Panthers (4-2) at 49ers (6-0)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 6 ⁄2
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Panthers’ keys to victory: Carolina has been unbeatable since Kyle Allen took over the starting quarterback job for injured Cam Newton. San Francisco has the league’s best pass defense, so Allen probably won’t put up big numbers, but limiting turnovers is going to be key. Carolina also will need to rely heavily on MVP candidate RB Christian McCaffrey as a versatile piece who can confuse San Francisco’s fast, aggressive defensive front. DE Gerald McCoy, DT Dontari Poe and DE Vernon Butler can wreak havoc on the 49ers’ offense by clogging up the running lanes inside.
49ers’ keys to victory: The formula for the 49ers has been to rush the passer and run the football. Those aspects will be vital again against Carolina. DEs Nick Bosa and Dee Ford are going to need to pressure QB Kyle Allen into mistakes. Generating a couple of turnovers might be enough to end the Panthers’ four-game winning streak. The onus will be on QB Jimmy Garoppolo to continue converting third-down throws.
Matchup to watch: Panthers LT Daryl Williams vs. 49ers DE Nick Bosa. Williams can play a huge role for Carolina by slowing down Bosa. He doesn’t have to stop the rookie defensive end; he just has to keep him from hanging out in the backfield the entire game.
Who wins? The unstoppable force meets the immovable object with the undefeated Allen facing the 49ers’ top-ranked pass defense. It’s difficult to imagine Carolina scoring enough to win against a 49ers defense that’s allowing just 12.8 points per game.
49ers, 23-20 49ers
Panthers schedule
L ......... L.A. Rams ......... 30-27 L ........ Tampa Bay ........ 20-14 W ....... atArizona ....... 38-20 W ...... at Houston ...... 16-10 W ...... Jacksonville ...... 34-27
BYE
Oct. 27 .. at San Fran. .. 4:05 Nov. 3 ....... Tennessee ....... 1 Nov. 10 .... at Green Bay .... 1 Nov. 17 ......... Atlanta ......... 1 Nov. 24.. at New Orleans.. 1 Dec. 1 ...... Washington ...... 1 Dec. 8 ........ at Atlanta ........ 1 Dec. 15 ......... Seattle ......... 1 Dec. 22 .. at Indianapolis ..1 Dec. 29 .... New Orleans .... 1
49ers schedule
W ... at Tampa Bay ... 31-17 W .... at Cincinnati .... 41-17 W ...... Pittsburgh ...... 24-20
BYE
W ........ Cleveland ........ 31-3 W ...... at L.A. Rams ...... 20-7 W .... atWashington .... 9-0 Oct. 27 ...... Carolina ...... 4:05 Oct. 31 ... at Arizona ... 8:20 Nov. 11 ...... Seattle ...... 8:15 Nov.17 ..... Arizona ..... 4:05 Nov. 24 ... Green Bay... 4:25 Dec. 1 ..... at Baltimore ..... 1 Dec. 8 .. at New Orleans .. 1 Dec. 15 ...... Atlanta ...... 4:25 Dec. 21 or 22 L.A. Rams TBD Dec. 29 ... at Seattle ... 4:25