Maiocco’s 49ers report card: Team grades in sloppy loss to Dolphins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The 49ers’ NFL playoff hopes officially came to an end on a day that unofficially encompassed their entire season.
“It’s happened way too many times this year,” 49ers defensive back Nick Bosa said. “When it rains, it pours.”
The 49ers repeatedly made crucial mistakes in every facet of the game during their 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
The blunders included 11 penalties, including three flags for unnecessary roughness.
“When you get that many penalties, it’s a harbinger of losing,” Bosa said.
Here’s the report from the 49ers’ Week 16 game against the Dolphins:
Rushing foul
Running back Patrick Taylor got the start after injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo. Taylor didn’t get much of an advantage on the opening drive of the game.
Taylor was held without a gain on a third-and-1 play before a three-and-out on the game’s opening drive. He finished the game with just 24 yards on eight rushing attempts.
Brock Purdy was the team’s leading rusher with 26 yards on four scrambles. Deebo Samuel added 25 yards on five rushing attempts.
Grade: D
Offence
Purdy was having a solid day until he was hit while throwing, contributing to a critical interception in the fourth quarter.
Nick Zakelj failed to pick off Calais Campbell after a stunt, leading to the game-clinching interception.
Purdy finished with 26 completions on 40 attempts for 313 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
George Kittle had eight catches for 106 yards, while Samuel had seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Ricky Pearsall had four catches for 37 yards but was called to line up in an illegal formation to wipe out a first-and-goal situation in the third quarter.
Grade: C-plus
Hasty defense
The yards came on the ground too easily for the Dolphins as they controlled the scrimmage in the second half.
De’Von Achane had a big day with 120 yards on 17 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown run that clinched the win late in the fourth quarter.
As a team, the Dolphins gained 166 yards on 30 carries, for a 5.5-yard average.
Grade: D-minus
Pass defense
Tua Tagovailoa picked the 49ers apart with short timing passes. The 49ers couldn’t muster much of a pass rush, with Maliek Collins getting the only quarterback hit of the game.
The 49ers did well against Tyreek Hill, one of the best receivers in the game. He caught just three passes for 29 yards.
Rookie cornerback Renardo Green prevented a touchdown with a pass breakup against Hill in the end zone.
But the 49ers struggled against Achane and Jonnu Smith. Achane had seven catches for 70 yards, while Smith had six receptions for 62 yards.
Grade: C-min
Special teams
Special teams have been an issue all season, and Sunday was no different.
There was only one glaring error, but it kept the points off the board.
Kicker Jake Moody missed a 41-yard field goal outside the left upright in the third quarter.
He is now 23 of 30 in field goal attempts this season. He made a 21-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Grade: D
Coaching
Kittle made a point of absolving the 49ers coaching staff of blame for the boatload of penalties. He said it’s all on the players not doing their job.
But of course there are plenty of accusations. And that also includes the coaches.
Once again the right moves were not made at the right times to take victory in a very winnable match.
Grade: D
General
This game was the story of the 49ers’ season. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw left early with a right calf injury. The 49ers lost two offensive linemen, and that also proved costly.
The 49ers were plagued by sloppiness in all areas. Six of their penalties came on fouls. Some of those punishments came at the most inopportune times.
And again, the 49ers couldn’t generate any takeaways by turning it over once.
Grade: D-minus
