SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey maintained that taking part in Carolina for the primary time because the Panthers traded him to San Francisco three years in the past would not increase his stage of urgency one bit.
McCaffrey responded to the reunion sport like he does nearly each week, with a productive efficiency that led the 49ers to a different win.
McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a landing, and San Francisco overcame a tough efficiency by quarterback Brock Purdy to beat the Panthers 20-9 on Monday night time.
“Obviously when you see familiar faces, it’s always good to see them before the game and after the game,” McCaffrey mentioned. “But that’s a completely new team than when I was there. So it’s really just business once the ball was snapped.”
McCaffrey’s large night time helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three interceptions within the first half by Purdy to stay in playoff place heading into the stretch run of the season.
Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to benefit from their alternatives every week after he threw for a franchise-record 448 yards in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for 169 yards with one landing and one interception as Carolina missed an opportunity to maneuver into sole possession of first place within the NFC South.
Purdy wasn’t significantly better in his second begin again from a toe damage as he grew to become the primary participant this season to throw three interceptions within the first half of a sport. Purdy mentioned neither the toe nor rust was a difficulty.
“Honestly, the decisions of going to those spots, I was fine with,” he mentioned. “It’s just the execution of throwing a better ball. I feel like on really all of them, I needed to just drive the ball a little bit more. I kept it up in the air too long on multiple of them.”
The 49ers went conservative within the second half after Purdy’s tough begin to the sport, relying totally on McCaffrey and quick passes. The technique labored with McCaffrey scoring on a 12-yard run to make it 17-3 and the Niners including a subject objective by Matt Gay.
Young did join on one large play, a 29-yard TD cross to Tetairoa McMillan, however Carolina could not convert on 2-point attempt after a penalty moved the ball to the 1.
Young then threw his second interception of the sport to Ji’Ayir Brown with Carolina in scoring place with a 20-9 deficit.
“Just lack of execution,” Young mentioned. “Couple of plays I’d like to have back, some stuff we could do better. Not what we wanted. We didn’t do good enough and I take ownership of that.”
The frustration from the loss contributed to a spat, with Carolina security Tre’Von Moehrig hitting San Francisco receiver Jauan Jennings within the groin after a run play late within the sport and Jennings responding with a punch to the helmet after the sport.
“I was just responding to some childish behavior,” Jennings mentioned.
McCaffrey, who has reworked the 49ers’ offense since being acquired in October 2022, completed with 89 yards speeding and 53 receiving for his tenth 100-yard sport of the season — two shy of the franchise document he set in 2023.
The 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on the primary 5 performs, resulting in the primary opening-drive TD of the season towards Carolina. Purdy linked on a 12-yard cross to Jennings for the rating.
The two offenses did nothing after that. Jaycee Horn had two of Carolina’s three picks of Purdy, however the Panthers turned these takeaways into solely three factors. Young ruined one drive when he was intercepted by Brown on a first-down play from the 1.
“I like the call,” coach Dave Canales mentioned. “It was an aggressive call, a play action that we had opportunities on. Unfortunately came out with an interception.”
The groups traded subject objectives and the Niners led 10-3 on the half.
Injuries
Panthers: Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus left the sport within the first half with concussions and did not return. … G Chandler Zavala (calf) and CB Corey Thornton (ankle) each left within the second half and did not return.
49ers: DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) left within the second half and did not return.
Up subsequent
Panthers: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
49ers: Visit Cleveland on Sunday.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for information and different happenings throughout North Carolina.