49ers vs. Panthers: Live Score, Thread and Analysis for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers face off in a Week 2 road contest versus the Carolina Panthers. Niner Noise has your live, in-game thread with analysis, scoring updates and comment section.

Week 2 didn’t figure to be kind to the San Francisco 49ers as they took on the reigning NFC champions, the Carolina Panthers, in a road contest on a short week.

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The Niners were coming off a 28-0 shutout victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. While this win put head coach Chip Kelly’s squad on the right track in 2016, facing off against the Panthers was a much different story.

Carolina was coming off a 21-20 season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos. And they also had an additional three days’ rest, having played on Thursday Night Football to open the year.

So it shouldn’t have been too much a surprise the Panthers opened up as 13.5-point favorites, according to Odds Shark.

Pulling off an upset would mean San Francisco had to contain MVP quarterback Cam Newton and Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Shula’s unique offense.

And dealing with the Panthers’ tough front-seven offense, led by linebacker Luke Kuechly, wouldn’t be easy either.

Regardless, the Niners have a chance to turn this into a hard-fought contest and, maybe, pull out a seemingly impossible victory.

Stay with us here on Niner Noise as we provide you in-game updates and analysis throughout this Week 2 bout. And be sure to scroll down to the comments section to leave your own opinion on what’s happening in Bank of America Stadium.

First Quarter

Carolina opened up on offense after San Francisco deferred to the second half. And on the second snap on offense, Newton had his pass deflected and into the arms of 49ers safety Antoine Bethea.

San Francisco got a red-zone trip on their first possession, but Carolina’s defense clamped down and forced a Phil Dawson 29-yard field goal.

The Panthers’ subsequent possession moved the ball much more effectively and into Niners territory.

And Newton found wide receiver Ted Ginn for a 42-yard touchdown pass to give them the lead. But Ginn’s left foot appeared to be out of bounds, as shown below:

The touchdown was overturned.

A subsequent penalty on Carolina pushed the Panthers offense back into their own territory, which led to a Carolina punt from former 49ers’ punter Andy Lee.

Running back Carlos Hyde fumbled on San Francisco’s next possession, which led to a Panthers recovery returned for a touchdown.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert was able to lead the Niners offense into Carolina territory, but this drive stalled just after crossing midfield. San Francisco had to punt.

Second Quarter

The Panthers were able to move quickly into 49ers territory at the start of the second quarter. But a Fozzy Whittaker fumble ended up being recovered by Niners linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong.

Gabbert led the Niners offense into Panthers territory after a huge first-down pickup on 3rd-and-13. This was followed up by a 19-yard gain by running back Shaun Draughn.

This time, Gabbert found wide receiver Torrey Smith for a 28-yard go-ahead touchdown.

"#49ers take the lead 10-7 on this 28-yard @TorreySmithWR TD reception!Scoring drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 3:38 https://t.co/SLnpl01ZFt— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 18, 2016"

The lead didn’t last long though. On the subsequent drive, Newton found tight end Greg Olsen for a 78-yard touchdown.

Carolina was back in the lead.

The 49ers were forced to punt their next possession. And yet the Niner defense managed to hold on the next drive.

Gabbert and the Niners offense had all three timeouts with which to work as the two-minute warning hit. And yet San Francisco couldn’t convert on third down, which led to yet another punt.

Flags negated the Panthers’ two-minute drill, and the 49ers got the ball back. But former Niners punter Andy Lee pinned Gabbert and Co. within their own 5-yard line with 1:04 remaining.

Not surprisingly, the 49ers ran three straight plays up the middle to burn the Panthers’ timeouts after another punt.

Still, a Carolina two-minute drill gave way to a Graham Gano 39-yard field goal to close out the half.

Third Quarter

San Francisco opened up the second half on offense. And, subsequently, the Niners went 3-and-out.

So that put the 49ers defense back out on the field. This unit had yet to generate a sack or quarterback pressure, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.

The Niners initially held on failed Carolina third-down conversion attempt. But a illegal-contact penalty against San Francisco gave the Panthers a first down.

And 6-foot-5 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin burned 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward on back-to-back catches — the second of which crossed the goal line.

San Francisco’s comeback efforts weren’t helped by yet another 3-and-out from Gabbert and the 49ers offense.

And Gabbert’s underthrown passes continued to be a culprit.

Not surprisingly, Carolina’s offense began to make strides against a Niners defense wearing down more and more with each stand.

Oh, and repeat the tweet from above. Newton to Benjamin. Touchdown.

The subsequent 49ers drive managed to gain some momentum against a Panthers defense playing looser than previously. It mattered not though. San Francisco had to punt once again, which made for seven up to that point.

Fourth Quarter

The Panthers looked to run down the clock at the start of the fourth quarter. But linebacker Gerald Hodges forced a Cam Newton fumble, which gave the Niners the ball back in Panthers territory for the first time in, well, a while.

And it led to San Francisco’s second field goal of the day.

On the subsequent kickoff, Ginn botched a return that was recovered by the Niners special teams unit right on the Panthers’ 2-yard line.

Gabbert was able to rush it in for the converging-score touchdown.

"🏃 1-yard rushing TD for @BlaineGabbert! 31-20 with 12:31 remaining. #SFvsCAR https://t.co/1y4iUm9D3W— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 18, 2016"

A 57-yard kickoff return by Ginn put the Panthers right back into San Francisco territory.

And yet the Niners red-zone defense managed to hold, which led to a Panthers’ 26-yard field goal from Gano.

As things seemed lost for the 49ers, Gabbert found tight end Vance McDonald for a 75-yard touchdown reception. McDonald now has back-to-back touchdown receptions to start this season.

"Blaine Gabbert. Vance McDonald. TD. https://t.co/0FaVxexzkZ— 49ers Brasil (@49ersBrasil_) September 18, 2016"

San Francisco cut the lead to seven points, which was almost an unthinkable possibility earlier this game.

The Panthers managed another field goal with 4:08 remaining. And an interception by Carolina standout linebacker Luke Kuechly further hurt San Francisco’s chances.

Newton found second-year wide receiver Devin Funchess for a game-setting touchdown.

We could tell you about another Gabbert interception, but you probably don’t want to hear about it. James Bradberry, a rookie corner out of Samford, picked off Gabbert.

And a late field goal just added to the blowout.

FINAL: 49ers 27, Panthers 46

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Next: 49ers vs. Panthers: Previewing Week 2 for San Francisco

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of ESPN.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.