Christian McCaffrey leads 49ers previous former Panthers staff on Monday Evening

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Christian McCaffrey confronted his former Carolina Panthers staff for the primary time since his commerce to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.

The All-Professional operating again powered San Francisco to a 20-9 victory on "Monday Evening Soccer," discovering the tip zone and main each groups in complete yards from scrimmage.

The 49ers (8-4) at the moment are firmly within the NFC playoff image, whereas the Panthers (6-6) missed an opportunity to take sole possession of the NFC South lead.

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Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Claudin Cherelus, #53, of the Carolina Panthers within the first quarter of the sport at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Pictures)

Whereas McCaffrey shined on the primetime stage, it was a tough evening for each quarterbacks.

Brock Purdy, who threw three touchdowns in his return the earlier week, struggled with turnovers, tossing three interceptions on consecutive possessions within the first half.

San Francisco opened sturdy with a 15-play, 75-yard landing drive, capped by Purdy’s quick go to Jauan Jennings, who fought by way of three Panthers defenders to attain. However after a fast Panthers three-and-out, Purdy’s first go on the following collection was picked off by Jaycee Horn, giving Carolina the ball on the San Francisco 16-yard line.

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However this evening wasn’t nearly Purdy’s turnovers — Younger had some points as nicely.

On first-and-goal from the 1, Younger appeared to have room to run towards the pylon, however he as a substitute tried a go to tight finish Mitchell Evans. Ji’Ayir Brown was proper there to snag the interception ultimately zone and bail out Purdy for his earlier mistake.

Sadly for San Francisco, Purdy was picked off by Mike Jackson within the reverse finish zone when he tried to search out Ricky Pearsall for a landing. The route was learn completely by the veteran cornerback. Upon replay, tight finish George Kittle appeared large open and may need scored with a brief go, however Purdy was searching for the massive play on the throw.

Then Purdy was actually kicking himself after Horn secured his second interception of the sport — a savvy play as he roamed free in the course of the sector and Purdy merely didn’t see him on a go meant for Pearsall. The Panthers lastly acquired factors on the board after a area purpose lower the deficit to 7-3.

Jauan Jennings of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a landing within the first quarter of the sport in opposition to the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Pictures)

It was solely 10-3 at halftime, however the 49ers lastly acquired McCaffrey into the tip zone within the third quarter in opposition to his former staff. His 12-yard landing run capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive by San Francisco, the place the star again acquired key blocks from Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk to succeed in the tip zone.

McCaffrey completed the sport with 89 speeding yards and 7 catches for 53 yards.

The Panthers weren’t fully out of the sport regardless of the 17-3 deficit, because of rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan hauling in a 29-yard strike from Younger with 49 seconds left within the third quarter to make it a 17-9 recreation after a failed two-point conversion.

The 49ers created some separation after including one other area purpose, however the Panthers nonetheless had loads of time within the fourth quarter to make issues attention-grabbing. Sadly for them, Brown jumped a route throughout the center meant for McMillan, and Younger threw it proper to him.

The interception nearly iced the sport, as Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 57-yard area purpose with 2:47 left within the fourth quarter throughout the Panthers’ determined try to get factors.

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Trying on the field rating, Kittle led the sport with 78 yards on six catches, whereas Jennings completed with 41 yards on 5 grabs.

For the Panthers, Rico Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard and Younger mixed for simply 69 speeding yards, although Dowdle had 4 catches for 36 yards. Hubbard added 4 catches for 27 yards.