10 quick thoughts from the Carolina Panthers loss vs. 49ers in Week 5
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers 3rd down woes continued
It was another rough afternoon for the Carolina Panthers on third down. They were last in the league heading into Week 5 and the San Francisco 49ers defense was in no mood to assist a turnaround in fortunes.
Ben McAdoo’s offense went 3-from-15 on third downs throughout the game and they were 1-from-6 at one stage. An unacceptable statistic that shows no signs of getting better anytime soon.
Carolina Panthers had no answer for Jeff Wilson Jr.
It was a sorry sight to see Jeff Wilson Jr. having his way with the Panthers almost from start to finish. The running back was in ruthless form deputizing for the injured Elijah Mitchell, taking advantage of some big holes to break off some significant yardage consistently.
Wilson made some exceptional plays en route to 120 rushing yards and a touchdown. And credit must go to Niners coach Kyle Shanahan for trusting the backup in some critical moments.
Crucial turnover cost the Carolina Panthers
Just when it looked like the Panthers might be generating momentum thanks to defensive efficiency and a blocked field goal, another cataclysmic turnover ended up costing them in the biggest way imaginable.
Baker Mayfield’s errant throw sailed over Christian McCaffrey’s head and into the grasp of Emmanuel Moseley, who proceeded to take the interception in for a pick-six to give San Francisco a 17-3 lead at the break. Considering the Panthers could have tied or cut their deficit to four, this was nothing short of disastrous.