Panthers-49ers live updates: San Francisco overwhelms Carolina, drops Panthers to 1-4

Live updates from the stadium

49ers add insult to insult

With time ticking down in what was already assured to be another Panthers loss, the San Francisco 49ers put an emphatic exclamation point on their win Sunday with a TD with 3:15 to play in the contest. Tevin Coleman gets this score, with an extra point from Mitch Wishnowsky.

Eddy Pineiro boots yet another field goal

The Panthers put together a promising drive, with several chain-moving plays to Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore, but ultimately the drive stalled at the 27-yard line of San Francisco. Pineiro, as he’s done all day, came on to kick and completed a 34-yard FG with 8:04 to play in regulation. The Panthers now trail by 15 with a half a quarter to go.

San Francisco in firm control after TD, punter attempts PAT

A holding call on the otherwise successful 2-point attempt was the most adversity the 49ers faced on this drive, which culminated in another San Francisco touchdown, this one a 1-yard Jeff Wilson run. The drama came on the conversion. With Robbie Gould out injured, the 49ers went for 2, and succeeded, ave for a holding call. They then tried a PAT, but the kick from the team’s punter sailed wide left and was no good. Still, San Francisco stretched its lead to 30-12, all but salting this game away for the visitors.

Carolina cuts 49ers lead to 24-12

The Panthers may have found a kickoff returner, as Raheem Blackshear ran one back to near midfield for the second time in a row. Blackshear started the Panthers at the 50, and Baker Mayfield followed with a 31-yard pass reception to Shi Smith that was perfectly thrown in tight coverage.

Mayfield then threw another contested ball into a good spot for wide receiver Robbie Anderson, but Anderson couldn’t come down with it in the end zone. That forced Carolina to bring on placekicker Eddy Pineiro, and his second field goal of the afternoon, a 37-yarder, cut San Francisco’s lead to 24-12 with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

Bad news for the Panthers, though: Cornerback Jaycee Horn left the field in the midst of San Francisco’s next march. He is listed as questionable to return with a hip injury.

The 49ers also have another significant injury, as kicker Robbie Gould is out with a knee injury. San Francisco will either need to go for it on fourth down or punt likely the rest of the way.

San Francisco extends lead to 24-9

The 49ers matched Carolina’s touchdown by scoring one of their own on their first drive of the second half. The key play came when, on fourth-and-3 from the San Francisco 43, the 49ers decided to go for it. Jimmy Garoppolo threw an incomplete pass to Deebo Samuel on the right sideline, but Samuel was closely covered and Panther cornerback C.J. Henderson was called for pass interference. The 49ers quickly drove down inside the Carolina 5. On third-and-goal from the Panthers 4, Garoppolo had plenty of time and found Samuel for a touchdown. The extra point gave San Francisco a 24-9 lead with 6:32 left in the third quarter.

Panthers score 1st TD on McCaffrey run

The Panthers cut San Francisco’s lead to 17-9 with an impressive drive to begin the third quarter. After a 45-yard kickoff return by Raheem Blackshear, Baker Mayfield converted a third-down play with a nice throw down the middle to DJ Moore. Then, on fourth-and-1 from the San Francisco 19, head coach Matt Rhule decided to go for it. On a pitchout to Christian McCaffrey, the running back started on the right, cut back to the middle of the field and scored standing up.

Rhule then raised some eyebrows by going for two points instead of kicking the extra point. The ball was placed at the 49ers 1 after a San Francisco penalty on the TD, but a handoff to McCaffrey netted no yardage, and the score stayed 17-9, San Francisco.

Also, star San Francisco defensive lineman Nick Bosa is out for the rest of the game with a groin injury.

Baker Mayfield throws pick-six late in second quarter

Mayfield threw an interception to 49ers CB Emmanuel Moseley who returned it 41 yards for a touchdown. The throw was intended for RB Christian McCaffrey.

49ers lead Carolina 17-3 with 43 seconds left in half.

Panthers special teams block field goal try

San Francisco tried a 43-yard field goal with 1:43 left in the first half but it was blocked by defensive tackle Derrick Brown. The Panthers took over on downs at their own 20 yard line.

Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro pulls Carolina within one score

Carolina pulled within one score of the 49ers when kicker Eddy Pineiro made a 43-yard try with 7:59 left in the second quarter.

