Going into Sunday’s game against the host Carolina Panthers, the 49ers weren’t given much of a chance.
Oddsmakers made the 1-0 Niners 12- to 14-point underdogs against the 0-1 defending NFC champions, apparently unimpressed by San Francisco’s opening-week victory over the Rams.
Entering the fourth quarter Sunday, it certainly appeared the Panthers would run away with an easy victory, as they led by three touchdowns.
But the 49ers rallied in the fourth quarter to make things interesting, scoring three times, before finally falling 46-27. In fact, if the 49ers hadn’t made some crucial mistakes in the first half, they well could have upset the Panthers on their home field.
Running back Carlos Hyde fumbled early in the game, which was returned for a Panthers touchdown. Then a mixup in the secondary allowed Carolina tight end Greg Olsen to score on a 78-yard pass play in the second quarter.
In their fourth-quarter rally, the 49ers scored 17 points, the first three on Phil Dawson’s 39-yard field. Goal. They followed with a 1-yard scoring run by quarterback Blaine Gabbert after recovering a muffed kickoff at the 1 by the Panthers’ Ted Ginn Jr., and then struck for a another touchdown on Gabbert’s 75-yard pass play to tight end Vance McDonald to close to the deficit to just 34-27.
At that point, however, Carolina took control. Carolina drove for a Graham Gano field goal, then turned an interception of Gabbert into a touchdown with 3:31 left (the PAT kick was blocked). The Panthers then added another field goal.
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One problem for the 49ers Sunday was that, after running the ball well against the Rams in Game 1, the 49ers could rush for just 65 yards Sunday, with Hyde held to 34 yards on 14 carries.
Gabbert, meanwhile, completed 17-of-36 for 243 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had a huge day, throwing for 353 yards and four TDs while also rushing for 37 yards.
Now 1-1, the 49ers will travel to Seattle this coming Sunday to take on the Seahawks at 1:05 p.m.
