Christian McCaffrey's big night
leads 49ers to 20-9 victory over Panthers
[November 25, 2025]
By JOSH DUBOW
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey maintained that
playing Carolina for the first time since the Panthers traded him to
San Francisco three years ago wouldn't raise his level of urgency
one bit.
McCaffrey responded to the reunion game like he does almost every
week, with a productive performance that led the 49ers to another
win.
McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown,
and San Francisco overcame a rough performance by quarterback Brock
Purdy to beat the Panthers 20-9 on Monday night.
“Obviously when you see familiar faces, it’s always good to see them
before the game and after the game,” McCaffrey said. “But that’s a
completely new team than when I was there. So it’s really just
business once the ball was snapped.”
McCaffrey's big night helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three
interceptions in the first half by Purdy to remain in playoff
position heading into the stretch run of the season.
Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to take advantage of
their opportunities a week after he threw for a franchise-record 448
yards in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for 169 yards with one
touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to move
into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
Purdy wasn't much better in his second start back from a toe injury
as he became the first player this season to throw three
interceptions in the first half of a game. Purdy said neither the
toe nor rust was an issue.
“Honestly, the decisions of going to those spots, I was fine with,”
he said. “It’s just the execution of throwing a better ball. I feel
like on really all of them, I needed to just drive the ball a little
bit more. I kept it up in the air too long on multiple of them.”
The 49ers went conservative in the second half after Purdy's rough
start to the game, relying mostly on McCaffrey and short passes. The
strategy worked with McCaffrey scoring on a 12-yard run to make it
17-3 and the Niners adding a field goal by Matt Gay.
Young did connect on one big play, a 29-yard TD pass to Tetairoa
McMillan, but Carolina couldn't convert on 2-point try after a
penalty moved the ball to the 1.
Young then threw his second interception of the game to Ji'Ayir
Brown with Carolina in scoring position with a 20-9 deficit.
“Just lack of execution,” Young said. “Couple of plays I’d like to
have back, some stuff we could do better. Not what we wanted. We
didn’t do good enough and I take ownership of that.”
[to top of second column] |
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings pushes off Carolina
Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson during the second half an NFL
football game, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP
Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The frustration from the loss contributed to a
spat, with Carolina safety Tre'Von Moehrig hitting San Francisco
receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin after a run play late in the
game and Jennings responding with a punch to the helmet after the
game.
“I was just responding to some childish behavior,” Jennings said.
McCaffrey, who has transformed the 49ers' offense since being
acquired in October 2022, finished with 89 yards rushing and 53
receiving for his 10th 100-yard game of the season — two shy of the
franchise record he set in 2023.
The 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on the first five plays,
leading to the first opening-drive TD of the season against
Carolina. Purdy connected on a 12-yard pass to Jennings for the
score.
The two offenses did nothing after that. Jaycee Horn had two of
Carolina's three picks of Purdy, but the Panthers turned those
takeaways into only three points. Young ruined one drive when he was
intercepted by Brown on a first-down play from the 1.
“I like the call,” coach Dave Canales said. “It was an aggressive
call, a play action that we had opportunities on. Unfortunately came
out with an interception.”
The teams traded field goals and the Niners led 10-3 at the half.
Injuries
Panthers: Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus left the game in the first
half with concussions and didn't return. ... G Chandler Zavala
(calf) and CB Corey Thornton (ankle) both left in the second half
and didn't return.
49ers: DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) left in the second half and didn't
return.
Up next
Panthers: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
49ers: Visit Cleveland on Sunday.
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