Fourth quarter mistakes and a missed field goal cost the Niners
There were three punts to begin the game. The San Francisco 49ers, after finding out they were eliminated from playoff contention, punted the ball on 4th & 1. Miami gained 12 yards on the next drive, and the Niners could only muster four yards on the ensuing drive.
Dre Greenlaw didn’t make it to the second defensive series. According to the broadcast, Greenlaw was questionable to return with a calf injury. He was seen on the sideline trying to get loose and return but didn’t have his helmet. The good news is that this was not the same leg Greenlaw suffered an Achilles injury on in last year’s Super Bowl.
The Dolphins took an early 3-0 lead after Deoomodore Lenoir got a fingertip on a pass in the end zone intended for Tyreek Hill. The defense was playing with plenty of energy despite their playoff dreams being no longer realistic.
Defensive end Leonard Floyd was also questionable to return with a shoulder injury.
After finding Ricky Pearsall for a gain of 21 yards, the offense was in Dolphins territory for the first time. Purdy’s pass one-hopped Jauan Jennings for another first-down attempt. After finding Pearsall for five yards on 3rd & 6, Patrick Taylor picked up a first down to keep the offense on the field.
Unfortunately, a pass to Taylor that was on the money was dropped and intercepted by a Dolphins defensive lineman. But the review confirmed the ball hit the ground, giving the 49ers new life.
Taylor slipped on his next but picked up a blitzing linebacker, allowing Purdy to find Deebo Samuel. Deebo made a defender miss and picked up the first down. The offense would have its first red-zone opportunity of the day.
Deebo Samuel trampled over multiple Dolphins defenders en route to his third touchdown of the season. It’s a play that looked like the Deebo of a few years ago and one the 49ers could have used multiple times this season. That play gave the 49ers a 7-3 lead.
Floyd returned for a play to begin the next drive but only lasted one play. Yetur Gross-Matos replaced Floyd.
The Dolphins needed six plays to make it inside the 49ers red zone. Hill’s 24-yard scamper started the drive off. A holding call on Miami put them behind the sticks, and the Niners’ defense held the Dolphins to a field goal. On third down, Floyd was back in the game.
Jason Sanders’s field goal made the score 7-6.
The 49ers lost nine yards on their next drive. “Everyone but the center” jumped on 3rd & 9, one play after Purdy was running for his life. Until this point, Purdy had been pressured on five of his ten dropbacks.
After being stingy for the last six quarters — the 49ers defense hadn’t allowed a touchdown — they were on the brink of giving up six points on the ensuing drive. Old friend Raheem Mostert caught a pass for 14 yards, then ripped off a 20-yard run. Tua Tagovailoa found Malik Washington for 19 yards, and the Dolphins were inside San Francisco’s 10-yard line.
Tyreek Hill got a step on Charvarius Ward on 3rd & goal, and Tua’s timing was perfect to give Miami a 13-7 lead.
San Francisco would have over three minutes to score, but they wouldn’t need the entire clock. George Kittle picked up 25 yards on a screen to start the drive. Despite everything they’ve been through this season, that was the 45th play of at least 25 yards this season for the offense, which was good for the second most in the NFL.
Kittle caught another pass for 13 yards. The way he squares up and accelerates past defenders will never get old. Kittle’s a special talent that will always feel like the 49ers don’t use enough.
Pearsall would have a career-high in receptions on this drive, as he had his fourth catch. He beat Jalen Ramsey on a slant to pick up a first down on third down. If only there were a way to get Pearsall involved before this week.
Kittle was wide open in the end zone on 3rd & goal, but Purdy’s pass was tipped. Chop Robinson pushed Colton McKivitz into Purdy’s throwing window. Taylor was also open, but it didn’t matter. Tipped passes had been an issue all season for Brock. He had the fourth-most in the league entering Week 16.
Jake Moody’s chip shot field goal was good to bring the 49ers within three, 13-10. Miami still had 47 seconds remaining in the second quarter but did not score.
Dre Greenlaw was officially ruled out to begin the third quarter.
Talanoa Hufanga was flagged for unnecessary roughness after hitting somebody when they weren’t looking. That helped keep the Dolphins drive alive. Sam Okuayinonu got tackled on a third down, which momentarily took Miami out of field goal range. But they gained enough for Sanders to attempt a 54-yarder. Sanders’s kick was true to give Miami a 16-10 lead.
The 49ers lost Jaylon Moore on the next drive. Moore pulled up lame mid-play during a Kittle reception. He went down on the play, and the camera panned to Kyle Shanahan, who was shaking his head in disgust. That meant the 49ers would be down to their third-string left tackle, Spencer Burford.
No left tackle, no worries. Purdy found Kittle down the seam for a gain of 28 yards. But the 49ers had two pre-snap penalties, including two from Pearsall, and that’s why the 49ers had to settle for a field goal. Moody’s 41-yard field goal was no good.
On the drive, Deebo left, grabbing his wrist. He had caught a pass to give the 49ers a 1st & goal from the three-yard line, but penalties wiped it out. That sequence is how you’d describe this season for the Niners.
Miami had a 9-play, 53-yard drive that took just under five minutes off the clock. The chunk play on this drive came when Tua found Jonnu Smith for 22 yards. Renardo Green was in coverage on 3rd & 2. That incomplete pass led to Miami’s field goal.
Samuel returned on the ensuing drive and caught a pass for nine yards before rushing for a 13-yard gain. Within two plays, the 49ers were in Miami territory. After another 11-yarder from Deebo, the 49ers faced 3rd & 1 from Miami’s 14. But they’d need to convert without another offensive lineman. Aaron Banks went down on the play. Nick Zakelji came in for him.
Purdy used his legs once again to extend the play. This time, he found Kittle for a first down. He then found Eric Saubert for a score to bring the 49ers within two to make it 19-17.
The defense got a stop, and that gave the offense a chance to win the game. But the offense went three-and-out after a Juzczyk screen for 20 yards. Miami would take over with six minutes to play.
The Dolphins picked up a trio of first downs, but Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Fred Warner made a stop, and Miami settled for another field goal to make it 22-17. But after a 17-yarder to Jennings, Purdy got hit as he threw and was intercepted. De’Von Achane raced for a 50-yard run to ice the game and make it 29-17.
It was another negative for the fourth quarter in a season plagued by fourth-quarter mistakes. The 49ers -53-point differential in the final quarter was the worst in the league.