49ers: Live Week 1 updates, analysis and thread versus Panthers

Regular-season football is here at least, with the San Francisco 49ers facing the Carolina Panthers in a home Week 1 matchup. Niner Noise has all your updates from the game, as well as analysis and your comment thread.

We’re here. We’ve actually arrived to the point of meaningful football after a long wait. It was an eventful offseason for the San Francisco 49ers, who were one of the busiest teams in the entire NFL. Sweeping changes came across the board for the 49ers, with a new head coach, new general manager, and an NFL record for most roster turnover from one season to another.

It’s a new era for San Francisco.

The 49ers spent a lot of their focus rebuilding both sides of the ball this offseason. On defense, there are free agent acquisitions Elvis Dumervil and Earl Mitchell, and rookies Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster. Those four look to add to front-seven that already features former first-round draft picks Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner and All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

That area is something they hope to vastly improve on, as San Francisco was the worst defense in the league last year.

On offense, free agent signings Brian Hoyer, Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin and Kyle Juszczyk were the highlight additions to a unit that ranked near the bottom of the league in total offense.

All of this is apart of the new regime’s attempt of building up this 49ers franchise. As the popular saying that Lynch has coined goes, “Brick by brick.”

Today, the new foundation of San Francisco get its first test of the season against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

As always, Niner Noise has your in-game thread with scoring updates and a comment thread you can participate in at the bottom of the article.

Follow along with us, as both teams go battle it out in the first matchup of the 2017 NFL season.

First Quarter

Solid first drive for the 49ers defense, who force the punt. The height of the defensive line really showed out there.

Eight-yard run for Hyde on his first carry, something that hadn’t happened much in preseason. Hoyer looked good out there, but questionable play call on 3rd and 3 with the deep ball to Goodwin as it falls incomplete. Punt.

All training camp we heard about Reuben Foster and his interceptions — he just nearly picked off Newton there. Causes the punt.

There’s those offensive line issues as Beadles allows a sack leading to a Hoyer fumble.

Terrible look as Foster goes down with a right leg injury:

Right after the injury, 49ers defense falters as Newton finds Russell Shepard for a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Hyde is running with authority so far — he’s got 4 carries for 40 yards.

Offensive line is clearly an issue; sacks allowed and penalties early on for the group.

Second Quarter

Looks like Ray-Ray Armstrong is going to be the linebacker the 49ers roll with the rest of this game if Foster can’t return. Another punt forced by the San Francisco defense.

Deep ball to Goodwin is definitely something Shanahan wants to happen, they just can’t connect on it. Another penalty and another sack allowed, 49ers have to punt again.

A potential sigh of relief as Foster is back on the sidelines working with trainers.

Preseason issues carrying over to the regular-season:

San Francisco gets their first turnover of the season on a Jaquiski Tartt interception.

Solomon Thomas meets Christian McCaffrey in the back field for a 2-yard loss to cause a 2nd and 12. McCaffrey is struggling running the ball in his NFL debut — only 4 carries for 11 yards so far.

Despite the good field position, Carolina can’t capitalize and settle for a 39-yard field goal. The Panthers lead 10-0 at the 3:23 mark in the second quarter.

Hoyer to Garçon is going to be a focal point for this offense in 2017. Another reception for Garçon and he’s got 3 catches for 44 yards at the 2:00 minute warning.

The 49ers go for it on 4th down again, and fail again. The Panthers take over at their own 45-yard line with less than a minute to go in the first half.

Carolina offense is able to march down the field in limited time and put more points on the board with a 36-yard field goal. The Panthers lead the 49ers 13-0 at halftime.

So far, some quick notes:

• Defense has been excellent all things considered. San Francisco has forced three punts and one turnover on seven Carolina drives so far. Newton is 8-19 passing for 105 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
• Offense looks fine in spurts and then stalls out. Hoyer is 11-15 passing for 88 yards and Hyde has 44 yards on 7 carries.
• The offensive line is really having a tough time this game. Sacks and penalties are highlighting their play so far.

Third Quarter

Not an ideal start to the quarter as Kuechly intercepts Hoyer, and the Panthers take over in 49ers territory.

Carolina is able to capitalize this time as Jonathan Stewart scores on a 9-yard touchdown pass. The Panthers lead 20-0 at the 11:24 mark.

After Carolina marched down to a 1st and goal, the 49ers defense holds them to a 20-yard field goal. The Panthers are winning 23-0 with 3:11 left in the third quarter.

The 49ers finally get something going on offense, but it ultimately sputters out as they kick a 44-yard field goal. It’s 23-3, Carolina leads as the third quarter wraps up.

Fourth Quarter

A beautiful strip by Rashard Robinson on McCaffrey, and he also recovers it. What a play by Robinson. The 49ers are in Panthers territory.

And this offense just simply cannot do anything impactful — they waste a perfect opportunity and fail to score on 4th and goal. Carolina takes over on their own 1-yard line.

Newton and the Panthers decide to run out the clock to finish this game. FINAL: 23-3.

Next: Panthers vs. 49ers: 5 key stats to watch in Week 1

Please refresh your browser periodically for updates and scoring changes.