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Tag: San Francisco 49ers

  • Shedeur Sanders focuses on 49ers, not on what critics and supporters are saying

    Shedeur Sanders isn’t fixated on the attention his relationship with coach Kevin Stefanski is receiving or the applause expected from fans when he takes the field Sunday against San Francisco.

    Instead, the rookie Cleveland Browns quarterback made it clear Wednesday his only focus is preparing for the 49ers.

    “I’m in grind mode, mentally understanding how to attack this defense that we’re going against. That’s where I am right now,” Sanders said on Wednesday.

    Sanders’ staunchest supporters have put more scrutiny on his relationship with Stefanski after he became the first Browns rookie quarterback since Eric Zeier in 1995 to win his first NFL start.

    After Sanders had Cleveland’s two longest pass plays of the season en route to completing 11 of 20 for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception, claims of Stefanski trying to sabotage Sanders’ season by not giving him a chance earlier and not giving him snaps with the first-team offense until last week intensified.

    Stefanski has defended his handling of Sanders’ development since the start of training camp.

    “What people do outside the building isn’t really in my control. It’s not in my power. It’s not like I can go out there and tell ’em to do whatever,” Sanders said. “Coach Stefanski, he’s been coaching since I got here, and we’ve been doing a very great job with everything that’s going on. He tells me what I need to do on and off the field. We’ve definitely grown, our relationship and everything has grown.”

    Sanders also provided some fuel for his supporters when he said, “wait until I get a full offseason” after the Raiders game.

    “Yeah, that was just jokes, man. That was jokes. A lot of people took that out of context,” he said on Wednesday. “But you have to understand, the past six, seven months have been hard. So I want to definitely be thankful that I am able to work out with those guys, knowing I have a great defense and that I have come this far. I was truly amazed.”

    There was also criticism of Stefanski after he didn’t give Sanders a game ball during a postgame speech in the locker room after the 24-10 victory over the Raiders.

    ‘We spent time this morning as well, pointing out all of our guys and the jobs they did. Obviously, a rookie starting his first game on the road and getting a win is huge. So you acknowledge all that with your team,” Stefanski said.

    Even as Sanders gains rapport with receivers and the offensive line, he admitted he’s not yet comfortable and is seeking weekly improvement. A win over the 49ers would make him the first Browns rookie QB in the Super Bowl era to win his first two starts.

    Besides the big plays, Sanders’ most significant improvement was reducing sacks, as he was only sacked once. The 49ers rank last in the NFL with just 13 total sacks after losing Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for the season.

    Sanders has thrown two interceptions in his first two games, while San Francisco has picked off four passes over the past two weeks.

    “He was climbing. He was trying to escape out the left side. So, yeah, I think it was great improvement,” guard Joel Bitonio said.

    CBS Bay Area

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  • What will it take for the Falcons to make the playoffs? Wins, ways, and a miracle

    The Atlanta Falcons are back home after defeating the New Orleans Saints 24-10 on the road on Sunday. The victory may have only been the Falcons’ first in five weeks, but it has some significance. The win reignited the discussion over what it would take to make the playoffs, at the very least.

    At 4-7, the road to the playoffs in the NFC is going to take a lot of winning by Atlanta and a lot of losing by several teams. Before we go over the teams that the Falcons have to pass to make the playoffs, and what it will take to get that accomplished, the Falcons will need to win their final six games of the season.

    The Falcons are back on the road against the New York Jets (2-9 overall) on Sunday. A loss to the Jets would render this entire breakdown moot. The Falcons cannot afford to lose any of their remaining games. The seven losses are more than any of the teams that are in Atlanta’s way of getting a wild card spot have. Those teams are the following: the Detroit Lions (7-4), Green Bay Packers (7-3-1), Seattle Seahawks (8-3), San Francisco 49ers (8-4), and the Carolina Panthers (6-6 following a loss at San Francisco on Monday night. The Panthers hold a tiebreaker over the Falcons after sweeping them this season.

    Following the Jets game, the Falcons will return home to host the Seahawks, who are a game behind the L.A. Rams (9-2 overall) in the NFC West on Sunday, Dec. 7. Atlanta will host the Rams and NFL MVP candidate and former University of Georgia Bulldogs star quarterback Matthew Stafford (30 touchdowns and two interceptions this season) next month in the last Monday Night Football game of the year on Dec. 29. Both games can be described as the toughest of the season for Atlanta.

    Atlanta will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 11, and a loss to Tampa will end the season, even if the Falcons win every other game they play from this point forward. The season-opening loss to Tampa has Atlanta in a position to not lose to the Buccaneers again or be swept by two teams in the NFC South (Carolina).

    The Falcons have games against the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday, Dec. 21, and the Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to close the regular season on Jan. 4. Neither will matter if the winning doesn’t continue. The Philadelphia Eagles (8-3), Chicago Bears (8-3), Bucs, and Rams are leading their respective divisions and won’t be out of the playoff picture without a free fall of some sort.

    The Falcons are not done with the 2025 season, but it will take a lot of winning and a miracle.

    Donnell Suggs

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  • Christian McCaffrey shines vs former Panthers, leads 49ers to Monday night victory

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    Christian McCaffrey faced his former Carolina Panthers team for the first time since his trade to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.

    The All-Pro running back powered San Francisco to a 20-9 victory on “Monday Night Football,” finding the end zone and leading both teams in total yards from scrimmage.

    The 49ers (8-4) are now firmly in the NFC playoff picture, while the Panthers (6-6) missed a chance to take sole possession of the NFC South lead.

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    Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Claudin Cherelus, #53, of the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California.  (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

    While McCaffrey shined on the primetime stage, it was a rough night for both quarterbacks.

    Brock Purdy, who threw three touchdowns in his return the previous week, struggled with turnovers, tossing three interceptions on consecutive possessions in the first half.

    San Francisco opened strong with a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by Purdy’s short pass to Jauan Jennings, who fought through three Panthers defenders to score. But after a quick Panthers three-and-out, Purdy’s first pass on the next series was picked off by Jaycee Horn, giving Carolina the ball at the San Francisco 16-yard line.

    49ERS VOID GUARANTEED MONEY IN BRANDON AIYUK’S CONTRACT FOR 2026 SEASON AFTER BIZARRE SITUATION: REPORTS

    But this night wasn’t just about Purdy’s turnovers — Young had some issues as well.

    On first-and-goal from the 1, Young appeared to have room to run toward the pylon, but he instead tried a pass to tight end Mitchell Evans. Ji’Ayir Brown was right there to snag the interception in the end zone and bail out Purdy for his earlier mistake.

    Unfortunately for San Francisco, Purdy was picked off by Mike Jackson in the opposite end zone when he tried to find Ricky Pearsall for a touchdown. The route was read perfectly by the veteran cornerback. Upon replay, tight end George Kittle appeared wide open and might have scored with a short pass, but Purdy was looking for the big play on the throw.

    Then Purdy was really kicking himself after Horn secured his second interception of the game — a savvy play as he roamed free in the middle of the field and Purdy simply didn’t see him on a pass intended for Pearsall. The Panthers finally got points on the board after a field goal cut the deficit to 7-3.

    Jauan Jenning scores touchdown

    Jauan Jennings of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

    It was only 10-3 at halftime, but the 49ers finally got McCaffrey into the end zone in the third quarter against his former team. His 12-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive by San Francisco, where the star back got key blocks from Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk to reach the end zone.

    McCaffrey finished the game with 89 rushing yards and seven catches for 53 yards.

    The Panthers weren’t completely out of the game despite the 17-3 deficit, thanks to rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan hauling in a 29-yard strike from Young with 49 seconds left in the third quarter to make it a 17-9 game after a failed two-point conversion.

    The 49ers created some separation after adding another field goal, but the Panthers still had plenty of time in the fourth quarter to make things interesting. Unfortunately for them, Brown jumped a route across the middle intended for McMillan, and Young threw it right to him.

    The interception virtually iced the game, as Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 57-yard field goal with 2:47 left in the fourth quarter during the Panthers’ desperate attempt to get points.

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    Looking at the box score, Kittle led the game with 78 yards on six catches, while Jennings finished with 41 yards on five grabs.

    For the Panthers, Rico Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard and Young combined for just 69 rushing yards, though Dowdle had four catches for 36 yards. Hubbard added four catches for 27 yards.

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    Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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  • What Dave Canales said after Carolina Panthers can’t capitalize vs. 49ers

    Dave Canales opened his postgame press conference Monday night disappointed but resolute.

    “Just a game of missed opportunities,” the Carolina Panthers’ head coach said before being prompted by any question.

