49ers Display No Resistance
The Carolina Panthers didn’t intend to run up the score against San Francisco. The 49ers let them.
“They really didn’t do anything to stop us,” quarterback Steve Beuerlein said. “They’re a better team than that.”
Beuerlein threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers beat the 49ers, 38-22, Sunday. All of the 49ers’ points came in the second half.
Former 49er running back William Floyd opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run and Tshimanga Biakabutuka ran for another as the Panthers’ offense rebounded from a sloppy season-opening loss to Washington.
A halftime celebration honored former San Francisco greats Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott and Dave Wilcox, but the 49ers on the field bore no resemblance to their storied predecessors.
“Momentum was on their side until the second half,” San Francisco Coach Steve Mariucci said. “Penalties, blown assignments, you name it, everything seemed to go their way.”
On the opening series, Beuerlein completed his first three passes--including a 21-yard play to a wide-open Wesley Walls--to take the Panthers down to the one, from where Floyd ran over safety Pierson Prioleau for the touchdown.
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