Quarterback Cam Newton broke another franchise record on Sunday in the Panthers’ 46-27 win over the San Francisco 49ers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers should keep Chip Kelly’s offense in check as well.
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Von Miller gave Denver Broncos fans another reminder of his Super Bowl 50 MVP performance, with a sack-strip of Andrew Luck late in the fourth quarter that sealed a 34-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
PANTHERS registered 3 takeaways (2 INTs, 1 FR) in Week 1 loss after league-leading 39 takeaways last season.
-Bethea, Eli Harold, Jaquiski Tartt and Rashard Robinson each raised their fists during the playing of the national anthem prior to the game while Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid took a knee. Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera was one of those people. Many of us were having a hard time staying awake during that game.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will attack them constantly. Cam Newton and Greg Olsen connected on a 78-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the ensuing possession.
Cruz had earlier fumbled at the end of a 40-yard catch, spoiling his biggest play, until he came through at the end.
Two of those scores went to Kelvin Benjamin, who racked up 108 receiving yards on seven receptions. Benjamin is basically uncoverable, he can just post up smaller corners or just leap over them on jump balls. 49ers also participated in Pittsburgh past year, but performed same as Rams.
“I felt like we were getting better as the game was going on”, Dawson said.
“He’s savvy, and I don’t use that term very lightly because there’s a lot of things that go into being a savvy football player”, Gabbert said. “There are some things we have to get corrected”.
WHAT WAS THAT?: The Panthers won despite the four turnovers, including one colossal mistake by returner Ted Ginn Jr., who failed to pick up the ball on a kickoff return. The game was revolving around the story of 49ers, how they were defeated and got loose.
Fozzy Whittaker ran for 100 yards on 16 carries and had three catches for 31 yards. The 49ers traded him a year ago to the Cleveland Browns, who then dealt him August 30 to the Panthers.
As if the talent disparity between the two rosters wasn’t enough of a burden, there’s a trickier element in this game, one of politics and P.R. and timing, that poses an added obstacle for the Niners, and it’s one that has nothing to do with them, really.
– Torrey Smith caught three of the 10 passes targeted to him for 55 yards, including his first touchdown catch of the season.
After a Panthers field goal, Gabbert and the 49ers struck quickly again, this time on a 75-yard catch and run by tight end Vance McDonald, a career high for McDonald and the longest reception ever by a 49ers tight end.
Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson’s 9-yard return for a touchdown off of running back Carlos Hyde’s fumble with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter accounted for Carolina’s first points.
49ers: Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong left in the second half with a shoulder injury.
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What’s possibly more concerning to Carolina is how easily the 49ers ran through the Rams’ elite front seven, especially while rushing for 123 yards in the first half.
