The San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 35-13 at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, breaking open a one-score halftime game with three straight touchdowns in the third quarter.
San Francisco was the more efficient offense all afternoon. The 49ers gained nearly 8 yards per play to Miami's 5 and scored touchdowns on all 5 of their red-zone trips. Miami went 0-for-2 in the red zone.
Neither team turned the ball over, and Miami actually held the ball slightly longer. The 49ers simply did more with their snaps.
How It Happened
Christian McCaffrey opened the scoring with a 1-yard run at 4:17 of the first quarter. Eddy Pineiro's kick made it 7-0.
Riley Patterson answered with a 28-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. Brock Purdy then pushed the lead to 14-3 with a 2-yard touchdown run at 5:24. Patterson hit a 24-yard field goal as the half expired, sending Miami to the locker room down 14-6.
The third quarter ended it. Purdy found George Kittle for a 12-yard touchdown early in the period, then hit Kyle Juszczyk from 6 yards out at 5:46. McCaffrey added his second 1-yard score at 3:10, and San Francisco led 35-6 after 3 touchdowns in one quarter.
Miami's only touchdown came late. Malik Willis connected with Ryan Miller on a 77-yard pass with 2:30 left, and Patterson's kick set the final at 35-13.
Key Performers
Brock Purdy: 2 TD passes (Kittle 12 YDS, Juszczyk 6 YDS), 1 rushing TD (2 YDS)
Christian McCaffrey: 2 rushing TD (1 YDS each)
Ryan Miller: 77-yard TD reception from Malik Willis
Riley Patterson: 2 field goals (28, 24 YDS), 1 extra point
49ers passing: 20-22, 287 YDS net, 13.0 yards per pass, 0 sacks allowed
Dolphins passing: 14-23, 182 YDS net, 6.7 yards per pass, 4 sacks for 15 YDS lost
San Francisco's passing game was close to flawless. The 49ers completed 20 of 22 throws, averaged 13 yards per pass and were never sacked.
The ground game was a wash on efficiency. Both teams averaged 3.5 yards per carry, with Miami finishing slightly ahead in total rushing yards. Where San Francisco's runs mattered was at the goal line, where it scored 3 rushing touchdowns from 2 yards or closer.
Third down tilted toward the 49ers as well. San Francisco converted 5 of 7, while Miami moved the chains on 7 of 15. The Dolphins ran more plays but needed more of them to do less.
What It Means
San Francisco moves to 2-0 with a win at home and a win on the road. An offense that finishes every red-zone trip and doesn't give up a sack, as San Francisco did Sunday, is hard to beat.
Miami falls to 0-2, with both losses away from home. The Dolphins didn't turn the ball over, but they reached the red zone only twice and didn't score a touchdown on either trip. Against an offense finishing drives the way San Francisco did, that left Miami unable to keep pace once the third quarter started.