Fins fail to show up in second half in 35-13 loss to 49ers + more takeaways

Miami Dolphins admin September 20, 2026 0 Comments

Fins fail to show up in second half in 35-13 loss to 49ers + more takeaways

It was a tale of two halves.

In the first, the Miami Dolphins were able to move the ball effectively despite failing to limit San Francisco 49ers’ offense.

Everything changed after halftime, leading to the Dolphins’ 35-13 loss to the 49ers.

The one constant: the 49ers offense, led by quarterback Brock Purdy, couldn’t be stopped. Purdy completed 91% of his passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Miami’s three stops of the 49ers offense came in the 4th quarter, two of which had backup quarterback Mac Jones at the helm. The previous five drives all ended in touchdowns.

Unfortunately, the Dolphins’ offense could not reciprocate due to some offensive line issues and poor execution. In the second half, Miami ran 18 plays for a total of five yards.

Willis finished with 197 yards passing and a touchdown on 61% completion. He added another six yards on the ground.

Overall, it wasn’t the best showing for the Dolphins, who, for the second straight week, failed to play a full 60 minutes of football.

RB De’Von Achane finally gets his touches

After just 15 touches in the season opener, Achane was finally featured heavily.

By halftime, the star running back had racked up 14 rushes for 62 yards and a trio of catches for another 19. Even better: he led all pass-catchers with five targets.

The high usage of Achane, who rushed for 74 yards on 20 attempts as well as caught three balls for another 19, doesn’t a guarantee a win. It does, however, give the Dolphins a fighting chance when their best offensive player gets to touch the ball.

Thank you, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Now if Slowik can find a way to also get wide receiver Caleb Douglas invovled—two catches for 19 yards—as well then the Dolphins might have some offensive success.

Red zone woes

Penalties can be drive killers.

That, after all, is how the Dolphins find themselves down 14-6 at halftime despite out gaining (165 to 125) and dominating time of possession (19:17 to 10:43).

The Dolphins would drive down the field to the Niners’ red zone before committing a penalty—or face the wrath of San Francisco’s vaunted front seven.

It was the most egregious on Miami’s final drive of the half when rookie offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor committed holding on the Niners’ 3-yard line. The Dolphins ultimately had to settle for a field goal.

On the previous drive, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis took a pair of sacks on second and third down that pushed them so far back that they again had to take the field goal.

Dolphins pass rush doesn’t get pressure

It was a huge issue vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.

Unfortunately, it was the very same against the Niners: Miami can’t affect the passer.

For the second straight week, the Dolphins allowed a quarterback to sit back there all day and ball out.

Purdy only threw two incompletions and was able to spread the ball around to his elite crop of pass-catchers with ease. Tight end George Kittle snagged four balls for 80 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Mike Evans made three catches for 54 yards. Wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. added another three catches for 31 yards.

Of course, the absence of Chop Robinson, who missed Sunday’s game with a concussion, played a role.

Austin Jackson struggles again

It’s difficult to watch the Dolphins offense and not focus on Jackson.

Unfortunately, his ineffectiveness has begun to drastically affect Miami’s passing attack.

For starters, he can no longer contend with high-end pass rushers. The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby exposed this in Week 1 and the Niners’ Nick Bosa showcased more of the same.

If Jackson keeps this up, the veteran right tackle could be unplayable. That is, if the Dolphins had a viable replacement.

Spoiler alert: they don’t, which means there will be a lot more of Jackson for the foreseeable future.