    He’s right.

    The Panthers fell to the San Francisco 49ers on the road, 20-9, despite seeing their defense earn three interceptions in the first half — two of which yielded the ball on the good side of the 50-yard line. The loss, in a more general sense, also represented a larger missed opportunity: The Panthers remain a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South; a win could’ve awarded them sole possession of the division lead for the first time in a long time.

    Monday’s loss in the ESPN spotlight came by vice of a regression from quarterback Bryce Young, who finished 18 of 29 for 169 yards and one touchdown and two interceptions. It also wasn’t helped by a rushing attack that felt underused: Rico Dowdle only notched six rushes — and still earned 38 yards, 6.3 yards per carry — and Chuba Hubbard only ran it thrice for 16 yards.

    And that’s not to mention the powerhouse performance that San Francisco running back (and former Panthers star) Christian McCaffrey ended up delivering. How good was he? He finished with 24 carries for 89 yards and one touchdown rushing and added on seven receptions for 53 yards receiving. Another ho-hum, 142-yards-from-scrimmage day.

    Canales expounded on all of this and more postgame. Here’s a recap of what he had to say.

    Head coach Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers looks on in the second quarter of Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
    Head coach Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers looks on in the second quarter of Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Jed Jacobsohn Getty Images

    Dave Canales’ opening statement

    “Just a game of missed opportunities. Our defense was putting us in some great situations with the interceptions and not coming away with points. Having an interception on one of those things really hurt us. Some basic things: a couple of penalties put us in long drives, a drop on third down, it really just comes down to fundamental execution, and things that were moving in the right direction, but we didn’t take that step today that I was looking for collectively as a group.

    “The defense battled. And they kept us in it, gave us some opportunities there, and then we turned it over again at the end with an opportunity to make the game close there at the end.”

    On play-call from the 1-yard line to throw instead of run

    “It was a great action. (Young) had Mitch (Evans) open in the back half. And there’s an option he can take off and run it into the front pylon. He saw Mitch, and right when he turns back in, they had a defender on the edge who popped out and intercepted. (The defender) made a great play on the ball. But we’ve been running the ball there in that situation. I felt like we had another chance to run it if we didn’t get the completion on that role. But I like the call. It was an aggressive call that we had opportunities on, and unfortunately came out with an interception.”

    On if Tommy Tremble and Evans were supposed to be in the same vicinity: “I haven’t gotten a clear (look). I will be able to tell you more about that once I look at the film. … No, (they’re) not to be in the same area.”

    Why only 9 carries by Panthers running backs?

    “I just felt like building off what happened last week, and just taking a step forward with the pass game, I saw some opportunities. We were protecting pretty well, as far as pass protection goes. And it just felt like we didn’t come away with our opportunities consistently enough early on. And then in the second half, at a certain point, when the score becomes what it is, it’s like, ‘OK, we’re in a two-score game, we gotta move it a little bit here and throw the ball around.’ And we had some measure of success that way. And the run game seemed to be hitting pretty good. But it was trying to take advantage: They were playing some loaded boxes. They did a good job with their disguises in some of those areas too.”

    Head coach Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers reacts in the second quarter of Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
    Head coach Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers reacts in the second quarter of Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Jed Jacobsohn Getty Images

    How 49ers were able to take away Panthers tight ends

    “Again, at a glance, I thought we had some opportunities and some one-on-one matchups outside. And we made some. But not consistent enough.”

    How much did lopsided time of possession — 22:18 to 37:42 — play a factor into injuries on the field?

    “I don’t know how much of a factor it was that way. But I know they did a great job making first downs and finding early successes on third down. They took the ball down the field on third downs. They were pretty much perfect in that area. And we did a really solid job against the run game. But as the game goes on, and because we weren’t able to sustain drives offensively, we were leaving our defense out there a long time. And they started making extra yards after that with two good solid backs.”

    What happened with Jaycee Horn’s head injury?

    “It didn’t present as a head injury initially. And then once he came in for the half, that’s when it started to really materialize, so when he came out, and he was feeling nauseous and all that, those are signs that our training staff took and said, ‘OK, we gotta make sure we do a further evaluation on that.’”

    Decision to go for 57-yard field goal late in fourth quarter

    “If we could get it past the 40 and give Ryan (Fitzgerald) to get a field goal there, kick them back deep. We had timeouts, so let’s see if we can get a stop, which our defense ended up getting a stop after that. So the goal was to do that, get the ball back and see if we can go down to tie it up.”

    On Tre’Von Moehrig hitting Jauan Jennings low, leading to postgame scuffle

    “I’ll get to the bottom of that. I want to see what exactly happened. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Tre about that yet. As you know, we’ve just been kind of talking to the team and wrapping up the day. But that’ll be a conversation I’ll dig into. … I’ll talk to him tonight. And I’ll have a chance right now to look at the film and see what happened.”

    On Bryce Young’s struggles vs. 49ers

    “The full group’s execution, and just making sure we’re on the same page with the calls that are coming in and out. The timing and rhythm. Making sure he’s getting his throws off the right way. Making sure guys are running the right routes at the right depth. Those are all the things that we’re just hammering on as a group. And we gotta make sure we regroup quickly this week and get to the bottom of the execution part of it.”

    Head coach Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young speak with side judge Lo van Pham in the second quarter of Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
    Head coach Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young speak with side judge Lo van Pham in the second quarter of Monday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Jed Jacobsohn Getty Images

    On falling short on prime time stage

    “We just have to be able to carry our execution regardless of where it’s at, what time it’s played, who the opponent is. We have to focus on those things and make sure that we come out of the game with good football. And I didn’t think we did that collectively. There were spots. There was some really good football played in areas, but certainly from an offensive standpoint with the penalties, putting us into some bad situations on some first-and-20s, and things like that, it gets harder. So those are some of the things we’re talking about. And just the basics of it: the blocking, throwing and catching, the things we have to come back to and improve.”

    How confident do you feel in your ability to handle situational football, as well as play-calling?

    “I have a lot of good help, but again this is a collective thing, and it starts with me, and I have to make sure we’re all taking that information and making it come alive. And having a good attack. … I gotta do whatever it takes to make sure they’re ready to go, and we have a modified week this week. So we have to be able to take the lessons from this and move on quickly. We have everything still right in front of us. We have to understand that. But the only way we’re going to make it happen is by playing good, fundamental football.”

    Alex Zietlow

    The Charlotte Observer

    Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
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    Alex Zietlow

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  • Christian McCaffrey’s big night leads 49ers to 20-9 victory over Panthers

    Christian McCaffrey maintained that playing Carolina for the first time since the Panthers traded him to San Francisco three years ago wouldn’t raise his level of urgency one bit.

    McCaffrey responded to the reunion game like he does almost every week, with a productive performance that led the 49ers to another win.

    McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown, and San Francisco overcame a rough performance by quarterback Brock Purdy to beat the Panthers 20-9 on Monday night.

    “Obviously when you see familiar faces, it’s always good to see them before the game and after the game,” McCaffrey said. “But that’s a completely new team than when I was there. So it’s really just business once the ball was snapped.”

    McCaffrey’s big night helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three interceptions in the first half by Purdy to remain in playoff position heading into the stretch run of the season.

    Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to take advantage of their opportunities a week after he threw for a franchise-record 448 yards in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

    Purdy wasn’t much better in his second start back from a toe injury as he became the first player this season to throw three interceptions in the first half of a game. Purdy said neither the toe nor rust was an issue.

    “Honestly, the decisions of going to those spots, I was fine with,” he said. “It’s just the execution of throwing a better ball. I feel like on really all of them, I needed to just drive the ball a little bit more. I kept it up in the air too long on multiple of them.”

    The 49ers went conservative in the second half after Purdy’s rough start to the game, relying mostly on McCaffrey and short passes. The strategy worked with McCaffrey scoring on a 12-yard run to make it 17-3 and the Niners adding a field goal by Matt Gay.

    Young did connect on one big play, a 29-yard TD pass to Tetairoa McMillan, but Carolina couldn’t convert on 2-point try after a penalty moved the ball to the 1.

    Young then threw his second interception of the game to Ji’Ayir Brown with Carolina in scoring position with a 20-9 deficit.

    “Just lack of execution,” Young said. “Couple of plays I’d like to have back, some stuff we could do better. Not what we wanted. We didn’t do good enough and I take ownership of that.”

    The frustration from the loss contributed to a spat, with Carolina safety Tre’Von Moehrig hitting San Francisco receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin after a run play late in the game and Jennings responding with a punch to the helmet after the game.

