Cam Newton was rusty in the first half. No one would argue that. Newton, who had only thrown two passes during the preseason while rehabbing from shoulder surgery, fumbled exchanges with center Ryan Kalil, missed wide open receivers on multiple occasions, and made questionable decisions, often eschewing easy checkdowns that would have produced positive yardage for questionable throws into tight coverage. But it didn’t matter.
The Panthers’ front seven was absolutely dominant, finishing with four sacks, forcing two turnovers and holding the 49ers to 217 yards as they defeated the 49ers 23-3. The defense produced an interception by Luke Kuechly and a fumble forced by Wes Horton, both of which led to touchdowns for the offense. Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short, and defensive end Horton wreaked constant havoc against a younger interior offensive line, Lotulelei in particular was in the backfield constantly disrupting plays both run and pass; while he may not get the accolades or show up on the stat sheet (he finished with only a half sack and two tackles), the man who says he has the “best beard on the team” was the best player on either side of the ball for the Panthers. “As a defense, if they don’t score, they don’t win. That’s all you can do as a defense,” Lotulelei said after the game. “It’s just a mentality. You’ve got to go out there with the mentality that you’re going to stop them, you’re going to get them off the field and give the ball back to your offense.”
“Those guys have got to be able to be stars, and that’s what they are.”
-Kurt Coleman on the Panthers defensive line
With Newton still trying to shake off the rust and establish his timing with his pass catchers, the Panthers leaned on their running game for most of the day, alternating between Jonathan Stewart and rookie running back Christian McCaffrey, with Stewart amassing 82 yards on twenty touches and McCaffrey gaining 85 yards on eighteen opportunities with the ball. McCaffrey in particular had his number called more than anyone else, especially in the first half, when he led the team in targets and received 11 total touches, including two as a punt returner. He averaged over 5.5 yards per touch, including a nifty 16 yard catch and run which featured some improvisation when Newton broke contain and scrambled. On multiple occasions, the quicksilver rookie seemed a step away from breaking a big run, only to be tripped up at the last second.
The cloud did seem to lift for Newton after halftime, who completed all of his six pass attempts in the second half, including a touchdown on a short pass to Stewart who went flipping into the endzone to put the Panthers ahead 20-0 just under three minutes into the second half. Newton was helped tremendously by his offensive line, who kept the quarterback from being sacked the entire game; he had a few plays where he improvised for extra yardage, the most important being on a touchdown throw where he recognized the coverage and changed the play, allowing Shepard to hit a crossing pattern and make a catch near the sidelines before slipping a tackler and heading to the endzone.
Other Notes:
- Kicker Graham Gano was perfect on the day, making three field goals (39,36,20) and two extra points. He also produced touchbacks on all kickoffs.
- Christian McCaffrey fumbled in the fourth quarter trying to extend a play by reversing his field and was stripped by cornerback Rashard Robinson.
- Newton missed multiple throws, including a blown coverage in which Ed Dickson was wide open in the endzone and Newton threw it out so high the tight end never had a chance. He also missed high on a throw to Greg Olsen in the first quarter.
- The Panthers were able to get off the field on third and fourth down, limiting the 49ers to conversions on three of their fifteen opportunities, including three straight fourth down attempts, only allowing a successful conversion after the game was well in hand. Luke Kuechly talked about the stops after the game. “It’s a big momentum shift both ways. If you get a stop, it’s like a turnover. If they get a first down, then the drive continues. So it’s a big momentum shifter and takes the wind out of you both ways.”
- An early drop may have changed the momentum of the game when 49ers wide receiver beat James Bradberry on a deep route and was hit in stride by Brian Hoyer only to have the ball slip through his hands. It would have been a touchdown and given the 49ers the lead, instead the 49ers were forced to punt.
- Newton continually tried to force the ball to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, only connecting on one of Benjamin’s five targets. He even threw a deep pass which was intercepted by safety Jaquiski Tartt, who made a terrific break on the ball and an even better catch. Newton must get better at looking away from Benjamin, who he clearly relies on and believes can make catches in traffic.
