Many pundits of the Carolina Panthers were still skeptical of the team's recent success prior to the game, citing the fact the Panthers lacked a "signature win" against a strong opponent. The 6-2 reigning NFC Champions, coming off a bye week, at home, qualified as a strong opponent.
I think this comment, about 12 minutes prior to kickoff sums it up perfectly...
After a good old fashioned defensive slugfest, the Panthers got their signature win, and finally started to get some respect.
1st half:
Ron Rivera commented during the week leading up to the game that the players were a bit nervous in practice, and it was evident in the early part of the game. The offense struggled to move the ball effectively due to mental mistakes and a couple of dropped passes, and Captain Munnerlyn dropped an easy interception that would have given the Panthers momentum and good field position. The Panthers found themselves down 9-0 after 53, 43 and 25 yard field goals by Phil Dawson of the 49ers. The play of the first half came after the two minute warning, when DeAngelo Williams took a read option counter 27 yards into the endzone for the Panther's first score.
Halftime:
San Francisco 9 Carolina Panthers 7
Here's what CSR Manager Jaxon had to say at halftime:
This is weird, for the first time this season the Panthers trail at the half. The Panthers should feel lucky to be down only 9-7.
They finally got something from the offense late to get the 7 points. The defense has been lights out all game. You could see the confidence building up to halftime. To only be down 2 points after two bad turnovers bodes well for the Panthers.
If they can make some adjustments in the protection in the 2nd half hopefully Newton will get his throwing mechanics ironed out and continue to hit his receivers.
2nd Half:
The Carolina Panthers started the second half moving the ball on offense, but after a couple of stalled drives in S.F. territory and the first missed field goal of the year by Graham Gano, the score was still 9-7. After the Gano miss, S.F. was gaining momentum after three positive plays put them at the Carolina 39. That's when what I have dubbed "The Play" occurred.
What was going on in the game thread after "The Play"?
Graham Gano kicked a 53-yard field goal with 10:05 remaining to put the Panthers ahead 10-9. The 49ers had one last gasp to get into field goal range when they got the ball back at their own 20 yard line with 1:02 left on the clock. After a Greg Hardy sack, the 49ers had 34 seconds remaining at their own 14 yard line, when this gem hit the open thread:
A few seconds later, Colin Kaepernick threw into quintuple coverage and Drayton Florence got an easy interception to seal the victory.