The Carolina Panthers stayed competitive on Monday Night Football but couldn’t overcome an unbalanced offense and missed opportunities in a 20–9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The defeat drops Carolina to 6–6, still only a half-game behind Tampa Bay entering Week 13.

A week after Bryce Young threw a franchise-record 448 yards, the Panthers managed just 230 total yards. Young went 18-of-29 for 169 yards, tossing a touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan but also two interceptions.

Carolina ran the ball only nine times, never finding the balance needed to challenge San Francisco’s injury-depleted but sharp defense.

San Francisco controlled the tempo with long, grinding drives and heavy reliance on Christian McCaffrey, who topped 125 scrimmage yards and became just the third running back in NFL h

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