San Francisco 49ers 2010 Season in Review: Week 7, AT Carolina Panthers

After the 49ers got their 1^st victory of the season against their cross-bay rival, Oakland Raiders, it was time for them to get on a roll. Despite being 1-5, the 49ers were within a couple games of the division lead in a weak NFC West.

What better way to start a winning streak, right? Carolina was winless on the season, and had looked real bad up to that point in the 2010 season. How would the 49ers respond following their 1st win? Could they get that much elusive road victory? Or would they revert back to old form?

Carolina won the toss and would start their initial drive at their own 35 yard line. DeAngelo Williams took the first carry off of the right side for one yard, a nice play by Justin Smith kept Williams from breaking it. On the very next play Williams would run to the opposite side and pick up ten yards and a first. After two minimum gains, Carolina would be attempting their first 3rd down of the game, however, it was not to be, as Matt Moore would miss short right to Steve Smith.

Following an Alex Smith incomplete pass deep to Vernon Davis, Frank Gore would take the ball directly behind Mike Iupati and plow for 20 yards to Carolina's 46. On the very next play Smith would roll right and hit Vernon Davis for a long 53 yard gain, Charles Godfrey would tackle Davis from behind at the 1. Smith to Davis would be the connection for the 1 yard TD on the next play giving the 49ers the lead. (7-0 San Francisco)

The 49ers would let Carolina convert on two consecutive third down on their next possession. The ladder coming on a short pass to David Gettis, who broke two tackles to get the 1^st. Carolina's drive would ultimately stall after a great play by Justin Smith, who stopped DeAngelo Williams for negative yards on third down. John Casey would connect on a 47 yard FG to put Carolina on the board (7-3 San Francisco)

San Francisco began their next drive at their own 20 when Frank Gore would carry the ball four consecutive times, the first three resulting in a total of 11 yards and a 1^st down. A couple plays later and 3^rd-and 2 from their own 39, Alex Smith would hit Michael Crabtree on a short 3 yard slant for a 1^st down; the 49ers drive continued.  Another 3^rd and short came up a couple plays later, however, Charles Johnson would break up a short pass to Ted Ginn forcing a 49er punt.

The 1^st quarter would come to an end with an 8 yard run by DeAngelo Williams (7-3 San Francisco, End of 1^st Quarter)

Carolina would be forced to 3-and-out, as Dashon Goldson made a great play on Williams. San Francisco would begin their next drive just inside their 40, but quickly lose possession on another 3-and-out.

An Andy Lee punt was then returned 32 yards by Steve Smith near mid-field, and after a Matt Moore completion to David Gettis Carolina was in business at the 49ers 32. However, Nate Clements would force a DeAngelo Williams fumble that was recovered by Parys Haralson at the 44. What a great play by Clements.

Alex Smith would begin the next drive with three consecutive completions. The first to Frank Gore for 22 yards and the other two going Crabtree's way for 7 and 3 yards respectively. The 49ers appeared destined for a TD as Frank Gore ran up the middle for 12 yards to the Panther 12. The 49ers drive, however, would falter and Joe Nedney connected on a 24 yard FG  (10-3 San Francisco)

Carolina would get it going on their next possession. Matt Moore would hit Steve Smith 21 yards. There was a missed coverage somewhere as Patrick Willis had to drag Smith down. A couple plays later on 3^rd down Taylor Mays would be called for a pass interference penalty , and a couple plays later Will James would also be called for the same. Side note: Doesn't the defense have as much of a right to the ball as the offense? Anyway, Carolina would have the ball at the 49ers 34. Eventually, Matt Moore would hit David Gettis for 18 yards and a TD (10-10 Tie)

Both team would mount much of a rally on their final drives of the half and the 49ers would go into the locker room tied

The 3^rd quarter could not have started out any worse for the 49ers. Vernon Davis would be called for a holding penalty on the 2^nd play of the drive setting the 49ers back inside their own 10. Then on the very next play Charles Johnson would sack Alex Smith for a loss of two. Absolutely horrible blocking by Anthony Dixon enabled the sack, and Smith was injured. Little did we know that he wouldn't be back for a couple weeks. On 3^rd and 28, David Carr would come in and throw a wobbling duck incomplete to Vernon Davis.

