Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
The 49ers overcame the shocking early loss of Jimmy Garoppolo for the season and bounced back from a game opening 75 yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the first ten seconds of the game to come back and dominate the Miami Dolphins 33-17 at Levi’s Stadium Sunday afternoon for their fifth straight win.
Christian McCaffrey stiff arms Miami’s Kader Kohou on the way to a 30 yard run late in the fourth quarter of the 49ers 33-17 win over the Dolphins Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.
Garoppolo, in his 10th start of the season after replacing the injured Trey Lance, broke his left foot after being sacked by the Dolphins Jerome Baker and Jaelan Phillips on the final play of the opening drive, leaving the Niners fate in the hands of the untested Brock Purdy, the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Purdy wasted little time showing he was up for the challenge, connecting with tight end Kyle Juszczyk for a three yard score on his first series for his first touchdown pass in the NFL to give San Francisco a 10–7 lead.
49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t mince words about the loss of his starting QB after the game; “Just hearing it is pretty crushing. We know what Jimmy’s been through, how hard he’s worked at this, I got that news in the second quarter, so it was a little different for me. Even with how happy we were with that game. That was such a special win, but definite mixed emotions hearing about Jimmy. I told the guys right after the game, but it was a hell of a job by Brock [Purdy] coming in, stepping it up. He did a real good job today and we’re going to be ready to do our best to overcome this.”
49ers backup quarterback Brock Purdy avoids the grasp of Miami’s Jaelan Phillips to get off a pass during San Francisco’s 33-17 win over the Dolphins Sunday.
Purdy also connected with Christian McCaffrey on another three yard touchdown pass to close out the first half and give the 49ers a 17-10 lead that they would never relinquish, finishing 25-37 for 210 yards with the two touchdowns and an interception on the day.
Asked about Purdy, McCaffrey was gushing with praise; “Man, he plays with a lot of confidence. Didn’t miss a beat. He came in and was great in the huddle. When something like that happens, it’s on us to step up. But he did a great job all the way until the end, staying poised. I was proud of him.” He added, “It’s brutal (about Garopollo). I haven’t been around here a long time, but I can’t say enough good things about him from a leadership standpoint.”
49ers linebacker Nick Bosa celebrates a third quarter sack of Tua Tagovailoa during San Francisco’s 33-17 win over the Dolphins Sunday. Bosa finished the game with three sacks to take over the NFL lead with 14.5 for the season.
The Niners defense was led by Nick Bosa who got to Tagovailia for three sacks to take over the NFL lead with 14.5 for the season. Jimmie Ward and Deommodore Lenoir also recorded interceptions off the Dolphins starter before Fred Warner sealed the win with an interception off of back-up Skylar Thompson with just under two minutes remaining in the game as the Niners (8-4) maintained their cushion atop the NFC West.
San Francisco recorded their final score after Bosa’s third sack of the day led to Dre Greenlaw scooping up a Tagovailoa fumble and returning it 23 yards for a touchdown to give the Niners the 33–17 advantage. McCaffrey had 17 carries for a team-high 66 yards on the ground and eight receptions for a team-high 80 yards through the air. Robbie Gould added four field goals.
San Francisco’s Fred Warner catches the Dolphins Tyreek Hill following a 17 yard reception in the second quarter of the 49ers 33-17 win Sunday afternoon.
Miami (8-4) was also dominated in time of possession as San Francisco held the ball for over 40 minutes of the game. Tyreek Hill was the one bright spot for the Dolphins, catching nine passes for 146 yards including a 45 yard touchdown reception down the middle of the field on the second play of the fourth quarter, ending the second half shut out streak of the 49ers defense at nine quarters.
Next up for the 49ers is a game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 11th at Levi’s. It’ll be just the second game in the Bay Area against the Niners in the 23 year career of the future Hall of Famer from San Mateo.
GAME NOTES:
San Francisco has now held their opponent to 17 or less points in five consecutive games, the longest streak by the team in the same season since the team’s final six games in 1992.
The 49ers have won five consecutive games for the first time since 2019.
Lenoir’s interception was the first of his career.