    “I was just responding to some childish behavior,” Jennings said.

    McCaffrey, who has transformed the 49ers’ offense since being acquired in October 2022, finished with 89 yards rushing and 53 receiving for his 10th 100-yard game of the season — two shy of the franchise record he set in 2023.

    The 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on the first five plays, leading to the first opening-drive TD of the season against Carolina. Purdy connected on a 12-yard pass to Jennings for the score.

    The two offenses did nothing after that. Jaycee Horn had two of Carolina’s three picks of Purdy, but the Panthers turned those takeaways into only three points. Young ruined one drive when he was intercepted by Brown on a first-down play from the 1.

    “I like the call,” coach Dave Canales said. “It was an aggressive call, a play action that we had opportunities on. Unfortunately came out with an interception.”

    The teams traded field goals and the Niners led 10-3 at the half.

    Injuries

    Panthers: Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus left the game in the first half with concussions and didn’t return. … G Chandler Zavala (calf) and CB Corey Thornton (ankle) both left in the second half and didn’t return.

    49ers: DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) left in the second half and didn’t return.

    Up next

    Panthers: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

    49ers: Visit Cleveland on Sunday.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

    Josh Dubow | The Associated Press

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  • Carolina Panthers’ record on ‘Monday Night Football’? Different than you’d expect

    LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 13: A detailed view of an ESPN Monday Night Football pylon before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

    A detailed view of an ESPN Monday Night Football pylon before an “MNF” game in October 2025. The Carolina Panthers play the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in what will be the Panthers’ first appearance on the NFL showcase since 2023.


    Scott Taetsch

    Getty Images

    The Carolina Panthers don’t get to play on “Monday Night Football” very often, which makes this week’s Monday night game a welcome anomaly.

    Now 6-5 and firmly in the playoff hunt, the Panthers go on the road to face the San Francisco 49ers in the team’s first MNF game since 2023. It’s a chance for Carolina to impress the nation on ESPN (8:15 p.m. kickoff) or, alternately, lay an egg in front of millions of TV viewers.

    Why don’t the Panthers get this chance more often?

    Being a mid-sized NFL market has something to do with it. But a bigger reason is that the Panthers have been inept and irrelevant far too often in their 31-year history — although that’s usually not been the case on MNF.

    Bryce Young has led the Panthers to a 6-5 record this season and threw for 448 yards last week in a win over Atlanta.
    Bryce Young has led the Panthers to a 6-5 record this season and threw for 448 yards last week in a win over Atlanta. PATRICK MCDERMOTT Getty Images

    In 30 previous full seasons, the Panthers have only made the NFL playoffs seven times (23.3%). That ain’t good. Their updated regular-season record is 225-269-1 — in other words, they are 44 games below .500 in the organization’s lifetime. That ain’t good, either.

    But you know what is good?

    When on MNF, the Panthers have usually played better than expectations and have posted an overall winning record. If you’re looking for omens, Panthers fans, here’s a promising one: Carolina is 10-8 on MNF, and even its losses have mostly been close.

    The Panthers, who are 7-point underdogs to San Francisco (7-4), rarely embarrass themselves in this showcase. Their winning percentage on Monday night is 55.6%, which is 10th best among all NFL teams and also 10 percentage points higher than their franchise winning percentage.

    GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 10: A detail of 'Monday Night Football' signage prior to the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field on November 10, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
    A detail of ‘Monday Night Football’ signage prior to the MNF game between Green Bay and Philadelphia on Nov. 10, 2025. “There are going to be more cameras out there than usual,” said Panthers head coach Dave Canales about Monday night’s game. MICHAEL REAVES Getty Images

    It’s also true that a big Panthers win on MNF often correlates to a trip to the playoffs. There hasn’t been a win on MNF for the franchise, though, in a long time — since 2017, to be exact, which is also the last time the Panthers made the playoffs. Carolina’s last two MNF appearances, against New Orleans in 2018 and 2023, both resulted in 3-point losses. Bryce Young, coming off a franchise-record 448 passing yards against Atlanta last week, will try to change that.

    I’ve covered all 18 of the Panthers’ previous MNF games for The Charlotte Observer. Here are my choices for their four best victories on Monday nights. It’s no coincidence that all four came from Panthers teams that made the playoffs. Do you remember any — or all — of these?

    In chronological order:

    Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) breaks free of Tampa Bay defensive back Ronde Barber (20) in 2008 during a Monday Night Football game on Dec. 8, 2008, at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers won, 38-23, and ran for a franchise-record 299 yards.
    Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) breaks free of Tampa Bay defensive back Ronde Barber (20) in 2008 during a Monday Night Football game on Dec. 8, 2008, at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers won, 38-23, and ran for a franchise-record 299 yards. DAVID T. FOSTER III Charlotte Observer

    12-8-08: Carolina 38, Tampa Bay 23

    The Panthers ran roughshod over a strong Tampa Bay team, gaining a franchise-record 299 rushing yards (DeAngelo Williams had 186 and Jonathan Stewart 115 back in the “Double Trouble” days). This game also helped get Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden fired, as it began a four-game tailspin for the Bucs.

    NFL officials confer after back judge Terrence Miles (111) threw a flag on the last play in the Carolina Panthers-New England Patriots game on Nov. 18, 2013, at Bank of America Stadium. The flag against the Panthers for interfering with New England tight end Rob Gronkowski on a pass from Tom Brady was later waved off because the ball was deemed uncatchable, and the Panthers won over the Patriots, 24-20.
    NFL officials confer after back judge Terrence Miles (111) threw a flag on the last play in the Carolina Panthers-New England Patriots game on Nov. 18, 2013, at Bank of America Stadium. The flag against the Panthers for interfering with New England tight end Rob Gronkowski on a pass from Tom Brady was later waved off because the ball was deemed uncatchable, and the Panthers won over the Patriots, 24-20. DAVID T. FOSTER III Charlotte Observer

    11-8-13: Carolina 24, New England 20

    Cam Newton threw three touchdown passes in a thriller remembered for a controversial non-call. With Tom Brady throwing the ball into the end zone on the final play of the game for a potential game-winning touchdown, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly got a little (well, a lot) handsy with New England tight end Rob Gronkowski. A flag was dropped as Brady’s pass was intercepted by Robert Lester.

    If the interference call on Kuechly had stood, New England and the dreaded duo of Brady and head coach Bill Belichick would have had one untimed play from the 1-yard line to try to win the game. Instead, officials picked the flag up, deeming Brady’s pass uncatchable.

    Patriots fans like to think of this as the “Robbed Gronkowski” game, but some Panthers fans still call it the “Immaculate Perception.”

    Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano kicks the game-winning field goal from 52 yards out in overtime to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 29-26 on Monday Night Football on Nov. 2, 2015, at Bank of America Stadium.
    Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano kicks the game-winning field goal from 52 yards out in overtime to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 29-26 on Monday Night Football on Nov. 2, 2015, at Bank of America Stadium. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    11-2-15: Carolina 29, Indy 26 (OT)

    In a wild game, Graham Gano kicked not one but two overtime field goals for the Panthers to win (the first to match a Colts score, the second from 52 yards out to win it outright). This was also the game where four protesters somehow sneaked some serious climbing equipment into Bank of America Stadium and rappelled down into the stands to unfurl a banner protesting … well, I can’t remember exactly what.

    In the meantime, the Panthers kept their perfect record intact on the way to a 14-0 start that season (The Observer recently did a documentary on the 2015 season called “Super Men,” which is now available for free on YouTube).

    Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates one of his two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 13, 2017. The game occurred in McCaffrey’s rookie year; Carolina won 45-21 on its way to the playoffs.
    Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates one of his two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 13, 2017. The game occurred in McCaffrey’s rookie year; Carolina won 45-21 on its way to the playoffs. DAVID T. FOSTER III Charlotte Observer

    11-13-17: Carolina 45, Miami 21

    This was the last time the Panthers won a game on Monday Night Football. And do you know the name of the rookie running back who scored twice for Carolina that night in a blowout?

    It was Christian McCaffrey, who is about to face off against the Panthers in an entirely different uniform Monday night with San Francisco.