Andy Lee would boom a 53 yard punt from his own end zone, giving the 49ers defense some breathing room. After an initial 1^st down, the 49ers defense would clamp down and force a long John Kasey FG attempt. Casey promptly hit it from 55 yards to give Carolina their first lead of the game (13-10 Carolina)

Do we really need to get into the rest of the game? Well, I guess so. But, suffice to say David Carr was now leading the 49ers offense. After Frank Gore ran for three yards on 1^st down, Carr connect with Gore on a screen. On 3^rd down and 6 Carr would miss on a deep right pass to Ted Ginn. Ginn had a step, but Carr missed him. The 49ers were forced to punt.

Neither team was doing much on offense now. On 3^rd down Matt Moore would connect with Brandon LaFell for 13 and a first down. But, a real dumb play by Steve Smith would set Carolina back to mid-field and bring up a 3^rd-and- 23. Moore would hit Smith for a 1^st down, but Shawntae Spencer would force and recover a fumble Smith, stalling the drive.

With David Carr in the game Frank Gore knew that he had to step up big time, and that he did. On the first play of the drive Gore would run on a sweep left for 19 yards to Carolina's 40. The 49ers would gain another first down on a Gore run and Morgan reverse, thus giving SF the ball inside Carolina's 30. On 1^st down Gore would run the ball up the middle for 11 yards; more great blocking by Mike Iupati. The 49ers would get negative yards on two consecutive rushes, one by Brian Westbrook and the other Gore. On 3^rd down a David Carr pass was tipped and the 49ers were forced into a FG situation (13-10 Carolina, End of 3^rd Quarter)

Joe Nedney would hit a 38 yard FG to tie the game up (13-13 Tie)

Carolina would start at their own 14 after  great punt return coverage by Taylor Mays. A couple of players later, on 3^rd down, Matt Moore would connect with Brandon LaFell for 15 yards and a 1^st down. However, what came next was absolutely amazing. Matt Moore being pressured by Travis LaBoy would throw the ball right into the hands of Ray McDonald, who stomped 31 yards into Carolina's end zone for a TD. Great blocking by Takeo Spikes also helped McDonald get into the end zone. (20-13 San Francisco)

Carolina would net only 17 yards on their next drive, setting the 49ers up with an opportunity to put the game away. But, San Francisco could not get out of their own way. Frank Gore would lose four yards on two consecutive plays, and Josh Morgan was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty, forcing the 49ers to a 4^th down and close to 30. Bad blocking on the two Gore runs, and a bone-headed Josh Morgan play led to that situation.

On Carolina's second play of the next drive David Gettis would burn Nate Clements on the outside for 39 yards, but the Panthers would fail on 4^th down as Moore would fail to hit David Gettis in the end-zone. Turnover on Downs!

Derek Landri sacked David Carr on 1^st down, and Frank Gore would gain 8 yards to bring up a 3^rd down. But, instead of trying to pick up 7 and move the chains, David Carr went deep for Ted Ginn; the ball fell incomplete and the 49ers were forced to punt without taking much time off the clock.

Mike Singletary and Co. decided that it would be best to play soft zone coverage against Carolina with just over 4:00 left in the game, and it came back to burn the 49ers. Moore would connect on three consecutive passes, all underneath the zone coverage; but good enough for a Panthers 1^st down. After an incomplete pass to James Stewart, Moore would hit Dante Rosario for 10 yards and a 1^st down. NaVarro Bowman on coverage, again playing weak zone. On the next play Bowman would be called for illegal contact, setting Carolina up at the 49ers 30. After two consecutive short passes to Williams, Matt Moore would bait the 49ers into a short read, and then go up top to David Gettis  for 23 yards and a TD; Shawntae Spencer was burned bad on the play.      (20-20 Tie)

Who here had an idea what would happen next with Carr in the game? After two completed passes, David Carr would hit Richard Marshall in stride. The problem is that Marshall plays CB for the Carolina Panthers, not WR for the 49ers. Carolina would drive down the field, and hit a 37 yard GW FG with :29 remaining in the game.    (23-20 Carolina, End of Regulation)

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