The 49ers completely demoralized and ruined the Carolina Panthers’ 2019 campaign way back in Week 8.
Granted, the Panthers were dealing what would eventually turn into a season-ending foot injury for quarterback Cam Newton. But that was offset by the fabulous play from running back Christian McCaffrey, who was working his way towards becoming a legitimate NFL MVP candidate for the year. Meanwhile, fill-in quarterback Kyle Allen was looking like a solid replacement for Newton, too.
And when Carolina took off for Santa Clara in Week 8, it was riding a 4-2 record and was coming off four straight wins.
The Niners then pummeled the Panthers by a whopping score of 51-13.
Carolina has won just a single game since and has lost seven in a row, likely to turn into an eight-game losing streak in Week 17 against the NFL playoff-bound New Orleans Saints. Amid that stretch, head coach Ron Rivera was fired and there are reports the team is planning to move on from Newton, too, even against a large portion of the fanbase’s hopes otherwise.
Earlier in the offseason, many would have easily looked at the Panthers as a serious contender in the NFC South, perhaps the only team legitimately able to compete with the Saints for a division crown.
No matter how Week 17 shakes down, the Panthers will finish dead last instead.