    Christian McCaffrey strikes a nearly identical pose with the Carolina Panthers (2022) and the San Francisco 49ers (2025).
    Christian McCaffrey strikes a nearly identical pose with the Carolina Panthers (2022) and the San Francisco 49ers (2025). Charlotte Observer file photo (left) and Getty Images

    Scott Fowler

    The Charlotte Observer

    Columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994. He has earned 24 national APSE sportswriting awards and hosted The Observer’s podcast “Carruth,” which Sports Illustrated once named “Podcast of the Year.” Fowler hosts the online series and podcast “Sports Legends of the Carolinas,” which features 1-on-1 interviews with NC and SC sports icons. He also writes occasionally about non-sports subjects, such as the 5-part series “9/11/74,” which chronicled the plane crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 in Charlotte in 1974.
    Support my work with a digital subscription

    Scott Fowler

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  • Kurtenbach: The superior 49ers should handle the Panthers. But does that sound like the 2025 Niners? My predictions for Monday Night Football

    The NFL schedule makers, in their infinite, algorithmic wisdom, have given us a Monday night curiosity.

    The 49ers, I get — big brand, big names, big ratings for ESPN.

    But the Carolina Panthers? I’m not even sure if noted superfan Steph Curry has watched a full Panthers game this season.

    And was this supposed to be a breakthrough campaign for them?

    So the NFL’s most forgettable team will be on arguably the sport’s biggest stage. And having watched them in preparation for Monday Night Football, I have some bad news to deliver:

    The Panthers are not a good football team.

    They aren’t even a bad football team — because bad teams at least have the decency to have an identity. No, the Panthers are something far worse: aggressively mediocre.

    They’re the unsalted cracker of the NFL. The waiting room music of the league.

    I could go on.

    But it’s that pile of nothingness that would make Nietzsche shudder that makes Monday’s game the most dangerous night of the year for Kyle Shanahan.

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  • 49ers 5 keys to beating Panthers on Monday night for elusive second straight win

    SANTA CLARA – On display now at the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a memento from the 49ers’ last game, only it’s the Arizona Cardinals’ jersey of Jacoby Brissett, who set an NFL record with 47 completions last Sunday.

    Embarrassing as that may be, the 49ers brought home their seventh victory of the season. Winning by any means possible is all that matters from here on out to the playoffs, and possibly back home to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX in this bizarro-world season.

    That’s why the 49ers (7-4) can not overlook the surprisingly upstart Carolina Panthers (6-5) in Monday night’s matchup.

    “It gets more important the later you get in the year, especially playing against a team right now who’s in the playoff hunt, fighting for first place in their division,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “So, I think we fully understand how important it is to get a back-to-back win.”

    The 49ers have not done that since their 3-0 start, instead alternating wins and losses each weekend amid myriad injuries.

    The Panthers had won just twice in 20 road games dating to 2023 before winning their past three away from Charlotte. They’re seeking their first Monday Night Football road win since 2016, and, almost a decade later, this is their first encore away from home since then.

    They’re not total strangers out here. They were, after all, the 49ers’ NFC West cohort from 1995-2001. They lost Super Bowl 50 here a decade ago. And they clobbered Shanahan 23-3 in his 49ers’ debut in 2017.

    But, again, all that matters now is who wins Monday night and makes a sizeable step toward the playoffs. Here are five keys for the 49ers to make that happen:

    1. STOP THE RUN

    The No. 1 task for any defense is stopping the run, and Monday night that puts the 49ers’ focus on Rico Dowdle. His patience style paid off with a 1,079-yard season last season as the Dallas Cowboys’ starter, and he’s carried that over this season to the Panthers.

    He is averaging 5 yards per carry, and he’s 167 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. Mind you, he ran for 391 yards combined in back-to-back games against Miami and Dallas last month. Dowdle played a bit role as a Cowboys backup in two previous games against the 49ers, totaling just 26 yards in those 2020 and ’23 games. Spelling him are Chubba Hubbard and rookie Trevor Etienne.

    Curtis Robinson’s first career start comes with weighty responsibility as the play-relaying, movement-signaling middle linebacker role previously occupied by Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune, the latter of whom is out likely these next two games before the Week 14 bye because of last Sunday’s high-ankle sprain.

    2. TIGHTER PASS DEFENSE

    The 49ers not only failed to sack Brissett amid his 47-completion barrage, they yielded the fourth-most yards in their history (452). Carolina’s Bryce Young almost threw for that many on Sunday, too.

    In beating the Atlanta Falcons 30-27 in overtime, Young delivered a career-best game (448 yards, three touchdowns, 123.2 rating). He has a bona fide No. 1 target in Tetairoa McMillan, who leads all rookies with 748 yards (four touchdowns). The 6-foot-5 McMillan had 130 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday, but he’s yet to produce a reception longer than 40 yards.

    The 49ers got interceptions last game from Deommodore Lenoir and Malik Mustapha, perhaps signaling a long-awaited launch point for a takeaway trend. The 49ers’ pass rush, led by Bryce Huff and Keion White, also could wake up and get to Young, who got sacked five times last game.

    Pay particular attention to intermediate passes between 10 and 19 yards, where McMillan has thrived (407 yards) and the 49ers’ defense has waned (111.3 passer rating).

    3. AN ‘UNWANTED’ McCAFFREY

    McCaffrey entered the NFL in 2017 with a chip on his shoulder and carried it with him from the Panthers’ trade to the 49ers three years ago. Motivation is never a concern. But perhaps he should channel his post-trade emotions and lash out for his third 100-yard game in the past six weeks, though the 49ers certainly wouldn’t mind another three-touchdown outing like last game.

    “In hindsight, I firmly believe it’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” McCaffrey said in May 2023 about the trade. “But at the time, it was bittersweet, right? You’re leaving (Carolina). In my head, I was pissed off, and to be frank, I felt, ‘You guys don’t want me anymore.’ I was hungry. That was the first emotion. I was hungry to get back to the football that I knew I could play.”

    Fullback Kyle Juszczyk called it a “weird” feeling the first time he faced his original team, the Baltimore Ravens, and said: “I’m sure Christian is going to have some of that. There’s going to be guys he played with over there and a few coaches, the medical staff. I’m sure he’ll be extra juiced up to go out there and put on a good performance.”

    The Panthers struggled last week to slow one of McCaffrey’s fellow all-purpose backs in Bijan Robinson, who ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 receiving yards.

    4. RED ZONE EFFICIENCY

    Often seizing on defensive coverages they’ve scouted, the 49ers have scored touchdowns on 12 of their past 15 red-zone drives over the past three games, and 16-of-19 dating to the Oct. 19 win over Atlanta.

    That’s pumped them up to the 11th-best red-zone offense in the league, with a 63.4% conversion rate. After a down 2024 season (57.1%), this full-strength 49ers offense could be trending back toward it’s league-leading mark in 2023 (67.2%).

    The Panthers’ defense ranks 29th in red-zone efficiency, yielding touchdowns on 65.8% of such drives.

    If the 49ers don’t score touchdowns, they should get points from newly signed kicker Matt Gay, who’s filling in after Eddy Piñeiro’s hamstring strain Sunday. Gay has made all 43 field-goal attempts in his career inside 30 yards and 84% on overall field-goal tries, though just 32-of-54 when attempting from 50 yards and longer.

    5. WIDE RECEIVER OUTBURST

    With Brandon Aiyuk’s comeback on indefinite hold and a 2026 breakup on the horizon, the time is ripe for Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne to rise up and link up with Brock Purdy, who’s right big toe is amenable to a second straight start for the first time this season.

    Purdy may have thrown three touchdown passes last Sunday in his triumphant return from a six-game hiatus, but they predictably went to George Kittle (two) and Christian McCaffrey (one). Pearsall had one catch for no gain, Bourne got shutout to remain 18 yards shy of a $500,000 bonus, and Jennings has just 378 yards in a highly publicized contract year. The only 49ers wide receivers under contract for 2026 are Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and, for now, Aiyuk, pending a likely March exit.

    Cam Inman

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  • 49ers void more than $26 million from Brandon Aiyuk’s contract, AP source says

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk has had the guaranteed money in his contract for next season voided after failing to participate in meetings and other team activities.

    A person familiar with the move confirmed that the team earlier this year voided the more than $26 million that Aiyuk was supposed to be guaranteed in 2026 under the four-year, $120 million extension he signed last year. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team made no announcement.

    The Athletic first reported the development.

    Aiyuk has been out all season recovering from knee surgery last year and there is no timeline for when he could return. Coach Kyle Shanahan said over the summer that Aiyuk could be back on the practice field by early November, but he has remained on the physically unable to perform list.

    The move to void the guaranteed money would allow the Niners to cut Aiyuk next year and only carry about $29.5 million of dead money charges on the salary cap for bonuses already paid. They could split that over two years.

