CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, Emmanuel Moseley returned an interception 41 yards for a score and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Carolina Panthers 37-15 on Sunday for their first road victory of the season.
Jeff Wilson ran for 120 yards and a touchdown and Tevin Coleman scored twice for the 49ers (3-2) after being elevated to the active roster this week.
Christian McCaffrey had 104 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown for the Panthers, who fell to 1-4 on the season and 11-27 under embattled coach Matt Rhule.
San Francisco’s defense came in having allowed an NFL-best 37 points through four games, and has now held all five opponents to fewer than 20.
The 49ers flustered Baker Mayfield all day despite losing top pass rusher Nick Bosa to a groin injury. Mayfield finished 20 of 36 passes for 215 yards and has as many interceptions (four) as touchdown passes since his arrival in Carolina.
Tevin Coleman, who had four touchdowns for the 49ers in a 51-13 win over Carolina in 2019, was a big factor early. He scored on a 9-yard screen play before outjumping a Carolina defender to haul in 30-yard reception, leading to a Robbie Gould's 49-yard field goal.
The Panthers trailed 10-3 late in the the second quarter and appeared to gain some some life after Yetur Gross-Matos blocked Gould's field goal try.
But the game turned on the ensuing possession when Mayfield badly overthrew McCaffrey and Moseley went to his knees to make the interception, got up and raced to the end zone to give the 49ers a 17-3 lead with 55 seconds left in the first half.
Carolina got within 17-9 on a 19-yard TD run by McCaffrey on a pitchout, but the 49ers answered with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo to Deebo Samuel and a 1-yard TD run by Wilson to put the game away.
INJURIES
49ers: Along with Bosa, K Robbie Gould (knee), DB Jimmie Ward (injured) and Moseley (knee) left the game early with injuries. ... Played without OT Trent Williams (ankle), DL Arik Armstead (foot, ankle), DT Javon Kinlaw (knee), RB Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle), TE Tyler Kroft (knee), and S Tarvarius Moore (hamstring).
Panthers: CB Jaycee Horn left the game in the second half with a hip injury. ... Played without LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) and FS Jeremy Chinn (IR/hamstring) and SS Xavier Woods (hamstring).
UP NEXT
49ers: Visit Atlanta next Sunday.
Panthers: Visit the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
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