Game Thread: Panthers at 49ers -- Candlestick Park (FOX)

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top 5 teams in NFC
2/2/3/4/4 Seattle Seahawks
2/4/5/5/5 San Francisco 49ers
4/6/7/9/9 New Orleans Saints
6/7/10/11/13 Green Bay Packers
7/9/11/11/12 Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is playing the best football of his career, and the defense is making a case as the league's best.

The 49ers, meanwhile, are on a five-game win streak.

The Panthers will carry a four-game win streak and the league’s second-ranked defense to Candlestick, where the 49ers will be in search of their sixth consecutive victory.

Both offenses in this matchup have been magnificent of late — neither team has scored fewer than 30 points during its current win streak. Cam Newton versus Colin Kaepernick should be worth the price of admission.

 

[Doublejive]

Cant believe i will be cheering for Newton,,,a first.

 

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Have Cam Newton’s Panthers arrived?

Panthers fans have been waiting for Newton’s big breakthrough… and this could be it.
Newton has been locked in over the Panthers’ current four-game win streak, backed by the league’s No. 2 defense. Carolina sits just a game back of New Orleans in the NFC South, with two games left against the Saints.
Here’s the rub: The Panthers have played an easier schedule to date than any other team. Their closing stretch is much more formidable,starting Sunday in San Francisco. They’ll have to earn Newton’s first playoff berth.

 

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New York Times

San Francisco is coming off a bye week — if you count the Jaguars game, it’s two bye weeks — and is beginning to get the gang back together.
Defensive end Aldon Smith, the rookie defensive lineman Tank Carradine, wide receiver Mario Manningham and cornerback Eric Wright might all suit up. That depth spells trouble for the Panthers.
Pick: 49ers

 

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San Francisco pass rusher Aldon Smith is expected to play against Carolina after spending the last five weeks in a treatment center.

 

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49ers are 30-10 under the Jim Harbaugh Era.

Panthers entered the fall with a 15-33 record in
its previous three seasons.

Carolina's ultimate destiny lies with Newton. In wins this season, the former Heisman winner has been magnificent, with a 69.1 completion percentage, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. In losses? Not so much, hitting 58 percent of his targets for three trips to pay dirt and five turnovers. Newton has made strides in consistency, accuracy and decision-making. If he continues this progression, Carolina will be a tough out.
Lining up against Newton will be a Niners defense whose bark matches its bite. Despite a rash of injuries and the sabbatical of Aldon Smith , San Fran is still holding adversaries to 18.1 points per contest, fourth-lowest in the league. The 49ers have been especially stout against the pass, conceding a 57.2 completion percentage (a conference-best) and 221 yards per game (third-lowest in the NFC). With Smith returning to practice this week, this is a unit that is just scratching the surface of its potential.
Newton does have the benefit of a strong rushing game averaging 130.1 yards per contest (seventh-best in the NFL), but this strength is somewhat negated by San Fran’s defiance on the ground (3.9 yards per attempt, fifth-lowest in the conference). This leaves the victor of the Newton-Niners’ D showdown ultimately deciding the game's outcome.

TE Greg Olsen leads the Panthers in receiving yards, but he could be in for tough sledding against a Niners unit that is suffocating the TE position to a meager 39.8 yards per game.

 

[Golden Spur]

Munnerly drops INT, . Niners go down and get a fg, 3-0.

 

[douggie]

Try and pass on 1st Down, Run for a short gain on 2nd, sack on 3rd down. Punt. They practiced all week to start like this.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Let's go Carolina!

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Nice one Ted. Almost looked like he was ready to slice one. Hated watching him play against Seattle..... always nervous of the big return. I think one game two years ago he diced us good. Basically won the game for San Fran (one punt TD return and another for like 78 yards which let to an easy TD).

 

[Champ-ion Baily]

Should be a great defensive battle. I don't think it will be too high scoring

 

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Peter Schrager, Fox Sports

Cam Newton’s quietly inserted himself into the NFL’s MVP conversation with a string of impressive performances and a four-game winning streak. That talk will get a lot louder after this week. I think the Panthers pull the upset and get the best of an equally hot 49ers team. This Carolina squad’s for real. Seriously.

 

[Golden Spur]

Nice open field tackle by Luke on Kaep.

And then, muff the punt. Jeez, that was friggin' stupid.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Come on Carolina... what the hell? You block a punt and then try to pick it up with 10 49ers?

 

[Southieinnc]

Carolina receivers dropping a lot of balls.

 

[Doublejive]

Oh my,,,,,

 

[codycmon]

stewart almost giving me a heart attack.

 

[Doublejive]

Just hold it,,,yeahh baby.

 

[codycmon]

seriously. biggest play of the game and you can't even get a proper snap.

 

[Doublejive]

Kaeptain Checkdown on his back.