    Aiyuk signed the lucrative extension last summer following a lengthy contract hold-in that kept him out of training camp. He was coming off a 2023 season when he had 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven TDs and was a second-team All-Pro.

    Aiyuk had only 25 catches for 374 yards in seven games last season before getting injured.

    The 27-year-old Aiyuk has 294 career catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs since being drafted in the first round in 2020.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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  • Panthers aren’t sweating Bryce Young’s ankle injury before big matchup vs. 49ers

    The Panthers aren’t concerned about Bryce Young’s right ankle following the 30-27 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

    The quarterback was a full participant during Thursday’s practice, according to head coach Dave Canales.

    “He was able to move around and execute what we needed him to do today,” Canales said.

    Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young celebrates a touchdown during Sunday’s fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
    Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young celebrates a touchdown during Sunday’s fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Jonathan Bachman Getty Images

    Young briefly left the overtime win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the first quarter after being stepped on by Falcons safety Billy Bowman during a sack. Young returned on the following drive and later led the team on a second-half comeback that eventually saw the Panthers take a short fourth-quarter lead. He ultimately spearheaded six total scoring drives, including the one that produced the game-winning field goal in overtime.

    Despite limping to the podium for his post-game press conference on Sunday, Young was able to lead the offense in the team’s first practice of Week 12.

    The Panthers are comfortable enough with Young’s health that they won’t promote third-string QB Mike White from the practice squad to the 53-man roster as a potential emergency option. White, who previously served as the team’s emergency third QB in the 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers, would need to be on the main roster to be used in that role on Monday against the San Francisco 49ers.

    Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young runs the ball against Ronnie Harrison Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons during Sunday’s first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
    Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young runs the ball against Ronnie Harrison Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons during Sunday’s first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Todd Kirkland Getty Images

    “It’s an option,” Canales said. “Right now, that’s not the plan this week, but it is an option. I’m glad (White) is here, continuing to hear our words, prepare with the guys, hear our conversations, be a part of the protection meetings — all of those things — so, if we need him, we can call on him.”

    Young, who first hurt right ankle against the New York Jets in Week 7, has played in three games since missing the 40-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. While he’s had a couple of scares with the injury since his return, Young has won two of those three outings.

    Even with the ankle injury, Young put up a franchise record 448 passing yards and three touchdowns against Atlanta.

    “Everyone’s fighting through something at this point in the year,” Young said Thursday. “During practice — I’m in the training room all the time, doing everything I can — have a great training staff, doing all the stuff they want me to do. Always getting better, always feeling better on a day-to-day basis. Again, everyone’s dealing with something, that’s just the nature of football, of this league, especially this time of the year. Again, I’m excited and focused on football.”

    Panthers injury updates: Wallace, Rozeboom still sidelined

    Starting inside linebackers Trevin Wallace (shoulder) and Christian Rozeboom (hamstring) did not take part in drills during the media portion of practice on Thursday.

    Wallace, who missed Sunday’s win over the Falcons, was given a “week to week” status by Canales last week. The coach still hasn’t changed his tune on Wallace, but he wouldn’t rule him out for Monday, despite his uncertainty.

    “First and foremost, we have to evaluate Trevin — see where he’s at for this week,” Canales said. “Told you he was week to week (last week), and we’ll have more information on that.”

    Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace, back to camera and cornerback Corey Thornton, facing camera, look to make the tackle on Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams, center, during action on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Cowboys 30-27.
    Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace, back to camera and cornerback Corey Thornton, facing camera, look to make the tackle on Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams, center, during action on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Cowboys 30-27. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    Rozeboom injured his hamstring against Atlanta. He was the main signal-caller in Wallace’s absence against the Falcons, but with Rozeboom now nursing an injury of his own, there is some uncertainty about who would step up if both were ruled out against the 49ers.

    Canales all but ruled out Rozeboom for the Week 12 matchup on Thursday, but he said the Panthers will continue to evaluate him.

    “We’d hate to put him out there for a limited amount, knowing how he plays — the style, the aggression, physical nature that he plays with,” Canales said about Rozeboom. “We want to make sure he’s healthy, first and foremost.”

    Claudin Cherelus, a tenured special teams contributor, produced 10 tackles and a pass breakup as a fill-in starter in the overtime win in Week 11. He would likely start if one of the two regular starting inside linebackers were to miss Monday Night Football.

    Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus, left, tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday, October 13, 2024.
    Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus, left, tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday, October 13, 2024. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com

    The team also brought back inside linebacker Jacoby Windmon on the practice squad on Wednesday. Windmon played in eight games (two starts) for Carolina last season and spent the entire summer with the team before being cut in August. Windmon could be elevated to the game-day roster in case the team needs depth.

    Veteran Krys Barnes, who was elevated for the win against the Falcons, is also still on the practice squad. He played 16 special teams snaps against the Falcons, and he has one more elevation left before he must be signed to the 53-man roster.

    “Brought (Windmon) in here — a guy that’s familiar with what we do, from a special teams standpoint and a linebacker standpoint,” Canales said. “Love what Claud did in the game (against Atlanta). Krys Barnes is another guy that’s been around, that’s ready to go. And Maema Njongmeta, he got into the game a little bit at the end as well.

    “So, we’ve got a couple of guys, a couple of options there. The picture will get a bit clearer once we know what’s going on with Trevin.”

    Note: The Panthers will release their injury report later in the evening on Thursday and this section will be updated.

    Quick hits

    • The Panthers enter Week 12 with the ninth-best record in the NFC. The 49ers own the seventh spot in the conference and would be the final playoff team in the wild-card round if the season ended right now. If the Panthers defeat the 49ers on Monday, they’ll be tied at 7-5 — with Carolina owning the head-to-head tiebreaker over San Francisco. The Detroit Lions (6-4) are the lone team between the 49ers and the Panthers in the overall NFC standings.
    • With former Panthers kicker Eddy Piñeiro dealing with a minor hamstring injury, the 49ers have signed former Los Angeles Rams kicker Matt Gay to their practice squad. Piñeiro has made all 22 of his field-goal attempts this season, including all six of his attempts of 50 or more yards. During his tenure in Carolina, Piñeiro made seven total field-goal attempts from beyond 50 yards.
    • Entering Week 12, there are six teams with two or fewer wins. The Tennessee Titans, at 1-9, could set a new basement record for the 17-game season. The Panthers, infamously, went 2-15 in 2023, creating the current low mark for the expanded schedule.
    • Second-round pick Nic Scourton is currently tied with Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown with three sacks on the season. The pair co-leads the team in that category. If Scourton can make up some ground over the next six games, he could be the first rookie since Julius Peppers in 2002 to lead the Panthers in sacks.

    Mike Kaye

    The Charlotte Observer

    Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription

    Mike Kaye

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  • Eagles Vs Lions – In The Thick Of The Playoff Race – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles

    After the Eagles barely made it out with a victory in Green Bay Monday Night. It was time to start preparing for another PrimeTime spotlight against the Eagles 3rd NFC North opponent of the year. 

    The Detroit Lions

    Sundays match against Detroit will be the 2nd time the Sirianni/Hurts led Eagles will play the Campbell/Goff Lions. Previously, the Eagles won both matchups that took place at Ford Field. Winning 44-6 in 2021, and 38-35 in 2023. 

    And while this matchup won’t have nearly as much excitement as the NFC Championship Game that could have been last year. The winner and loser of this game could see a huge impact on playoff seeding within the next 5-6 Weeks.

    The Cluttered NFC Race

    Luckily for the Eagles. The NFC East is the only division that isn’t filled with multiple contenders, or teams just outside the wildcard bubble. Like the 49ers(6-4), Panthers(5-5) & Vikings(4-5). However, with two games left against NFC North opponents. The Eagles will be able to pull ahead in the division, and from the rest of the NFC. 

    Already having victories against the Rams(7-2), Buccaneers(6-3) and Packers(5-3-1) currently gives the Eagles the head to head tiebreaker against the current 5th, 4th and 7th seed in the NFC playoff race. While the odds of the Eagles dropping into a wildcard spot are low with a 4 game lead on the NFC East race. It has happened before. Being able to chain together wins during the toughest stretches of the schedule will help the Eagles lock up the division race as fast as possible, while still being in the thick of it for the Bye Week, or as much home field advantage as possible in the playoffs.

    Schedule Down The Stretch

    Following the Lions this weekend, the Eagles will see a total of three more teams in the current playoff picture, including:

    • 6-3 Bears (Week 13)
    • 7-3 Chargers (Week 15)
    • 6-3 Bills (Week 17)

    There will also be a gutsy game against the 3-5-1 Cowboys, who for some reason decided to be buyers at the deadline. Acquiring Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson.