Receiver Robbie Anderson set up the kick by hauling in a 32-yard pass from Baker Mayfield six plays prior. Terrace Marshall made his first catch of the season on the drive as well.

49ers take 10-point second-quarter lead

Kicker Robbie Gould made a 49-yard field goal with 12:56 to play in the second quarter to give San Francisco a 10-point lead early in the second quarter.

The drive started on the 49ers’ 31-yard line and traveled 38 yards on eight plays.

Piñeiro misses first field goal of the season

Panthers linebacker Damien Wilson forced a fumble on 49ers tight end George Kittle in the middle of the first quarter and Carolina recovered the turnover at their own 44-yard line. However, the Panthers were unable to take advantage, as the offense stalled at the 49ers’ 23-yard line.

Kicker Eddy Piñeiro, who had been a perfect 8 of 8 on field goal attempts entering the weekend, missed a 41-yard attempt to finish the drive and the Panthers came away without a score off the turnover.

49ers run ball down Panthers’ throats on opening drive

Bank of America Stadium, full of seas of red jerseys in the stands, was treated to a dominant opening drive by the 49ers. San Francisco pushed down the field in a hurry, going 75 yards in seven plays. The drive was anchored by explosive plays from running back Jeff Wilson and tight end George Kittle.

Wilson’s 41-yard run in the middle of the drive got the 49ers into the red zone and the 49ers took advantage. Tevin Coleman caught a 9-yard pass from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for a touchdown. Following an extra point, the 49ers took a 7-0 lead over the Panthers.

Panthers missing two key starters

The Panthers’ defense will be without starting linebacker Frankie Luvu (shoulder) and safety Xavier Woods (hamstring) against the 49ers on Sunday. Both starters were among the Panthers’ inactives ahead of the 4:05 p.m. kickoff.

Woods, Luvu, wideouts Laviska Shenault and Rashard Higgins, cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, tight end Stephen Sullivan and offensive lineman Cade Mays made up the Panthers’ inactive list.

Luvu and Woods were questionable on Friday, while Shenault was ruled out with a hamstring string injury. Thomas-Oliver and Sullivan were also inactive due to injury.

Cory Littleton will likely start in place of Luvu at middle linebacker. Littleton was a starting linebacker with the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams before arriving in Carolina. Woods will likely be replaced by Juston Burris, who was promoted from the practice squad this week. Myles Hartsfield and Sean Chandler will share free safety duties.

Higgins is inactive following a dropped handoff on an end around in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals next week. Terrace Marshall Jr., last year’s second-round pick, will take his place in the lineup.

49ers fans show up in droves

Last Sunday, the Carolina Panthers were booed and told to “Fire Matt Rhule” by their home crowd. Things won’t get much easier from a jeering perspective, as the San Francisco 49ers faithful traveled quite well for this 4:05 p.m. matchup at Bank of America Stadium.

Prior to gates opening, The Charlotte Observer saw a large contingent of 49ers fans gathered outside of one of the gates. One fan yelled, “It’s a takeover! It’s a takeover!” as other 49ers fans cheered in response.

With Panthers fans already frustrated about their team’s 1-3 start, a chorus of boos could still be on its way, even if Carolina is able to turn things around against the 49ers. There will be plenty of red in the stadium on Sunday.

Two roster moves

Prior to Sunday’s battle against the 49ers, the Panthers elevated safety Marquise Blair and wideout Derek Wright from the practice squad.

Both players received standard elevations and will revert back to the practice squad following the Week 5 matchup. Blair’s elevation was his second consecutive boost, as he was also elevated for the loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Blair has one more standard elevation left this season before he is subject to waivers. Wright has two remaining.

Blair will serve as insurance for starting safety Xavier Woods (hamstring) who is questionable for the matchup. Woods’ status will have more clarity at 2:35 p.m. when inactives are announced. The Panthers plan to feature veterans Juston Burris, Myles Hartsfield and Sean Chandler heavily in the defensive backfield with Jeremy Chinn on injured reserve.

Wright is likely to serve as a special teams player. He will also provide depth at wideout behind Robbie Anderson, D.J. Moore, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Shi Smith. Wright is an undrafted rookie from Utah State.

This story was originally published October 9, 2022 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Panthers-49ers live updates: San Francisco overwhelms Carolina, drops Panthers to 1-4."