Christian McCaffrey Shines as 49ers Defeat Panthers 20-9/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Christian McCaffrey starred in his first game against his former team, racking up 142 yards and a touchdown to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers. Despite quarterback Brock Purdy’s three first-half interceptions, the 49ers leaned on McCaffrey to maintain playoff momentum. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young struggled, throwing two interceptions and missing a chance to gain ground in the NFC South.
Christian McCaffrey Powers 49ers to Victory: Quick Looks
- Christian McCaffrey totaled 142 scrimmage yards and 1 TD against his former team
- 49ers defeated Panthers 20-9, improving to 8-4 on the season
- Brock Purdy threw three interceptions in the first half
- Panthers’ Bryce Young struggled, finishing with 169 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
- San Francisco played conservatively in the second half, relying on McCaffrey
- Ji’Ayir Brown and Matt Gay made key plays, with an interception and a field goal
- Tensions flared late, including a postgame punch from Jauan Jennings
- Panthers failed to capitalize on takeaways, turning 3 INTs into just 3 points
- McCaffrey recorded his 10th 100-yard game of the season
- Injuries hit both teams, including Panthers’ Jaycee Horn (concussion)
Christian McCaffrey Shines as 49ers Defeat Panthers 20-9
Deep Look
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Christian McCaffrey showed no signs of sentimentality in his first game against his former team. Instead, he led the San Francisco 49ers to a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night, continuing his dominant season with 142 total yards and a touchdown.
Despite playing down the reunion narrative, McCaffrey was the offensive engine for the 49ers (8-4), who remain well-positioned in the NFC playoff race. He rushed for 89 yards, added 53 through the air, and found the end zone for his 10th 100-yard performance of the year—just two shy of the single-season team record he set in 2023.
“This was just another game,” McCaffrey insisted postgame. “Once the ball’s snapped, it’s business. But of course, it’s always nice to see familiar faces before and after.”
His performance helped mask an erratic outing by Brock Purdy, who threw three interceptions in the first half, becoming the first quarterback this season to do so. Still recovering from a toe injury, Purdy said the mistakes weren’t due to rust or health.
“The reads were fine,” Purdy said. “It was the execution. I didn’t drive the ball well enough. Left it hanging too long.”
In response, head coach Kyle Shanahan adjusted the offensive approach, shifting to a more conservative game plan that relied on short passes and McCaffrey’s dual-threat ability. The adjustment paid off when McCaffrey scored on a 12-yard run, extending San Francisco’s lead to 17-3 in the second half.
Matt Gay added a field goal to close out the scoring for the 49ers.
Meanwhile, the Panthers (6-6) failed to seize momentum, a week after Bryce Young set a franchise passing record with 448 yards against Atlanta. This time, he managed just 169 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions, one of which came deep in San Francisco territory.
Young’s best moment came on a 29-yard touchdown connection to Tetairoa McMillan, trimming the 49ers’ lead. But a failed 2-point conversion and another costly interception to Ji’Ayir Brown stifled any comeback hopes.
“Just not good enough tonight,” Young admitted. “Some decisions I’d love to take back.”
Tempers boiled over late in the game. Panthers safety Tre’Von Moehrig was flagged for a late hit on Jauan Jennings, and the 49ers receiver responded postgame by throwing a punch. “I was just responding to some childish behavior,” Jennings said.
San Francisco struck first, with Purdy finding Jennings for a 12-yard touchdown on the opening drive. That marked the first opening-drive TD against the Panthers all year.
But after that hot start, Purdy’s three interceptions—including two by Jaycee Horn—stalled the offense. Fortunately for San Francisco, the Panthers couldn’t capitalize, turning three takeaways into just three points.
Young’s first interception was particularly costly—it came on 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line, halting a promising drive.
“I stand by the call,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said of the play-action decision that led to the pick. “It was aggressive, and we had a shot. Execution just wasn’t there.”
Both teams dealt with injuries throughout the game. The Panthers lost Jaycee Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus to concussions in the first half, while G Chandler Zavala (calf) and CB Corey Thornton (ankle) exited later. The 49ers saw DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) leave the game and not return.
Looking Ahead
- Panthers (6-6) return home to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday
- 49ers (8-4) travel to Cleveland to face a surging Browns team
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