    With some more breathing room between playoff opponents, the Eagles will also see the following teams who’s season is approaching an ugly finish:

    • 2-7 Raiders (Week 15)
    • 3-7 Commanders (Week 16 & 18) 

    Both teams will most likely be playing for a top 5-10 pick come December. The wins might not matter that late for the Eagles depending how the rest of this “gauntlet” unfolds.

    With an impressive 7-2 run to start the season. How many wins will it take to clinch the NFC East?

    Tags: Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Dan Campbell Detroit Lions Eagles Green Bay Packers Jalen Hurts Jared Goff Las Vegas Raiders Logan Wilson Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Minnesota Vikings NFC NFC East NFC North NFL Nick Sirianni Philadelphia Eagles Quinnen Williams San Francisco 49ers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Washington Commanders

    Categorized: Eagles

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • 49ers’ Brock Purdy breaks silence on surgery rumors

    When San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was diagnosed with a toe injury following Week 1, some felt it was an ailment that wouldn’t keep him out of action for that long. But he has missed every game, save for a Week 4 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, since then.

    He is now slated to return and start this Sunday when the Niners visit the Arizona Cardinals. He finally became a full participant in practice on Thursday, and it was a welcome development, given how ravaged they have been by injuries dating back to the beginning of last season.

    Per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, surgery was never an option for Purdy. Despite there being rumors that his turf toe would be similar to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, that was apparently not the case.

    Loading twitter content…

    Read more: 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey Has Joined Elite Company Following Week 10

    Purdy, the last player chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft, became the team’s starter in Week 13 of that season after Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo both suffered season-ending injuries. He made the Pro Bowl in 2023 while leading the league in passer rating, quarterback rating and touchdown percentage.

    While he has been out, Mac Jones, the No. 15 pick in the 2021 draft, has filled in ably. He was thought to be a bust just months ago, but he has thrown for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 69.6% of his pass attempts in eight games this season.

    Jones has played so well and has looked so poised, and the team has done such a solid job with him at the controls that there has been talk lately about a possible quarterback controversy brewing in the Bay Area.

    While some pundits have called on San Francisco to stick with Jones, at least for the time being, at QB1, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Purdy will be starting under center this weekend. After all, Purdy has been in Shanahan’s system for three years and has more chemistry with the team’s skill players than Jones, who is in his first season with San Francisco, does.

    Read more: Stephen A Smith Brutally Honest on Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers After Week 10

    The Niners currently have a 6-4 record after losing to the Los Angeles Rams this past Sunday and are 1.5 games behind the Rams and Seattle Seahawks for first place in the NFC West. After facing Arizona this weekend, they will play the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns before they have their bye in Week 14.

    For more on the 49ers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.

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  • 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan opens up about trade deadline after tough loss

    The San Francisco 49ers continue to be crushed by injuries to key players, and on Sunday against the Houston Texans, they lost a couple more contributors, including starting Will linebacker Dee Winters, who had a knee ailment.

    They lost the game, 26-15, and that final score doesn’t indicate how lopsided the contest was in some ways. The Niners only mustered 223 yards of total offense and had virtually no running attack, while Houston put together 475 total offensive yards. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 30 of his 39 passing attempts and ended up with 318 passing yards and two touchdown passes.

    Afterward, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if this loss, which dropped their record to 5-3, makes a trade more likely.

    “Nothing changes anything,” Shanahan said, per 49ers Webzone. “It has to do with what’s available out there, and does it help us this year, does it help us next year. Usually, as things get closer, you get a little more idea on who’s real and who’s not, and we’ll evaluate that for the short term and long term.”

    Read more: 49ers GM John Lynch Offers Update on Trade Speculation

    With all the injuries the 49ers have had to deal with this year, one would think that some type of trade will need to be consummated before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Defensive end Nick Bosa and middle linebacker Fred Warner are out for the year with a torn ACL and ankle injury, respectively, and Bryce Huff, their other starting DE, is currently sidelined with a hamstring ailment.

    The team has been linked to players such as Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who would be a massive get for any team. He was out of action Sunday against the New York Jets due to a hip injury, but he has put up four sacks through six games this season. He led the NFL last season with 17.5 sacks.

    One has to wonder how sustainable San Francisco’s solid 5-3 start is, given how depleted its forces are. Last year, the team started 5-4 while being hit by another massive string of key injuries, only to lose seven of its final eight games and miss the playoffs.

    Read more: Chargers’ Justin Herbert Set NFL Record Against Vikings

    The 49ers will head to Bergen County to play the New York Giants, who are one of the NFL’s worst defensive teams, next Sunday before returning home to host the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 9.

    For more on the 49ers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.

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  • NFL Week 8: Houston Texans 26, San Francisco 49ers 15 – Houston Press

    All week long last week, leading up to the Houston Texans’ Week 8 matchup Sunday with the San Francisco 49ers, there was an unfamiliar feeling surrounding the Houston Texans, coming off of their 27-19 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. Sure, the Texans had lost games before under DeMeco Ryans, but there had never been this degree of line drawing being done by Ryans. Throughout the week after the loss, he was very clear — the problem with the Texans was that the players were not doing what they were being coached to do. 

    Perhaps this was not the first time that Ryans challenged his team publicly, but it was certainly the strongest instance of it. Certainly, his refrain throughout the week was, at least in part, directed at quarterback C.J. Stroud, whose inconsistency this season has been on the list of reasons the Texans were underachieving at 2-4 coming into Sunday.

    Well, whatever buttons Ryans wanted to push, it worked. The Texans had their most impressive performance of the season on Sunday, maybe not by scoring margin, but considering circumstance, player absences, and sheer importance of getting a win. The Texans beat the Niners by a score of 26-15, moving to 3-4 on the season. 

    As always, there were winners and losers. Here we go: 

    WINNERS

    4. DeMeco Ryans

    As mentioned above, Ryans pushed his chips in a bit this week, likely hoping that calling his players out publicly would draw the appropriate response. It did. The Texans responded with one of their cleanest games of the year, in snap to snap execution. The penalties were still a bit of an issue, with eight in total, for 55 yards, but Ryans has to be thrilled knowing that this is the new ceiling for his team. There will be stronger opponents on the schedule, plenty actually, but efforts like this one will go a long way to being in the playoff hunt at year’s end.

    3. Iowa State 

    The Texans came into this game without Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring). Collins is a Pro Bowl caliber receiver, and Kirk is a veteran that the team has been counting on to backfill the absence of Tank Dell and the departure of Stefon Diggs. Instead, the Texans, by game’s end, had just four healthy receivers, who had a combined 51 catches coming into Sunday. It didn’t matter. The group excelled, led by three Iowa State Cyclones — Xavier Hutchinson (5 catches, 69 yards, TD), Jayden Higgins (4 catches, 34 yards, TD), and Jaylin Noel (5 catches, 63 yards, including a 44 yard bomb to set up Higgins’ touchdown). 

    2. The game plan on both sides 

    Thus far, this was Nick Carley’s finest hour as Texans’ offensive coordinator. He mixed the run and pass perfectly. In the run game, Nick Chubb was able to grind out tough yards, and Woody Marks gave the Texans a couple of sparks with a 23 yard run and a 50 yard catch and run. The Texans were rarely in bad down and distance situations, which led to a 9-16 performance on third down. Even when there were penalties putting them behind the chains, there was no panic. They did a great job of recouping the lost yards and subsequently moving the chains. The offensive line was largely excellent, allowing no sacks for the first time all season. 

    1. C.J. Stroud 

    Statistically, Stroud was fantastic on Sunday, competing 30 passes on 39 attempts for 318 yards. He also continued to show how he could use his legs with some useful scrambles, including a long of 13 yards. Above all else, Stroud was in command the entire day. The happy feet that were so evident versus Seattle were gone. Above all else, for a game at least, he proved he could raise the level of an inexperienced, perhaps lesser overall talented receiving corps. You could argue this was Stroud’s best game in his career, due to the extenuating variables.

    LOSERS

    4. Mac Jones

    Opposite Stroud was Mac Jones, the Niners’ backup quarterback coming into the season, who has become their starter for most of the season due to Brock Purdy’s turf toe. Coming into Sunday, Jones had led the Niners to a 4-1 record in his five starts. On Sunday, Jones’ inability to even get a first down on the first three series was a major reason the Texans out-possessed the Niners by a 24:31 to 5:29 margin in the first half. Jones looked like an ineffective backup quarterback for most of the game on Sunday. 

