The writing was on the wall for Week 5’s clash between the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers. Heck, it was even in the stands.
So, let’s read it.
Final score: 49ers 37, Panthers 15
Keys to the game
- The Panthers offense remained punchless, totaling a mere 263 total yards before garbage time hit while converting on just three of their 15 third-down tries. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, in another underwhelming outing, completed 20 of his 36 throws for 215 yards and an interception.
- While the guys on the other side of the ball for Carolina were, once again, better—they still allowed quite a few chunk plays to the 49ers offense. San Francisco racked up 10 gains of at least 15 yards on the day.
- And the key to that output was the 49ers’ ground attack, which put this win in a stranglehold. Led by a 120-yard performance from running back Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco ran for 154 yards and a pair of scores on 28 attempts.
It was over when . . .
Up 24-12 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game, the 49ers dialed up No. 22—Wilson Jr.—at the Panthers’ 17-yard line. The fifth-year veteran proceeded to take the call all the way to the 1-yard mark for a 16-yard rush.
He then, on the next play, punched the rock into the end zone to extend the already healthy lead to 30-12 at the 12:31 mark.
Players of the game
- RB Christian McCaffrey: 14 carries, 54 yards, one rushing touchdown, seven receptions, 50 receiving yards
- DT Derrick Brown: five tackles (one for loss), two passes defensed
- RB Raheem Blackshear: seven kick returns, 200 return yards (28.6 yards per return)
What's next?
The 1-4 Panthers will continue their NFC West gauntlet on the road in Week 6—when they go Hollywood to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
