Bryant Young Could Feel 49ers’ Pain

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —  The San Francisco 49ers showed signs of missing defensive star Bryant Young on Sunday, as they blew a 21-point lead in the final 16 minutes of regulation before defeating Carolina, 31-28, in overtime.

Carolina, the NFL’s worst rushing team, ran for 203 yards against San Francisco--131 more than the Panthers’ average and 66 more than their previous best this season.

“No question, we missed B.Y.,” said Gabe Wilkins, who started at left tackle in place of Young. “But he’s still with us. He’s in our spirit, he’s in our minds, he’s in our hearts. He’s everywhere.”

And Bryant, who suffered a compound leg fracture six days earlier in front of “Monday Night Football” cameras, was feeling more pain Sunday.

After the game, 49er Coach Steve Mariucci phoned him. “He told us we gave him a lot of pain today, squirming around in his bed,” Mariucci said.

The 49ers appeared to be in danger of losing until Carolina quarterback Steve Beuerlein fumbled the exchange from center Frank Garcia on the Panthers’ third play of the overtime. Garcia inadvertently kicked the ball backward and the 49ers’ Chris Doleman made an easy recovery at the Carolina 30.

Soon after that Wade Richey kicked the winning 23-yard field.

The victory assures the 49ers (10-3) of at least a wild-card berth in the playoffs.

“We’re excited about it,” quarterback Steve Young said. “We’re going to get the best of everybody, so we should be proud of being 10-3. Now it’s time to get that much more gritty about our performances and about toughness.”

The 49ers finished with 236 yards rushing, the most ever allowed by Carolina.

Young threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns and Garrison Hearst rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers extended their NFL record of consecutive 10-victory seasons to 16. The 49ers’ Terry Kirby added 68 yards rushing and a halfback option pass for another score.

While the 49ers are headed to the postseason for the seventh consecutive year, Carolina (2-11) has already locked up the worst record in its four-year history.

The Panthers have been plagued all year with injuries and poor execution, and Sunday’s loss featured more of the same.

“We gave up big plays for touchdowns. We turned the ball over in critical situations,” Coach Dom Capers said. “You can’t have that kind of execution and beat a team like San Francisco.”