The Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers met in their NFC divisional round clash at Bank of America Stadium for a place in the conference title game.
Ron Rivera's side were looking to reach their first championship game since the 2005 season, while the visitors were pushing for their third appearance in as many years.
Jim Harbaugh's side advanced in the clash and will now face the Seattle Seahawks as they edged out the Panthers 23-10 as penalties cost the home team as they fell to defeat.
Read our commentary below to see how all the action unfolded.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the NFC divisional round playoff clash between the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers.
It's back to playoff action after the Seattle Seahawks confirmed their place in the NFC title game, so the winner of this match will have a trip to CenturyLink Field for a place in the Super Bowl at stake.
These sides meet for the second time of the season, after their week 10 clash where the Panthers went into Candlestick Park and shocked the 49ers with a 10-9 victory, which aided their push for the second seed and the all important home tie in the playoffs. So they will get a crack at Jim Harbaugh's side on their home patch.
The two teams this evening are fundamentally the same in their approach to the game. They both have hard-hitting defenses who rank in the top five of the NFL, led by outstanding linebackers and dominant defensive lines. While on the offensive side of the ball, they have good up and coming quarterbacks who are more of a running threat than the traditional pocket passer. Where the 49ers may hold the edge is the receiving corps, as Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin are upgrades over their Panthers counterparts.
Cam Newton has quietly had an excellent third season in the NFL, bouncing back from a difficult sophomore outing where his attitude was called into question. He has been humble and a team player this year, and his skills throwing the ball have come on leaps and bounds especially with a limited receiving corps. He can lead his side to the first appearance in the NFC Championship game since the 2005 season, if he gets support from their quality running game this evening.
If Newton is the leader of the offense, then Luke Kuechly is the captain of the defense. He runs all over the field making plays with his high motor, he also brings the best out of the players around them, freeing up space to help them make plays. Defensive ends Greg Hardy is an excellent pass rusher and the 49ers will have to be on guard, after he notched 15 sacks in the season, seven of them coming in his last two games. Kawann Short and Stat Lotulelei guard the center of the defense as two penetrating defensive tackles, while linebacker Thomas Davis is a match for any tight end in the NFL.
Where the 49ers match up well with the Panthers as mentioned before is their receivers. Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin have to win their personal battles this evening to give their team a chance of getting the victory, as Frank Gore maybe in for a tough game between the tackles. Colin Kaepernick will have to be on the spot as well, as the home side will not let him run the ball out of the pocket, so the game will be on his arm rather than his legs this week. He has to perform again.
Linebackers Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis have to be keyed in for the 49ers tonight. The Panthers have an outstanding running game and it's pointed right at them this evening. If they play to their best along with defensive tackle Ray McDonald, they can stuff the Panthers' plans early on and force the game into the arm of Newton, where the strength of the home side does not lie. Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks must also keep their discipline rushing Newton today, as he is just as good a runner as Kaepernick and a lot harder to bring down at 250 lbs.
PANTHERS INACTIVES: Stewart, Norman, McNutt, King, Horton, Connor, Bond.
49ERS INACTIVES: Seymour, Rogers, Moody, Looney, Dial, Carrier, Baldwin.
The Panthers have been given a boost as wide receiver Steve Smith has recovered enough from a PCL sprain to play tonight, but they are without running back Jonathan Stewart due to a knee injury. While the 49ers are without starting cornerback Carlos Rogers with a hamstring problem.
Gano boots the ball out of the endzone so the 49ers will tart at the 20.
The 49ers pick up the first down as Kaepernick goes deep on third and nine and hits Patton deep down the left sideline for a 20-yard gain, after Gore was dropped for a one-yard loss and Crabtree only got two yards on an out route before Munnerlyn brought him down.
Kaepernick escapes the pocket on third and five and he throws on the run to Gore, who gets seven yards, which is enough for the first down after the back got five yards through the middle on first. The 49ers move into Panthers territory with the reception down to their 44-yard line.
OUCH! Tukuafu makes a reception out of the backfield for two yards but he lands awkwardly on his leg after a tackle from Munnerlyn. He doesn't look to be in good shape, the 49ers have a third and six at the Panthers' 40.
What a break for the 49ers as they get a first down reprieve as Kaepernick's pass falls incomplete looking for Davis over the middle but Mitchell is flagged for unnecessary roughness and earns the 49ers 15 yards to boot as well, moving them to the 25-yard line.
SACK! Kuechly gets to Kaepernick in the pocket on third and nine and drops him for a six-yard loss, after Gore was stuffed for no gain and an incompletion on first down by Kaepernick looking for Davis in the endzone. That will leave Dawson with a 49-yard field goal attempt.
