13 observations from the 49ers win in Charlotte

Stop me if you've heard this before. A west coast team travels east for the first of two eastern time zone games. While playing in the first game, in a stadium with artificial turf, the team wins big but loses multiple players to injury, and now heads to West Virginia to nurse their wounds, as they prepare to play the next game.

The San Francisco 49ers declawed the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, in a win that may prove costly. Just as in 2020 (the 49ers destroyed the New York Jets, but lost Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas for the season) and 2021 (they dominated the Detroit Lions, but lost Raheem Mostert and Jason Verrett for the season), the 49ers continue to lose key players. This time, it was Bosa, the player they can least stand to lose, along with Jimmie Ward (broken hand), Emmanuel Moseley (possible season-ending knee injury) and Robbie Gould (left knee contusion). The 49ers should boycott stadiums with turf.

The win puts the 49ers, 3-2, in sole position of first place in the NFC West.

Here's what stood out to me:

• Tevin Coleman may have lost a step, but he has not lost his hands. He had a great catch in the first quarter. Coleman also added two touchdowns in his first game back with San Francisco.
• Coleman looked pretty spry. He was able to get to the outside on a couple of runs. We haven't seen that as much in previous weeks.
• Jeff Wilson, Jr. looks quick. When he has room to run, he does damage. He had a great day, rushing for 120 yards.
• George Kittle has lost only two career fumbles. His second one came on Sunday.
• But it looks as though Kittle, the pass-catcher, is back. He had five receptions for 47 yards on Sunday.
• The big gain that Charvarius Ward gave up should have been offensive pass interference. The receiver pushed off with his left arm. That was a missed call.
• The 49ers continue to rotate Daniel Brunskill and Spencer Burford. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's to keep Brunskill sharp, in case he needs to fill in somewhere on the offensive line.
• The 49ers' defense continues to show why it is perhaps the NFL's best. The big test comes in two weeks.
• Jimmy Garoppolo was solid against the Panthers. He wasn't great, but he was good. When he has a run game and gets the ball out quickly, he plays well and the team wins.
• The 49ers are the only team in the NFL whose defense can score as often as its offense. For the second week in a row, the 49ers' defense scores on a pick-6.
• Good news: Gould had two tackles on Sunday. Bad news: It was because the 49ers' kickoff coverage gave up two big returns.
• The San Francisco offense did a great job coming back and scoring three touchdowns in the second half to answer Carolina's touchdown to open the third quarter. Carolina may be a bad team, but they have a really good defense. For the 49ers to get the ball in the endzone three times in the second half is very encouraging.
• The 49ers fans were really loud in Charlotte. Well done, Faithful.

Up next, the 49ers will show up in downtown Atlanta to play the surprisingly decent Falcons. Kyle Shanahan will need to keep his team focused so they don't look ahead to Kansas City the following week.

More San Francisco 49ers News

• Anthony "Spice" Adams to announce 49ers' draft picks in 2nd and 3rd rounds
• George Kittle's message to Brandon Aiyuk amid contract talks with 49ers: "Be patient"
• Report: Several teams inquiring about 49ers' Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk
• Rapoport: Brandon Aiyuk's status 'firmly up in the air' as 49ers near draft