SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers faced a disappointing conclusion to their season as they were eliminated from playoff consideration. On the day of their official elimination, they suffered a 29-17 defeat against the Miami Dolphins, which highlighted the struggles that have defined their year. The offense struggled once again, unable to score more than 20 points for the seventh time this season, compounded by a missed field goal that thwarted their comeback efforts. Additionally, the defense showed vulnerability against Miami’s rushing attack, further cementing the team’s woes.
Quarterback Brock Purdy expressed frustration after the game, remarking, “It’s just been not clean football across the board.” He emphasized the need for the team to capitalize on opportunities created by the defense, contrasting this season’s performance with their collaborative efforts in previous years, where they showcased dominance over four quarters. Unfortunately, the 49ers (6-9) have mostly faced setbacks this season due to contract disputes during training camp, injuries to key players, and inconsistent gameplay.
A crucial late-game interception by Purdy, following a hard press from Miami’s defense, ended any hopes of a comeback and assured San Francisco of a losing record. Earlier in the day, the team was officially ruled out of postseason play after having entered the season with hopes of making a Super Bowl return. The 49ers fell short in their prior Super Bowl appearance against Kansas City last February and have faced difficulty since then, especially with injuries sidelining star players like Christian McCaffrey and Nick Bosa for significant stretches.
Despite returning to health, the performance of the available players has primarily faltered, placing the team among the lowest in scoring throughout the last seven weeks and contributing to a historically poor season. For the first time since 2020, the 49ers find themselves without a chance to compete in meaningful games following a disappointing 6-10 season the year after losing the Super Bowl.
“We’ve been the highest of highs for a long time,” said defensive star Nick Bosa. “Sometimes things don’t go your way, and a lot of it is due to our own actions.”
Looking at certain aspects, the 49ers showcased some resilience in red zone defense, limiting Miami to just one touchdown on three attempts within that critical area. This come after a troubling stretch where they allowed 13 consecutive red zone touchdowns over a four-week period, indicating a potentially positive shift.
However, penalties remained a significant issue, as San Francisco recorded a season-high 11 penalties totaling 90 yards, many of which proved detrimental. Notably, rookie WR Ricky Pearsall had two illegal alignments on a single drive, while defensive backs Talanoa Hufanga and Deommodore Lenoir incurred unnecessary roughness penalties that extended scoring opportunities for their opponents. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made clear that such performance does not warrant victories.
Among the players showing signs of improvement, WR Deebo Samuel had a standout game, recovering from a stretch of five games with only 116 yards from scrimmage. He recorded seven catches for 96 yards, scored his first touchdown since Week 6, and added 25 rushing yards, totaling a season-high of 121 yards from scrimmage.
On the contrary, kicker Jake Moody’s struggles continued as he missed a 41-yard attempt, marking his seventh missed field goal this season, resulting in a conversion rate of just 76.7%, ranking him 26th in the league.
In terms of injuries, offensive linemen Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore are set to miss the remaining two games due to respective injuries. Shanahan noted that linebacker Dre Greenlaw might face shutdown due to calf soreness after returning from an Achilles tendon injury. Additionally, left tackle Trent Williams is confirmed not to return for the remainder of the season. Running back Isaac Guerendo may be practicing again soon, while MRI results are pending for OL Spencer Burford. Defenders Ji’Ayir Brown and Dee Winters are listed as day-to-day.
A notable stat for the 49ers is their ongoing struggle when trailing by eight or more points in the fourth quarter, remaining winless in that scenario under Shanahan since he took over in 2017.
Next up, the 49ers will host the Detroit Lions on Monday night, looking to finish the season on a positive note amidst the challenges they’ve faced this year.
