Anticipation was higher than it's been in years as the Carolina Panthers took the field for a prime-time clash with the San Francisco 49ers. And with a significant opportunity to take the NFC South lead, head coach Dave Canales' squad fluffed their lines.
This had a similar feel to the Panthers' division decider versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. They weren't ready for a game of that magnitude then, and they weren't prepared this time around, either. Missed opportunities galore in the first half provided the springboard behind their demise. The sloppy offensive display gave them almost no chance of turning the tide.