MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are determined to keep their playoff aspirations alive despite experiencing a frustrating defeat in Houston the previous week. After that challenging game, cornerback Kader Kohou expressed his optimism, stating, “The whole year, even when things weren’t going our way, I always knew we had a playoff team. So there’s not any thoughts in our mind about going to Cancun or anything like that. We’re still thinking playoffs, and we’re just trying to win every game.”
Kohou played a pivotal role in their continued fight for a playoff spot by intercepting 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in the closing minutes of Miami’s 29-17 victory over San Francisco on Sunday. Tua Tagovailoa had a productive day, passing for 215 yards and a touchdown, while Jason Sanders contributed significantly with five field goals. The Dolphins, now at 7-8, must secure wins in their final two games and rely on losses from the Broncos and Chargers to have any chance of reaching the postseason.
In a frustrating turn of events, the 49ers (6-9) were officially eliminated from playoff contention prior to the game, thanks to earlier victories by the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders. This defeat marks the first losing season for last year’s NFC champions since 2020. Coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned that although it wasn’t made official until after the game, the team had felt the reality settling in the week before. “I know it wasn’t official, but we understand numbers, so we kind of knew that last week,” he said.
As the game progressed, the 49ers found themselves down by nine points early in the fourth quarter. Purdy managed to connect with tight end Eric Saubert for a short touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 19-17. However, San Francisco’s efforts were thwarted by a series of self-inflicted mistakes. After a crucial punt return to Miami, consecutive penalties for illegal substitution, unnecessary roughness, and offsides enabled the Dolphins to gain 25 yards. This set up a 48-yard field goal from Sanders, pushing Miami’s lead to five points. The 49ers ended up committing a total of 11 penalties for 90 yards during the game, which proved to be costly.
Kohou then intercepted Purdy shortly after, further diminishing San Francisco’s hopes as Dolphins running back De’Von Achane cemented the win with a decisive 50-yard touchdown run. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell emphasized the team’s resilience, saying, “There’s a lot of fight left in us. If we have a chance, we’re going to fight for it.” Campbell expressed pride in his teammates for maintaining belief and effort, affirming that they would continue to play hard for as long as they had the opportunity.
Tagovailoa concluded the game successfully, finishing 22 of 34 in passing, while Purdy recorded 313 yards and two touchdowns, completing 26 of 40 attempts. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill maintained his inconsistent season, catching 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown, but he dropped several crucial passes, including potential touchdowns.
Post-game, Hill acknowledged his shortcomings, stating, “I completely blame myself for not getting my head around (on the first drop) and not seeing the ball, because if I see the ball, we’re talking cross-court, 70-yard touchdown.” Meanwhile, tight end Jonnu Smith set a franchise record for the Dolphins by breaking the single-season records for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end, finishing with six catches for 62 yards.
Sanders was flawless on the day, converting all five of his field goal attempts, including a long of 54 yards. This performance brought his total to 11 successful field goals out of 13 attempts from 50 yards or more this season. On the side of the 49ers, wide receiver Deebo Samuel marked his return to the end zone for the first time since Week 6 with a determined 16-yard touchdown reception.
In a first half characterized by missed opportunities, the Dolphins had multiple chances in 49ers territory but opted for field goals until Hill caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa, giving Miami the lead just before the halftime break. The 49ers managed to respond, driving 67 yards down the field, culminating in a 21-yard field goal from Jake Moody, reducing Miami’s lead to 13-10 at halftime.
After the game, Tagovailoa reflected, “That was something that we needed to see as a team together. You could see in all three phases that we were able to play the complementary football that we said we wanted to play.”
Injuries played a role in the game, with the 49ers losing linebacker Dre Greenlaw (right calf), guard Aaron Banks (knee), and tackle Jaylon Moore (quad) during the match. Defensive end Leonard Floyd continued to play despite suffering a shoulder injury in the first quarter. On the Dolphins’ side, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle did not participate due to a knee injury incurred in the prior game, while cornerback Kendall Fuller (knee) and linebacker Jordyn Brookes (quad/knee) exited in the second half.
Looking ahead, the 49ers will face the Detroit Lions at home, while the Dolphins are set to travel to Cleveland next Sunday.