FIELD GOAL GOOD! 49ers 3-0 Panthers
Dawson fires the kick between the posts from 49 yards out and hands his side the lead, on the drive that was kept alive by the penalty on Mitchell.
Ginn drops the kickoff in the endzone and it falls out of bounds so Newton will begin from the 20.
The Panthers get moving as Newton starts with two good passes for a seven-yard completions first to Smith on second down and then his tight end Olsen to move the chains on an out route over the right sideline, to move his side to their 34-yard line.
INTERCEPTION 49ERS!
Newton looks for LaFell on a crossing route and he can't make the catch over the middle of the field and can only tip the ball into the hands of Willis who makes the grab for the interception at the Panthers' 48. Turnovers are always big, can the 49ers capitalise?
The 49ers get a break as they get another first down with the aid of a penalty as Blackburn is guilty of a hold of Boldin that moves the visitors five yards downfield.
Another penalty and this time it is deserved as Munnerlyn headbutts Crabtree after a confrontation on the right sideline and that adds 15 yards to the 49ers and moves them to the 20.
The 49ers can't get anything more as Crabtree can only get five yards on a short reception on second down over the left sideline away from Munnerlyn working on Mikell but on third down Kaepernick's pass to Davis falls incomplete. That will leave a 33-yard field goal attempt for Dawson.
FIELD GOAL GOOD! 49ers 6-0 Panthers
Dawson extends the 49ers lead as he fires his 33-yarder through the posts.
Barner returns the ball to the 34-yard line off the kickoff where Newton will begin.
Newton goes deep on the first play of the drive and hits Smith down the right sideline on a go route as the receiver comes back and adjusts to the ball beating Brock in coverage and he takes it to the SF 38 for a 28-yard reception. Just what they needed.
The Panthers are rolling as Williams gets an eight-yard carry on first and then Newton slings the ball out to the speedster Ginn on second down and he takes the ball to the SF 17 with a 14-yard reception down the sideline again before he gets pushed out of bounds.
Newton keeps the ball himself this time as he runs over the right side of the line after faking the handoff to Williams again and he takes it all the way to the SF six-yard line with an 11-yard carry, breaking through a couple of tackles to produce a first and goal.
The Panthers get to the one-yard line as Newton and Tolbert combine for five yards on first and second down, but on the third-down handoff to Tolbert he gets stuffed at the line, leaving a fourth and goal call for Ron Rivera to make, at the start of the second quarter.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: San Francisco 49ers 6-0 Carolina Panthers
THE 49ERS GET THE STOP! Newton keeps the ball himself on fourth and goal but he is stopped inches short of the line as Brooks gets the tackle. A great hold by the 49ers defense.
Kaepernick is very lucky not to be intercepted on third down as his pass to Crabtree is telegraphed by Mikell but he can't come up with the play as it goes through his arms at the 10-yard line, after the 49ers were grateful just to get off their own goalline with a two-yard run from Kaepernick. Lee's punt is returned to the SF 32 by Ginn with a 24-yard runback.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS!
The Panthers take the lead as Newton throws a beauty for Smith down the left sideline on a go route and the 5ft 9in receiver comes up with the catch over Brown in the the endzone for the 32-yard score on the first play of the drive. What a throw and what a catch.
San Fran will start at the 20.
Kaepernick throws on first down and produces a good one as he hits Boldin on a back-shoulder fade route and the receiver makes the catch for 20 yards down to their own 40-yard line.
The 49ers can't extend their drive as Kaepernick throws three interceptions and is very lucky not to be picked off on the first of those as he overthrows Davis over the middle of the field and then Boldin drops a pass over the middle on second. On third the Panthers bring Mitchell on the blitz and forces the throwaway from Kaepernick. Ginn returns the ball to the 20 from Lee's punt.
The Panthers get moving as Newton is very lucky not to fumble the ball as he changes his mind at the last second on the read-option play to LaFell as he takes the ball out of the hands of Wiliams and tosses to the receiver who gets eight yards on the ground to move the chains, after a four-yard run from the quaterback on first.
Newton runs for the first down himself finding space over the middle of the field after evading the rush and he takes the ball all the way to his side's 47 for a gain of 11 yards after he found six on the ground himself on first.
After taking a two-yard loss on first down with a run of Williams, Newton goes deep down the seam for Olsen and he makes the grab at the 20-yard line of San Fran for a 35-yard gain before Brock brought him down.