    3. Brian Kelly 

    We interrupt NFL talk for a moment to acknowledge LSU’s firing head coach Brian Kelly, halfway through his fourth season in Baton Rouge. Kelly, who came in with as much bluster as any recent college coaching hire, finishes his career along the bayou with a 34-14 record, and exactly zero appearances in the College Football Playoff. Who knew that a guy using this phony accent wouldn’t work out at LSU?

    2. Texans kick coverage 

    Okay, back to the Texans, where there is very little to criticize in this win over the Niners. Sure, the offense wasn’t great in the red zone, converting just 1 of 5 trips, but they were excellent otherwise. If there was one glaring sequence that deserves criticism, it’s the Texans’ kick coverage on the kick off right before the half, after going up 16-0. The coverage group allowed a return to midfield, and tacked on a Dylan Horton face mask penalty. Four plays later, the score was 16-7 on a George Kittle touchdown catch. That was one of those cases where a bad sixty seconds undoes half of a phenomenal previous 29 minutes. Brutal.

    1. Will Anderson pre-snap discipline

    To be clear, Anderson had another outstanding overall game. He hit Jones three times, and had a big sack in the second half. Anderson is this team’s MVP through the first seven games. However, for the second week in a row, he had an offsides penalty. In fact, he had two, and one of them kept a drive alive for the Niners. Look, Anderson’s good outweighs any bad by a country mile, but the last time we had a player where we had to rationalize presnap penalties was when Laremy Tunsil was here. Eventually, it stops being something you can brush under the rug.  Anderson has five such penalties on the season. This needs to stop. 

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

    Sean Pendergast

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  • Kyle Shanahan issues stern challenge to injured 49ers after Texans blowout

    The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most banged up teams in the entire NFL, but head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t interested in excuses.

    Despite a slew of health problems severely impacting some of the most prominent players on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, edge-rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, San Francisco managed to enter Week 8 with a 5-2 record and a chance to move to six wins ahead of the mid-season point with a road victory over the Houston Texans.

    Instead, Houston’s top-ranked defense dominated the 49ers throughout the game, winning 26-15. In the aftermath of the loss, Shanahan called out his team and demanded a strong response over the coming week ahead of San Francisco’s trip to the Big Apple to take on the New York Giants.

    Read More: 49ers GM John Lynch Offers Update on Trade Speculation

    “They kicked our [expletive],” Shanahan said, per David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. “We’ve got to take it like men and come back — hopefully a little pissed off — and go to work and play better next week. The first half was unacceptable and the second half wasn’t much better.”

    Lombardi pointed out that after the double-digit defeat on Sunday, the 49ers (5-3) actually have a negative point differential (-4) through eight games. While not a guarantee, that figure indicates that a regression in the win/loss column over the second half of the year is likely unless the team can perform better.

    However, with as many injuries as San Francisco is dealing with, the best way to chase improvement is by adding healthy players via the trade market.

    The 49ers have until Nov. 4 to do so and should be looking hardest at a pass-rusher who can help create splash plays on defense. Even absent sacks that create yardage losses or contribute to turnovers, pressure on opposing QBs helps the secondary by cutting down on the time pass-catchers have to develop their routes.

    Some players potentially on the market are Jaelan Phillips of the Miami Dolphins and Jermaine Johnson of the New York Jets. It is also possible that Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals could be available if the team loses to the Chicago Bears next week and falls to 3-6 ahead of the trade deadline.

    Read More: 49ers GM Offers Huge Update on Brandon Aiyuk’s Return Timeline

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  • NFL Week 8: San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans – Houston Press

    As we awake on Friday morning, the Houston Texans sit at the precipice of their 2025 season spiraling out of control. DeMeco Ryans and his staff are getting hit from every angle with questions about the team’s discipline level, ability to absorb coaching, and most importantly, ability to execute. 

    Ryans himself has been putting the vast majority of the team’s downfall through the first six games at the feet of their players, citing multiple times the lack of proper execution, and on Monday, it seemed, a disregard for the game plan by certain members of the team. 

    This team seems to lack confidence in the offense they are running, and if the face of the offense’s mood is that of the quarterback, then the unit is one eleven man mope, because C.J. Stroud looks like he’s in a hostage video at every press conference. 

    So, with all of those rainbows and sunshine out of the way, here come the San Francisco 49ers, who have managed to go 5-2 on the season, mostly without their starting quarterback, and recently without their two best defensive players, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. The Texans are somehow 1.5 point favorites in this game. Let’s look at what to watch for: 

    4. Christian McCaffrey

    When he’s healthy, McCaffrey is one of the ultimate weapons in the National Football League. This season, he has nearly 1,000 total yards in seven games, with more than half of that actually coming through the air. He is eighth in receiving yards and third in catches. The pressure will be on the Texans’ linebackers (or perhaps Jalen Pitre) to not only stick to McCaffrey, but tackle him when they get the chance. The Texans’ tackling has been poor this season. Sunday would be a good day to fix it.

    3. Return of Jon Weeks 

    We interrupt actual game analysis to get sentimental for a moment, as Sunday will mark the return of long time Texans long snapper (15 seasons, to be exact) Jon Weeks, who left in free agency and signed with the Niners. I’m guessing Weeks’ leaving was more to do with the Texans choosing to move in a different direction (why, I have no idea), but whatever the case, Weeks should get some sort of tribute video before the game. He was outstanding at his job those 15 seasons, and was a pillar in the Houston community with his charitable works. Welcome home, Weeksy! 

    2. Annihilate Mac Jones (or Brock Purdy or whoever)

    Okay, back to the football. In the offseason, Purdy, the former 7th round pick in 2022, got his big contract, signing a deal for over $50 million per season for the next several years. Unfortunately, he’s been injured for most of 2025, but in steps former Rookie of the Year, Mac Jones. Jones hasn’t been spectacular, but he’s been winning games. The bottom line is that whoever starts under center for the Niners needs to get annihilated by the three headed tidal wave of Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and Denico Autry. Pressure the quarterback, get turnovers, and the Texans should be able to win at home. 

    1. Where will the receptions come from 

    That said, for an offense that was already struggling, the hill just went from “uphill” to “WAY uphill” with the injuries to Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring). The Texans receiving corps on Sunday is likely to consistently of three youngsters from Iowa State (Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson), the boyfriend of a TikTok influencer (Braxton Berrios), and the guy who killed Tank Dell (Jered Wayne). Take the OVER on Dalton Schultz receptions on Sunday. I’m not sure how the Texans get to 20 points, but I don’t think they’ll need to. 16 points will do, and I see the defense and special teams giving them a couple short fields. 

    SPREAD:  Texans -1.5

    PREDICTION: Texans 16, Niners 15

    SEASON RECORD: 3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS 

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

    Sean Pendergast

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  • Bad Bunny Super Bowl LX halftime show not being reconsidered, Goodell says

    The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headline performer, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, reaffirming a decision to put the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage that led to criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and some of his supporters.

    Goodell addressed the Bad Bunny controversy at his news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. It is the first time he has commented on the move announced in late September that garnered worldwide attention, including an increase in streams of Bad Bunny’s music, along with backlash.

    “It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

    The 31-year-old born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has been vocal in his opposition to Trump and his policies. He decided to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the mainland U.S., citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.

    He performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.

    “We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said, acknowledging there could be more talent added to the lineup along with Bad Bunny. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”

    The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if Trump plans to be there, though he has made appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his second term in the White House.

    Trump in an interview on conservative news network Newsmax said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

    “I don’t know who he is,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

    Goodell defended the decision on Wednesday, explaining it was made because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

    “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.”

    Echoing what senior VP of football operations Troy Vincent said Tuesday, Goodell said there has not been much discussion about the tush push quarterback sneak since an effort to ban it narrowly failed to pass in the spring.

    Vincent said the primary concern is how tough it is to officiate the maneuver that the Philadelphia Eagles have successfully executed so often. It was not on the formal agenda at this meeting, though owners did get an update on penalties and other football matters.

    “It’s something we will continue to monitor on all phases, just like we do every other aspect of the game,” Goodell said. “We don’t have any proposals to bring it back up. It wouldn’t surprise me if something does evolve. But it’s not something we’re really focused on during the season.”

    Asked about replay reviews and the length of time they are taking, Goodell said game times are actually down through the first seven weeks compared to last season, despite a surge in kick returns after an adjustment was made to the so-called dynamic kickoff.

    “That’s quite remarkable when you add the number of kickoffs,” Goodell said. “You’re going to get more fouls. You’re going to get different sets of fouls. You’re going to have a little bit (more) length of the game.”

