HERO
What a difference Anquan Boldin makes for the 49ers offense. Time and again he came up with receptions to keep drives alive, finishing with eight catches for 136 yards, both game highs. He got behind Panthers CB Captain Munnerlyn to inhale a 45-yarder to the Carolina 2-yard line, setting up a key TD just before halftime.
UNSUNG HERO
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks … leaping up and clear over the line of scrimmage like a hurdler on an encroachment penalty that really didn’t cost his team anything and was sure an athletically impressive move. Brooks was all over the field with six tackles and 2 ¹/â‚‚ sacks to wreak havoc on the Panthers.
ZERO
The Panthers came into the game with an NFL-high 60 sacks and defensive end Greg Hardy was among the league leaders with 15. He got a few hits on Colin Kaepernick, but no sacks and the entire Carolina defense was unable to apply much heat, as the only sack came on a delayed blitz by linebacker Luke Kuechly.
KEY STAT: 33
The number of yards gained by the Panthers’ running backs, who knew they needed to run the ball to keep the 49ers defense honest and they could not do it. The running backs ran the ball only 13 times and even Cam Newton (10 carries, 54 yards) didn’t do much damage with his legs.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“You’re very proud of your team when you go out on the road and in a playoff game and beat another team that’s a very good football team in their stadium, yes, it does make you feel like a strong, mighty man.’’
– 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh