Christian McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown in his first game against Carolina since being traded three years ago to lead the team. San Francisco 49ers to a 20-9 victory over the Panthers on Monday night.
McCaffrey's big play helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three first-half Brock Purdy interceptions to stay in playoff position heading into the end of the season.
Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to capitalize on their opportunities a week after the quarterback threw for a franchise-record 448 yards in a win over Atlanta. Young threw for just 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to take sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
The 49ers were conservative in the second half after Purdy's rough start, relying mostly on McCaffrey and short passes. The strategy worked, with McCaffrey scoring on a 12-yard run to make it 17-3 before the Niners added a Matt Gay field goal.
Young did hit one big play, a 29-yard pass to Tetairoa McMillan, but Carolina was unable to convert the two-point attempt. Young then threw his second interception of the game to Ji'Air Brown as Carolina found itself in scoring position with a 20–9 deficit.
McCaffrey, who has transformed the 49ers' offense since being acquired in October 2022, finished with his 10th 100-yard game of the season with 89 yards and 53 receptions, two shy of the franchise record he set in 2023.
The 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on the first five plays of the game, leading to his first score of the season against Carolina. Purdy threw a 12-yard pass to Juan Jennings for the score.
After that, both crimes yielded nothing. Purdy became the first player to throw three interceptions (two of them by Jaycee Horn) in the first half this season, but the Panthers turned them into just three points. Young botched one attempt when he was intercepted by Brown on a first down play from the one-yard line. The teams traded field goals, and the Niners led 10-3 at the half.