The Panthers move the chains again as Newton finds Smith on an out route down the sideline on the left for a nine-yard gain and then he hands off to his big full back Tolbert to get the tough yard needed to get the first down, to move his side inside the 10-yard line.
The 49ers defense are keeping their team in the game as they make get another goalline stand as Newton is stacked up twice on first and second down, while on third Tolbert gets the handoff and he is brought down by Willis and Brooks as he tried to get over the goalline. That will leave a 24-yard field goal for Dawson.
FIELD GOAL GOOD! 49ers 6-10 Panthers
Gano fires his kick through the post and hands his side a four-point lead.
The 49ers will start at the 20 following Gano's kickoff going out of the endzone.
Kaepernick gets his side moving with a good throw to Boldin on a corner route and he makes the reception for a 14-yard gain to take his side to their 37-yard line after Gore found five yards through the middle of the line on first down.
Another Kaepernick to Boldin strike on a slant route over the middle of the field and he makes the grab for a 13-yard reception to take his side exactly to midfield.
Crabtree makes an excellent catch to move his side to the 29-yard line with a 21-reception over Melvin White, as he reaches up the make the grab at least a foot above his head.
Boldin makes the catch over the middle of the field for the 49ers this time, after a five-yard gain by Gore over the middle of the field that will take the 49ers inside the 10-yard line of the Panthers with a 14-yard reception. An excellent chance to take the lead before the half for the visitors.
The 49ers get another huge decision as the officials flag Florence for a pass interference penalty on third and goal down the right sideline, which moves the ball to the one-yard line and hands the visitors another three plays at least to get into the endzone.
TOUCHDOWN 49ERS!
On second and goal Kaepernick rolls to his right and throws on the run to Davis at the back of the endzone for the one-yard score, which is given after review, as the tight end managed to drag his left foot along the turf before going out of bounds. A huge moment in the game, and Harbaugh ran onto the field to make sure of the review and cost his side 15 yards on the kickoff.
Ginn can only return the ball to the 40 from the kickoff and that will end the half.
HALF TIME: San Francisco 49ers 13-10 Carolina Panthers
The 49ers hold the lead at the break as Kaepernick's first touchdown pass of the found Davis at the back of the endzone to give his side the three-point advantage at Bank of America Stadium.
This is an old-fashioned hard-hitting contest between two incredibly tough sides. Both teams have been jawing at each other from the start and there has been some big hits taken by players from both sides. The 49ers executed well at the end of the half to get the touchdown after initially struggling in the redzone, while the Panthers were repelled twice on the goalline by Brooks as he denied Newton and Tolbert with big hits. I have a feeling this one will go the wire.
The passing games from both teams has been good, as Newton has found regular success throwing the ball downfield while Kaepernick finally clicked on the last drive of the half. That is not what we were expecting from these teams, who are both predominantly running sides, but maybe we'll see a change of approach after the break.
The Panthers will start at the 20. News from a replay on the Davis touchdown before the half and the 49ers got away with a penalty for having 12-men on the field. That is a shocker from the officials.
The Panthers go three and out as Newton's pass to Smith hits off his hands and fortunately for the home side the ball fell incomplete, as on first and second they could only accumulate six yards via two three-yard runs from Williams up the middle of the line. Nortman just gets his punt away and it is fielded by James at the SF 23.
Kaepernick gets his side moving as he steps up in the pocket on second and five and drills the ball into the chest of Boldin, who sits down in the zone in the middle of the field for a 17-yard gain at the SF 44.
The 49ers keep moving courtesy of three runs as Kaepernick gets the tough final yard on third and one, after Gore and Dixon had churned out carries of five and four yards respectively on first and second down over the right and left side of the line respectively.
Big play as Kaepernick looks deep for Boldin down the right sidline and he hits him in stride as he gets behind Munnerlyn for a huge gain and he takes the ball all the way down the one-yard line before the cornerback brings him down for a reception of 45 yards.
TOUCHDOWN 49ERS!
Kaepernick fakes the handoff to Gore down the middle and runs over the left side of the line and beats the tackle of Kuechly to coast into the endzone for the four-yard score, after Gore had fumbled on the handoff on first down. The 49ers take a 10-point lead in the game.
Ginn runs the ball back 22 yards to the Carolina 24 where Newton will begin.
Newton gets a crucial conversion for his side as he takes the handoff himself on third and one and goes over the right side of the line to get the pickup, after Olsen had a five-yard reception on a crossing route on first and Tolbert had a carry of four yards up the gut on second.
The Panthers convert on third and one again as Tolbert hammers the ball up the middle of the line and gets three yards to move his side to their 47 after Smith made a nice grab on second for a nine-yard gain on a curl route as Newton hit him between the numbers.
