CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It seemed someone had something to say after every play, after every hit, every tackle, every yard. The Panthers were at home, in front of their towel-waving fans, the higher seed and yet an underdog and they wanted to show early and often they were going to take the fight to the 49ers.
The problem was, the 49ers have played in rougher, tougher places against rougher, tougher opponents. Even their quarterback was unafraid to give as much as he took, and more.
“I’m not just going to let you say anything you want to me,’’ Colin Kaepernick said. “If you say something to me, I’m going to respond.’’
Nearby, running back Frank Gore nodded and said: “That’s why we love him.’’
There is plenty to love about the 49ers, who take “battle-tested’’ to new limits. Although they were playing on the road Sunday and the Panthers were rested, ready and coming off a 12-4 regular season, the 49ers (14-4) were favored to get out of the divisional round and they did, silencing the crowd at Bank of America Stadium by keeping their poise in a tense first half and then dominating after halftime. It turned into a display of the Niners’ might in a 23-10 victory that perfectly sets up what comes next.
The 49ers are headed to Seattle for their third straight NFC Championship Game. This is the supreme test, facing the ultra-confident Seahawks, who are seemingly invulnerable at CenturyLink Field, where the noise is deafening and the home team thrives on punishing opponents.
“Sure, why not?’’ 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh responded when asked if this clash seemed inevitable. “Our team is excited to have this chance for the ultimate chance.’’
The Seahawks in Week 2 spanked the Niners 29-3 in Seattle and the 49ers beat the Seahawks 19-17 on Dec. 8 at Candlestick Park.
“Long story short, man, they know us and we know them,’’ 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman said. “We have to go there. We all know the history. But this is [for] the Super Bowl, man. Everything is on the line. We’re ready, that’s all it comes down to.’’
Harbaugh becomes the first head coach since the 1970 merger to lead his team to a conference championship game in each of his first three seasons.
It was a one-and-done postseason for the Panthers, who shook off a 0-2 start to win 11 of their next 12 games to capture the NFC South title. The Panthers took a 10-6 lead in the second quarter but could not hang in or hang on, as the 49ers scored the next and last 17 points. The Panthers were too hyped up, too frisky and their lack of playoff experience showed.
“It has nothing to do with inexperience,’’ countered Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. “It has to do with being careless.’’
It also had to do with being something else.
“You saw those guys out there taking swings at guys, just stupid,’’ said Niners receiver Anquan Boldin, who had eight catches for 136 yards.
Panthers safety Mike Mitchell was called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty in the first quarter for nailing tight end Vernon Davis. Not much later, Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn was called for a 15-yard penalty for head-butting receiver Michael Crabtree. Late in the game, Panthers cornerback Josh Thomas was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking a swing receiver Quinton Patton.
“You wish we would have kept our composure out there a little bit better,’’ Panthers coach Ron Rivera said.
Twice in the first half the Panthers marched to the Niners 1-yard line and were stopped short of the goal line, coming away with only three points. They took a 7-6 lead on Newton’s 31-yard touchdown strike to Steve Smith and led 10-6 before the 49ers — who lost 10-9 to the Panthers in November — finally broke through with their first touchdown against the Panthers in nearly six quarters. The 80-yard drive was capped when Kaepernick hit tight end Vernon Davis for a 1-yard touchdown with five seconds left in the first half — a play that was initially ruled incomplete and overturned after a booth review. Harbaugh was so incensed the clock kept running on the play he raced on the field, right at referee Carl Cheffers, who looked back at him and dropped a yellow penalty flag for a 15-yard penalty.
“I had to grab him and tell him ‘Don’t cost us,’ ’’ Boldin said, smiling. “He understood.’’
Kaepernick’s 4-yard touchdown run off an option capped a 77-yard third-quarter drive to put the Niners ahead 20-10. Kaepernick added insult to injury by then mimicking Newton’s Superman touchdown celebration.
“Just a little shout-out,’’ Kaepernick said.