49ers 23, Panthers 10: Colin Kaepernick threw for one touchdown and ran for another as visiting San Francisco advanced to its third consecutive NFC Championship Game.

Anquan Boldin had eight catches for 136 yards and Phil Dawson kicked three field goals as the 49ers (14-4) avenged a 10-9 home loss to Carolina in November to earn a third matchup with top-seeded Seattle next Sunday (the teams split the previous two this season). Kaepernick finished 15-of-28 for 196 yards and the 49ers tied Pittsburgh by reaching their 15th conference title game - the most in league history.

San Francisco's defense dominated after making a big goal-line stand late in the first half, scoring 17 unanswered points and blanking the Panthers (12-5) in the second half en route to handing Carolina only its second loss in 13 games. The 49ers registered five sacks and received interceptions from linebacker Patrick Willis and safety Donte Whitner.

Cam Newton threw for 267 yards with one touchdown and rushed for 54 yards for the Panthers, who were seeking their first postseason victory since January 2006. Steve Smith had four catches for 74 yards and a TD, but San Francisco recorded four of its five sacks after intermission to seize control.

The momentum turned when the 49ers denied Carolina twice at the goal line and made the Panthers settle for Graham Gano's 24-yard field goal for a 10-6 lead with 3:41 left in the first half. Kaepernick followed by leading an 80-yard drive and capping it with a 1-yard scoring pass to tight end Vernon Davis with 5 seconds left - a play initially ruled as incomplete but overturned on replay - to give the 49ers a 13-10 halftime edge.

After San Francisco's forced a three-and-out to start the second half, Kaepernick found Boldin for 45 yards before calling his own number on the read option and rushing in from 4 yards out for a 20-10 lead with 8:53 lead in the third. Back-to-back sacks of Newton pushed the Panthers out of field-goal position on the next possession and Whitner's interception with just under 4 1/2 minutes to play sealed the outcome.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Davis scored his seventh touchdown in seven postseason games, tying Dave Casper for the most by a tight end in the playoffs. ... San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh became the first coach in NFL history to guide a team into a conference title game in his first three seasons. ... Smith became the 16th player to register 10 postseason touchdowns, coming on eight scoring passes, one rushing TD and one punt return. ... RB Frank Gore rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries for the Niners, who lost at Seattle 29-3 on Sept. 15 and won the rematch at home 19-17 on Dec. 8.