The Panthers finally get a call as Brock is guilty of holding back Ginn downfield as Newton threw deep down the right sideline for him and that will give the home side a new set of downs and five yards at the SF 43.
Carolina get another first down despite taking a five-yard penalty on first, as Newton gets the yardage back immediately with a run on first and then hits Olsen for a nine-yard gain on second. On third, he fakes the handoff to Tolbert and hits LaFell over the top who takes the ball to the SF 29 for a five-yard reception.
SACKS! After a lot of hard work by the Panthers the 49ers kill the drive with back-to-back sacks as Newton is hauled down for losses of eight yards in succession as first Bowman and then McDonald bring him down in the pocket as he tried to look deep on second and 10, then third and 18. Nortman is forced to punt and James collects the ball at the SF 11.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: San Francisco 49ers 20-10 Carolina Panthers
The 49ers make a crucial third down pick up after Kaepernick ran for nine yards on second to leave a third and one, and the quarterback was able to find Boldin for a five-yard gain on a crossing route on a roll out to move the chains at the SF 25.
The 49ers get a huge pick up again on a third and one situation as Gore bursts through the line and finds all sorts of room to sprint downfield, as the back plows to the 30-yard line of the Panthers before he gets brought down for a gain of 39 yards.
The 49ers convert again on third down and one, this drive is a killer for the Panthers as Kaepernick keeps the ball and runs up the middle behind his line to take his side into the redzone. A touchdown here would more or less end the game.
Carolina finally get a stop as the force Kaepernick out of bounds as he kept the ball on a designed run to the left of their line on third and four and that will force a field goal from 34 yards from Dawson.
FIELD GOAL GOOD! 49ers 23-10 Panthers
Dawson fires the ball through the posts for the third time in the game from 34 yards out, to hand his side a 13-point lead with seven minutes to play.
Ginn returns the ball to the 23 where Newton will begin, needing a touchdown to keep the game alive.
The Panthers get moving as Newton fires the ball to LaFell down the right sideline for a 14-yard gain on a corner route to move to their 37-yard line.
Newton bounces back from taking a loss of six yards to get a first down for his side as he fires a 14-yard reception to Ginn on a curl route and on third and short he plows through the line himself to move the chains behind his offensive line to move over midfield.
The Panthers get a huge break as Skuta brings down for Newton for a loss of 10 but the linebacker is flagged for a hit to the head of the quarterback, which hands the Panthers 15 yards and a first down. A bad call by the officials there.
Newton throws over the middle and Ginn makes another reception over the middle of the field to take his side to the SF 28 with a reception worth 17 yards. Carolina are making this interesting.
INTERCEPTION 49ERS!
Newton throws an interception right down the throat of Whitner as he tried to find Olsen down the seam but the safety made the pick and may have killed this game dead with a return to his side's 20-yard line.
Thomas all but ends the game as he commits the worst penalty of the bunch today as he takes a swing at Patton after the Panthers had managed to hold the Panthers to a three and out, that is inexcusable and that is the final nail in the coffin of the home side here, as the visitors are gifted 15 yards and a first down.
Hunter sticks the dagger in the Panthers with a 17-yard run over the right side of the line and he gets the first down taking his side to the Carolina 40.
The 49ers can milk the clock out here as they can wind it all the way down to less than 40 seconds with their three plays after the two-minute warning.
San Fran can't kill the game off completely as Hunter tries to run out the clock but they get stuffed on third down and they take the clock all the way down to the 23 second mark, and Lee tries to end the game with a throw instead of the punt but his pass falls incomplete.
Ginn takes a screen pass all the way to the one-yard line with a 59-yard reception and there's time for one more Carolina score.
Newton's pass falls incomplete and the 49ers advance to the NFC Championship game for the third season in a row. That is remarkable and they will face their bitter rivals the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field for a place in the Super Bowl.
FULL TIME: San Francisco 49ers 23-10 Carolina Panthers
The San Francisco 49ers get to the NFC title game to take on the Seahawks after a commanding performance at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers were plucky but they just didn't have enough to compete with the 49ers in playoff football, as they played too emotionally and gave up too many penalties, which proved to be costly.
Jim Harbaugh's side executed well enough, they will know they can perform a lot better and they know they will need to if they are to reach their second Super Bowl in a row when they travel to Seattle for what will be a bruising affair next week.
Thanks for joining our commentary of the NFC clash this evening. If you want more NFL action switch over to our commentary of the AFC divisional clash between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. But from me, it's goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
