Does today’s Panthers’ playoff game feel a bit like last year’s Divisional Round loss to the 49ers? Through 30 minutes the Panthers have dominated the action, but committed two turnovers, missed a field goal and settled for three points twice when reaching the red zone.While the Panthers should probably have a lead, and perhaps a sizable one, they trail 14-13. That said, the outcome is in doubt as the second half approaches. What can we learn about last year’s game that might indicate what to expect in the second half tonight?At halftime of last year’s 23-10 loss to San Francisco, the Panthers trailed 13-10. Carolina fans were reasonably encouraged seeing as how their team would receive the second half kickoff, and had outgained San Francisco 195-139. In a lot of ways, Carolina was the better team throughout the opening 30 minutes.The final 30 minutes were all San Francisco. The Niners rushed for 101 yards in the last two quarters, while the Panthers gained 34 yards on the ground. After going two-of-seven on third down in the first half, San Francisco went four-for-seven in the second half. Carolina was four-for-five on third down in the first 30 minutes and two-for-five during the third and fourth quarters. Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick was shaky in the first half, going 11 of 21 for 121 yards and rushing twice for six yards. During the second half, Kaepernick hit on all four of his passes for 75 yards and ran for a touchdown.The Panthers had their chances in the third quarter last January. Starting at their own 20 yard line to begin the second half, DeAngelo Williams carried twice for six yards and Newton missed Steve Smith on third down forcing a punt. After the Niners scored a touchdown to go up 20-10, Carolina faced arguably their most important possession of the season.Taking over down 10 with 8:53 left in the third quarter, the Panthers marched down the field. Not one play on the drive went for more than nine yards, but a nice combination of runs and passes, plus a defensive holding penalty helped the Panthers earn a first and 10 on the Niner 29-yard line. After a Newton incompletion, he was sacked on back-to-back plays, forcing a punt, and the Niners went the other way for a field goal that effectively ended the game. Four of San Francisco’s five sacks came during the second half.In the first half today, the Cardinals pressured Newton only once, Carolina has moved the ball on the ground, and Arizona quarterback Ryan Lindley has been suspect. The Panthers have an excellent chance to win if they repeat the opening 30 minutes minus a couple of major mistakes.Did the Panthers learn from the adjustments San Francisco made that helped them seize control last year? How will Bruce Arians and the Cardinals change things up today, and what will Carolina’s reaction be? Perhaps the pain of last year will be a benefit today.[vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html]