Dolphins’ Brutal Second Half Dooms Them vs. 49ers

Dolphins’ Brutal Second Half Dooms Them vs. 49ers

At least in the first half, the Miami Dolphins kept the game close against a much better San Francisco 49ers team. They never trailed by more than 11 at any point across the opening two quarters, and they were down just eight at halftime.

Running back De’Von Achane was much more involved in the offense than last week, too, with 62 rushing yards through the first two quarters. Overall, fans had reasons to be optimistic at the break.

But unfortunately for the Dolphins, the wheels fell off as soon as the second half began. The third quarter brought a scoring avalanche for the 49ers, while Miami didn’t score a single point.

Brock Purdy had a nearly perfect game — completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns — and much of his best work came in that third frame, as he racked up both of his passing touchdowns in that quarter and carved up a young, inexperienced, and sub-par Dolphins secondary. The 49ers scored three touchdowns in just 10 minutes of the third quarter, which firmly put the game out of reach.

While the 49ers scored touchdowns left and right in the third, the Dolphins’ offense moved away from the run game that worked well in the first half and couldn’t get anything going. Achane ran for just 12 more yards on six extra carries in the second half, and in the final two frames, the Dolphins’ offensive attack mustered just 18 plays for a total of five yards.

For the second game in a row, a particularly terrible quarter has really killed the Dolphins. In Week 1, they laid an egg in the first quarter of their Raiders game and dug themselves an early hole that they ultimately never got out of.