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

Christian McCaffrey faced his erstwhile Carolina Panthers squad for the archetypal clip since his commercialized to the San Francisco 49ers successful 2022.

The All-Pro moving backmost powered San Francisco to a 20-9 triumph connected "Monday Night Football," uncovering the extremity portion and starring some teams successful full yards from scrimmage.

The 49ers (8-4) are present firmly successful the NFC playoff picture, portion the Panthers (6-6) missed a accidental to instrumentality 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 successful the archetypal 4th of the crippled astatine Levi's Stadium connected Nov. 24, 2025 successful Santa Clara, California.  (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

While McCaffrey shined connected the primetime stage, it was a unsmooth nighttime for some quarterbacks.

Brock Purdy, who threw 3 touchdowns successful his instrumentality the erstwhile week, struggled with turnovers, tossing 3 interceptions connected consecutive possessions successful the archetypal half.

San Francisco opened beardown with a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by Purdy’s abbreviated walk to Jauan Jennings, who fought done 3 Panthers defenders to score. But aft a speedy Panthers three-and-out, Purdy’s archetypal walk connected the adjacent bid was picked disconnected by Jaycee Horn, giving Carolina the shot astatine the San Francisco 16-yard line.

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But this nighttime wasn’t conscionable astir Purdy’s turnovers — Young had immoderate issues arsenic well.

On first-and-goal from the 1, Young appeared to person country to tally toward the pylon, but helium alternatively tried a walk to choky extremity Mitchell Evans. Ji’Ayir Brown was close determination to snag the interception successful the extremity portion and bail retired Purdy for his earlier mistake.

Unfortunately for San Francisco, Purdy was picked disconnected by Mike Jackson successful the other extremity portion erstwhile helium tried to find Ricky Pearsall for a touchdown. The way was work perfectly by the seasoned cornerback. Upon replay, choky extremity George Kittle appeared wide unfastened and mightiness person scored with a abbreviated pass, but Purdy was looking for the large play connected the throw.

Then Purdy was truly kicking himself aft Horn secured his 2nd interception of the crippled — a savvy play arsenic helium roamed escaped successful the mediate of the tract and Purdy simply didn’t spot him connected a walk intended for Pearsall. The Panthers yet got points connected the committee aft a tract extremity chopped the shortage to 7-3.

Jauan Jennings of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates aft scoring a touchdown successful the archetypal 4th of the crippled against the Carolina Panthers astatine Levi's Stadium connected Nov. 24, 2025 successful Santa Clara, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

It was lone 10-3 astatine halftime, but the 49ers yet got McCaffrey into the extremity portion successful the 3rd 4th against his erstwhile team. His 12-yard touchdown tally capped a 13-play, 80-yard thrust by San Francisco, wherever the prima backmost got cardinal blocks from Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk to scope the extremity zone.

McCaffrey finished the crippled with 89 rushing yards and 7 catches for 53 yards.

The Panthers weren’t wholly retired of the crippled contempt the 17-3 deficit, acknowledgment to rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan hauling successful a 29-yard onslaught from Young with 49 seconds near successful the 3rd 4th to marque it a 17-9 crippled aft a failed two-point conversion.

The 49ers created immoderate separation aft adding different tract goal, but the Panthers inactive had plentifulness of clip successful the 4th fourth to marque things interesting. Unfortunately for them, Brown jumped a way crossed the mediate intended for McMillan, and Young threw it close to him.

The interception virtually iced the game, arsenic Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 57-yard tract extremity with 2:47 near successful the 4th fourth during the Panthers’ hopeless effort to get points.

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Looking astatine the container score, Kittle led the crippled with 78 yards connected six catches, portion Jennings finished with 41 yards connected 5 grabs.

For the Panthers, Rico Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard and Young combined for conscionable 69 rushing yards, though Dowdle had 4 catches for 36 yards. Hubbard added 4 catches for 27 yards.

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