San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers: 2013 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2013 NFL season on 2014-01-12, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 23–10 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with +1.81 total EPA, and +3.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.67 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (6:27) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right intended for 11-B.LaFell INTERCEPTED by 52-P.Willis [99-A.Smith] at CAR 45. 52-P.Willis to CAR 46 for -1 yards.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 C. Kaepernick · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +14.67 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Boldin · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +11.54 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.63 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
4. 4 Q. Patton · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.88 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.88 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Ginn · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.73 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +1.81 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Kaepernick · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +1.54 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
8. 8 F. Gore · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.19 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Carolina Panthers — S. Smith (C. Newton pass) (Q2 43:47)
• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (C. Kaepernick pass) (Q2 30:14)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. Kaepernick (Q3 23:59)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — P. Dawson (Q1 54:18)
• San Francisco 49ers — P. Dawson (Q1 49:38)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q2 34:47)
• San Francisco 49ers — P. Dawson (Q4 7:46)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 6–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CAR 31 (Q1 54:18) — (9:18) 9-P.Dawson 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CAR 15 (Q1 49:38) — (4:38) 9-P.Dawson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the SF 31 (Q2 43:47) — (13:47) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 89-S.Smith for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 43:40) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the SF 7 (Q2 34:47) — (4:47) 9-G.Gano 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q2 30:14); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the CAR 1 (Q2 30:05) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CAR 4 (Q3 23:59) — (8:59) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 23:53) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CAR 15 (Q4 7:46) — (7:46) 9-P.Dawson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 51:27) — (6:27) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right intended for 11-B.LaFell INTERCEPTED by 52-P.Willis [99-A.Smith] at CAR 45. 52-P.Willis to CAR 46 for -1 yards. [WPA -15.8% · EPA -4.65]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 31:51) — (1:51) 7-C.Kaepernick pass deep left to 15-M.Crabtree to CAR 29 for 20 yards (23-M.White) [76-G.Hardy]. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +1.59]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 1-C.Newton up the middle to SF 1 for no gain (55-A.Brooks). Geoff Hangartner reports as eligible [WPA -10.1% · EPA -3.01]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 43:47) — (13:47) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 89-S.Smith for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.3% · EPA +3.17]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 30:42) — (:42) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass incomplete short right to 81-A.Boldin. PENALTY on CAR-29-D.Florence, Defensive Pass Interference, 8 yards, enforced at CAR 9 - No Play. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +2.61]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 51:27) — (6:27) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right intended for 11-B.LaFell INTERCEPTED by 52-P.Willis [99-A.Smith] at CAR 45. 52-P.Willis to CAR 46 for -1 yards. [WPA -15.8% · EPA -4.65]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 4:34) — (4:34) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep right intended for 88-G.Olsen INTERCEPTED by 31-D.Whitner at SF 9. 31-D.Whitner ran ob at SF 27 for 18 yards (70-T.Wharton). [WPA -6.1% · EPA -4.52]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass deep right to 81-A.Boldin to CAR 2 for 45 yards (41-C.Munnerlyn). [WPA +8.2% · EPA +3.65]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 43:47) — (13:47) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 89-S.Smith for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.3% · EPA +3.17]

Quarterback report card

C.Newton led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 34 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · +3.9% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.81 total EPA
• C.Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) · 32 dropbacks · 46.9% completion · -2.4% CPOE · +0.46 EPA/play · +14.67 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, San Francisco 49ers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.19 vs -0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Carolina Panthers: 9 drives, -0.90 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 8 drives, +15.49 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• C. Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (CAR) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 54:18 · CAR 31 · Score 3-0
   (9:18) 9-P.Dawson 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
2. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 49:38 · CAR 15 · Score 6-0
   (4:38) 9-P.Dawson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 43:47 · SF 31 · Score 6-6
   (13:47) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 89-S.Smith for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 43:40 · SF 2 · Score 6-7
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
5. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 34:47 · SF 7 · Score 6-10
   (4:47) 9-G.Gano 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 30:14 · CAR 1 · Score 12-10
   (:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass incomplete short right to 85-V.Davis. PENALTY on SF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at CAR 1. The Re
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 30:05 · CAR 1 · Score 13-10
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
8. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 23:59 · CAR 4 · Score 19-10
   (8:59) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 23:53 · CAR 2 · Score 20-10
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
10. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 7:46 · CAR 15 · Score 23-10
    (7:46) 9-P.Dawson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.