WATCH: Highlights from the 49ers 29-17 loss to Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

After official playoff elimination, the 49ers continued losing.

The San Francisco 49ers responded to playoff elimination by looking exactly like they had when they were still technically alive. They made several mental mistakes, executed inconsistently, and lost. The Miami Dolphins defeated the Niners 29-17 improving to 7-8 on the season. San Francisco fell to 6-9.

Here are some highlights from the contest:

The Niners were unable to score any points in the first quarter. However, before the quarter change, Deebo Samuel broke a tackle after hauling in a pass from Brock Purdy for a huge third and 10 conversion. On the other end of the quarter break, Purdy found Samuel on another third down and he fought through a trio of would-be tacklers to find his way to the end zone and give San Francisco an early 7-3 lead.

After back-to-back field goal drives, the Dolphins retook the lead when Tagovailoa found Tyreek Hill to cap off an eight-play 68-yard drive.

Each team had two field goal attempts in the third quarter, the Dolphins converted both while Niners kicker Jake Moody missed his second. With Miami ahead 19-10 at the start of the fourth quarter, the 49ers were hit even harder by the injury bug. Jaylon Moore and Aaron Banks were both forced to leave the game with injuries, forcing Purdy to play behind his third-string left tackle and fourth-string left guard. Still, the offense was able to build a nine-play 60-yard drive to get back within a score on a short completion from Purdy to tight end Eric Saubert.

The 49ers defense held Miami to a field goal on the subsequent drive, leaving Purdy and the offense two-minutes to mount a go-ahead touchdown drive. However, on the second play, Calais Campbell got pressure up the middle in Purdy’s face. Purdy forced a pass down the middle of the field that fell short and was intercepted by Kader Kodou.

With Miami running out the clock, Dolphins running back busted a 50-yard rush for the lone rushing touchdown of the game. The 49ers may not have officially given up, but a defense that had done a commendable job of bending but not breaking throughout the day, finally broke.