49ers report card: Mental miscues lead to another loss
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Here is how the 49ers (6-9) graded in Sunday’s 29-17 loss to the host Miami Dolphins (7-8):
PASS OFFENSE: B-
George Kittle (106 yards) and Deebo Samuel (96 yards, touchdown) flashed vintage form. Kittle is within 33 yards of a 1,000-yard season, and tight end screens should have been used more this year. Brock Purdy’s attempt to deliver in the clutch instead saw him throw an interception inside the final two minutes to seal Loss No. 9 for the 49ers, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention before kickoff. Purdy was 26-of-40 for 313 yards with touchdown throws to Samuel (great effort bullying through four defenders) and tight end Eric Saubert. Purdy has used his improved mobility in 2024 to avoid being sacked more than three times behind an offensive line that ended with a third-string left tackle (Spencer Burford) and a backup left guard (Nick Zakelj) following injuries to Jaylon Moore (quadriceps) and Aaron Banks (right knee).
RUN OFFENSE: D
Patrick Taylor Jr., their fourth starting running back this season, got stopped for no gain on third-and-1 on his first carry as a harbinger of this game’s doom. He gathered just 24 yards on eight carries, plus a 1-yard catch – far from the production the 49ers relied on last season from Christian McCaffrey and earlier this season from Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo. Samuel ran for a season-high 25 yards, and it took five carries.
PASS DEFENSE: D
The 49ers neither sacked nor intercepted Tua Tagovailoa, who Kyle Shanahan noted was the NFL’s leader in completion percentage (72.9%) who successfully targeted running back De’Von Achane (six catches, 70 yards). Charvarius Ward didn’t put up much of a fight allowing Tyreek Hill to catch Tagovailoa’s lone touchdown pass 3:20 before halftime that put Miami ahead to stay. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green exuberantly celebrated pass defenses against Hill, when interceptions would have been what the 49ers needed. Maliek Collins had the only hit on Tagovailoa (22-of-34, 215 yards), and that signaled just how anemic the 49ers’ pass rush is, even with Nick Bosa battling a “brutal” oblique injury for a second straight game.
RUN DEFENSE: F
Even though Bosa opened with a tackle for loss, he said “I’ve learned you never get too excited.” Sure enough, bad things were imminent, starting with Dre Greenlaw’s first-series exit to a right calf injury that sucked the energy from this unit. Achane ran for 120 yards, and while that included a 50-yard touchdown sprint at closing time, the 49ers’ defense simply was not stout enough, failing to force a fumble for the 10th game this season. Former 49ers Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. combined for 43 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D
Shanahan seems about done with Jake Moody, condemning his miss of a 41-yard field-goal attempt that could have pulled the 49ers within 16-13 in the third quarter. Moody went uncontested through his second training camp, but that likely won’t be the case next summer. The Dolphins, meanwhile, saw kicker Jason Sanders make all five of his field-goal attempts. Pat O’Donnell had only 1-of-4 punts pin the Dolphins inside their 20-yard line. Jacob Cowing’s lone punt return went for 8 yards.
COACHING: D
The season-high 11 penalties reflect poorly on the coaching staff. Repeated failures on offense, defense and special teams cost the reigning NFC champions a return trip to the playoffs. Make no mistake, Shanahan should return for Year 9, but he must upgrade his staff, and John Lynch must upgrade this roster through the draft. It was eerie returning to Hard Rock Stadium where the 2019 team lost the Super Bowl. As stunning as that defeat was, Sunday’s loss certainly was no shocker as it showcased all the staples of the 2024 team: injuries, penalties, turnover differential and overall lack of pizzazz.