SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Panthers were able to stay competitive, even on a night when their offense lacked last week's firepower.

But without enough pop, they couldn't keep pace with the 49ers despite a depleted defense doing its job.

The Panthers fell 20-9 to the 49ers on Monday Night Football, dropping to 6-6 on the season. They still trail Tampa Bay by just a half-game heading into Week 13.

The Panthers were held to 230 yards of total offense, and Bryce Young was picked off twice, a week after posting a franchise-record 448 yards in a comeback win against the Falcons.

Young finished the game 18-of-29 for 169 yards, with a touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan and the two picks. But without a run game for support (just 13 rush attempts), there was no balance.

They didn't find the end zone until the final minute of the third quarter, and were still competitive thanks to a defense that created three turnovers in the first half for the first time since 2019.

For the 49ers, Christian McCaffrey got the call early and often, finishing with 142 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

Three picks in the first half keep it close

The Panthers went into the half trailing 10-3, despite a defensive performance that was creditable.

The Panthers picked 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy off three times in the first half, with Jaycee Horn getting two and Mike Jackson one. Horn's were open-field jobs, while Jackson leaped high in the air to steal a touchdown from Ricky Pearsall in the middle of the end zone.

That enabled the Panthers to stay close after a half when the offense couldn't get in gear.

Three of their five offensive possessions ended in three-and-outs, and they managed just 19 plays and 72 yards in the first half (to San Francisco's 39 for 180). In fact, McCaffrey had 17 touches in the first half for 83 yards himself.

When Horn's first interception gave them the gift of field position, they weren't able to do anything with it.

After Young scrambled to the 1, he was picked off in the end zone by safety Ji'Ayir Brown.

Horn's second pick of the half set up a 25-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, getting the Panthers on the board.

Injury problems grow throughout the game

Injuries started stacking up during the week and continued through the game.

They started Claudin Cherelus and Krys Barnes at linebacker because of injuries to Christian Rozeboom and Trevin Wallace, and then Cherelus left with a concussion.

That put undrafted rookie Bam Martin-Scott on the field with the first defense alongside Barnes.

Horn didn't play in the second half and was diagnosed with a concussion, putting rookie Corey Thornton out there with the base defense.

At one point in the second half, there were five rookie defenders on the field, along with Nic Scourton, Lathan Ransom, and Princely Umanmielen.

Also, right guard Chandler Zavala left in the third quarter with a calf injury and was replaced by Jake Curhan.

Thornton also left the game in the third quarter with a ankle injury and didn't return. That left them with Chau Smith-Wade on the perimeter opposite Jackson.