    Goodell said he had breakfast with interim Players Association executive director David White before one of the league’s international games this season but expects any talk about a move to an 18-game regular season and other collective bargaining discussions to wait until the union chooses its long-term leader.

    The current CBA runs through the 2031 league year. White told The Associated Press last month that an 18-game season was not inevitable.

    “The negotiations will be a lot more than just simply the 18 and two (exhibition games),” Goodell said. “There are a lot of issues that we are going to raise and I’m certain that the players will raise, and that’s what it should be. That’s what collective bargaining is all about. They’re going to need time to make sure that they’re prepared, that they’re ready for the negotiations (and) they have their priorities straight, and then we can begin negotiations.”

    Goodell said work is being done to choose sites for the Super Bowl to cap the 2028 and ’29 seasons and expects an announcement on those next year.

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  • Photos: Christian McCaffrey leads the way in San Francisco 49ers 20-10 win over Atlanta Falcons

    The San Francisco 49ers Sunday night 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons delivered a much-needed morale boost.

    While Christian McCaffrey supplied two rushing touchdowns and 201 yards from scrimmage, it was the 49ers’ defense that proved surprisingly stout, a week after losing Warner to a dislocated and fractured ankle.

    McCaffrey ran for over 100 yards for the first time since 2023 (24 carries, 129 yards) and also delivered 72 receiving yards as quarterback Mac Jones made his third straight start and fifth this season in place of an injured Brock Purdy.

    The 49ers (5-2) have yet to lose back-to-back games this season, keeping them tied atop the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams (5-2).

    Next up, the 49ers return to the road for a Sunday visit to the Houston Texans, who take a two-game win streak and a 2-3 record into Monday night’s game at Seattle (4-2).

    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (23) is congratulated by teammates, including San Francisco 49ers' Colton McKivitz (68), after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is congratulated by teammates, including San Francisco 49ers’ Colton McKivitz (68), after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Atlanta Falcons' Dee Alford (20) and Atlanta Falcons' Xavier Watts (31) in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Atlanta Falcons’ Dee Alford (20) and Atlanta Falcons’ Xavier Watts (31) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (23) is congratulated on his touchdown by San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle (85) against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) is congratulated on his touchdown by San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Connor Colby (75) catches the ball on a fumble against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Connor Colby (75) catches the ball on a fumble against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Jordan Elliott (92) pressures Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Jordan Elliott (92) pressures Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Renardo Green (0) tackles Atlanta Falcons' Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) after a catch in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Renardo Green (0) tackles Atlanta Falcons’ Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) after a catch in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Jauan Jennings (15) runs after a catch against Atlanta Falcons' Dee Alford (20) in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Jauan Jennings (15) runs after a catch against Atlanta Falcons’ Dee Alford (20) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) dives for yards against Atlanta Falcons' Jessie Bates III (3) in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) dives for yards against Atlanta Falcons’ Jessie Bates III (3) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    The San Francisco 49ers defense celebrates a fourth down stop against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    The San Francisco 49ers defense celebrates a fourth down stop against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) scrambles against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) scrambles against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Tatum Bethune (48) tackles Atlanta Falcons' Bijan Robinson (7) in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Tatum Bethune (48) tackles Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson (7) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group
    San Francisco 49ers fans celebrate a play against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers fans celebrate a play against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Atlanta Falcons defense in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Atlanta Falcons defense in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Demarcus Robinson (5) can't make a catch against Atlanta Falcons' Mike Hughes (21) in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Demarcus Robinson (5) can’t make a catch against Atlanta Falcons’ Mike Hughes (21) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Brian Robinson Jr. (3) runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Brian Robinson Jr. (3) runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
    San Francisco 49ers' Tatum Bethune (48) leaves the field after their 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Tatum Bethune (48) leaves the field after their 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group.
    San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (23) walks on the field after their 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) walks on the field after their 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    Originally Published:

    Jane Tyska, Nhat V. Meyer, Cam Inman

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  • Christian McCaffrey’s offensive explosion, 49ers’ defense help stymie Falcons in win

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    Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers’ defense had a night.

    The star running back had 201 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns as San Francisco topped the Atlanta Falcons, 20-10, on Sunday night.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

    McCaffrey ran for 129 yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground. He also had seven catches for 72 yards. He got the scoring started in the second quarter when he helped put San Francisco on top 7-3. He then put the dagger into the hearts of Falcons fans when he was pulled and pushed into the end zone with 2:26 left in the game.

    It was that kind of frustrating night for the Falcons.

    Michael Penix Jr. was 21-of-38 for 241 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice and lost a fumble. But after two big wins against the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills, the Falcons’ offense was expected to have a little more firepower than what they showed against a depleted 49ers defense.

    Mykel Williams celebrates

    San Francisco 49ers defensive end Mykel Williams (98) celebrates in the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Kelley L Cox)

    BRONCOS ERASE 19-POINT DEFICIT TO SHOCK GIANTS BEHIND BO NIX’S 4 TOUCHDOWNS

    Atlanta went on nine drives during the night and were only able to attain 19 first downs. The team was 5-for-11 on third downs and 0-for-2 on fourth down conversion attempts.

    San Francisco had 324 yards of total offense against Atlanta’s 292.

    The 49ers were able to hold running back Bijan Robinson to 40 rushing yards on 14 carries. He had six catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. San Francisco quarterback Mac Jones was in for Brock Purdy. He had 152 passing yards and an interception.

    Bijan Robinson tries to avoid the defense

    Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs near San Francisco 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown (27) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Kelley L Cox)

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    Despite the injuries that have affected San Francisco since Week 1, the 49ers moved to 5-2 with the win. Atlanta fell to 3-3.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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  • Falcons will need repeat performance from secondary to beat Niners on Monday night

    The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Buffalo Bills, 24-14, on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of more than 70,000 fans. Atlanta last hosted Buffalo on October 1, 2017, and the Falcons lost that game. After Monday’s game, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris called the victory “a big-time team win” and was “well-fought by the guys.”

    Currently on a two-game win streak, the Falcons will have to travel to the West Coast in order to extend that streak of success. Up next: the San Francisco 49ers.

    The 49ers are tied at the top spot in the NFC West at 4-2, tied with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, who each have the same overall record. The Falcons and 49ers have something in common: they both have lost to Tampa Bay. The 49ers are coming into the Sunday Night Football matchup with the Falcons following a 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To ref 

    During the first half of the victory over Buffalo, the Falcons’ defense sacked Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen twice. The Falcons’ front four kept pressure on Allen the entire game, and several of his pass attempts were thrown under duress. Falcons defensive back Dee Alford intercepted an Allen pass, one of the quarterback’s two interceptions. 

    The Falcons’ defensive front line gets all the praise a day after the smoke has cleared. Still, the secondary’s play allowed Ruke Orhorhoro, David Onyemata, and James Pearce, Jr. to help hold Allen to just 42 rushing yards to go along with his underwhelming passing night (15-26 for 180 yards and two touchdowns). According to Morris, the return of veteran corner A.J. Terrell, Jr. was also an assist.

    “AJ coming back this week was awesome,” Morris said after the game. “He’s one of our leaders in the back end. “We had a couple of penalties down the field, but those things will happen when you’re fighting throughout the play.”

    Morris said, along with Terrell and Alford, veteran corner Mike Hughes was among the players who made “big plays” during the game.

    “I really like how those guys went out there and fought. I think they all made big plays at different times throughout the game against one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League, if not the best,” Morris said. 

    Falcons quarterback Michael Penix, Jr., now nine starts into his NFL career, said he wanted to credit the defense for securing the victory. When asked about the play of the secondary, Penix, Jr. said the play was “really good!”

    “Midway through the week, I heard [coach] say the defense was going to play a lot of man, and they did that, and those guys were up for the challenge,” said Penix (20-32 for 250 yards and a touchdown). “They played great football and allowed our defensive line to get sacks and stuff like that because Josh [Allen] had to hold the ball whenever people weren’t open down the field.”

    “We definitely couldn’t have won that game without what they did on that side of the ball,” Penix said.

    49ers quarterback Mac Jones was intercepted twice during his team’s loss to Tampa last week. The Falcons’ secondary has intercepted passes during all of their victories this season.

    Atlanta will need Penix, Robinson, the defensive line, and smart coaching decisions to win the game at San Francisco on Sunday night. They will also need the secondary to be as stellar, if not better, than it was on Monday night against the Bills. 

    “It was a big-time team win,” Morris said.

    Donnell Suggs

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