It’s a bit of a surprise for both teams for different reasons, but Monday’s Week 12 finale features an unexpectedly important matchup between the playoff hopefuls.
San Francisco has had to endure a never-ending onslaught of injuries just to get to 7-4. The inability to put together a healthy roster on both sides of the ball has limited the 49ers to third place in the NFC West, meaning it’s imperative they win games like this one in a loaded wild-card race.
Unlike the Niners, who have so long been a stunner when working with an intact roster, the Panthers are better than expected after years of disappointment.
Carolina last reached the postseason in the 2017 campaign, and in the seven-year span has only twice gone five wins. The rebuilding Panthers already have six wins with six games remaining and are well within striking distance of the NFC South-leading Buccaneers (6-4) with two games remaining against each other.
For these dates with Tampa Bay to matter, the Panthers must continue to produce positive results during a brutal stretch that includes just one more opponent with a losing record. That bottom line starts with a prime-time outing against the 49ers.