this season.

4 ½ What’s Subsequent? As they appear to remain within the driver’s seat for a playoff spot, the Niners have a positive schedule over the subsequent few weeks — on the Browns (3-8) and their bye week earlier than internet hosting the Titans (1-10) — forward of a troublesome stretch to the shut the common season: on the Colts (8-3), then residence in opposition to the Bears (8-3) and Seahawks (8-3).

The Panthers will host the red-hot Rams (9-2) subsequent Sunday earlier than their Week 14 bye. They’ll end 2025 with three division video games, together with two in opposition to the Bucs.

Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.

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