The San Francisco 49ers took care of business, and that’s all you need to know about their home opener on Sunday.
The 49ers demolished the Miami Dolphins 35-13 in a game the Dolphins never had a chance in. Miami opened the game with a field goal, but the 49ers went on to outscore them 35-10 over the remaining 55 minutes.
San Francisco avoided a letdown spot after an impressive Week 1 win over the Rams and now carry the momentum of a 2-0 record into Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals.
These are the
three players most responsible for the 49ers’ second win of the season:
3rd Star: TE George Kittle
Allow me to be the first to mention that George Kittle tore his Achilles just nine months ago. He emphatically announced he’s healthy against Miami.
Kittle led all pass-catchers with his 80 yards on four receptions, scoring one of two passing touchdowns for the 49ers on Sunday. But it was one drive in specific that helped Kittle en route to his monster day.
With the 49ers up eight to start the second half, San Francisco was looking to extend that lead early in the second half. That’s when Kyle Shanahan smashed the George Kittle button. The offense opened the third quarter with a quick strike to a wide-open Kittle for 40 yards, teleporting the 49ers into plus territory. Three plays later, Kittle scored his touchdown on a 12-yard pass to put the 49ers up 15 yards.
Kittle’s quick turnaround from such a devastating injury will continue to become more impressive with each week. If Week 1 was the first test of how Kittle could handle a real-speed game again, Sunday showed he can return to the level we’ve grown to expect from the tight end.
2nd Star: DE Nick Bosa
He didn’t collect a sack on Sunday, but Bosa wreaked havoc in the Miami backfield, forcing others to get to Malik Willis.
Osa Odighizuwa matched Bosa with four pressures against the Dolphins’ offensive line, but Bosa’s pressure caused issues for Willis. His first pressure of the game forced Willis to pass earlier than he wanted, resulting in an Upton Stout pass breakup. Later on the drive, Miami faced a third-and-goal, but when Bosa quickly got after Willis, the play quickly fell apart, and Bosa’s pressure led to Romello Height’s first-career sack.
His next pressure would result in Marques Sigle’s first career sack. With the 49ers up 21-6, the defense looked to put Miami away. Bosa beat Miami right tackle Austin Jackson off the snap and wrapped around the tackle, getting behind Willis. Willis stepped up in the pocket, but in the gap Bosa left, Sigle came through to finish the play and force the third down.
Bosa was effective in the run game in Week 1, but on Sunday, Bosa showed that pass-rush ability we’re familiar with.
1st Star: QB Brock Purdy
Miami’s secondary was leaving 49ers pass-catchers open all game, and Purdy happily took advantage.
Purdy threw an incomplete pass to Deebo Samuel with 9:20 left in the first quarter. He then completed his next 18 passes. In those 18 passes, Purdy threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, attacking the Dolphins’ defensive weaknesses.
You could tell we were in for a good Purdy day on his fifth pass attempt of the game. With the 49ers offense facing a third-and-5, Miami pressure forced Purdy into a scramble drill. As usual, Purdy excelled on the off-script play. He kept the play alive with his feet before settling and hitting Mike Evans along the sidelines (with Evans making an acrobatic catch) for the first down.
Purdy would have to wait for the second half for his touchdown pass when he connected with Kittle, and he’d close his scoring with a six-yard pass to Kyle Juszczyk to put the 49ers up 22 in the third quarter.
Oh, and did I mention Purdy led the 49ers in rushing yards? He gained all 30 yards on the same drive, with a 10-yard gain on his first carry followed by an 18-yard gain. His feet would close the drive, finishing his day on the ground with a two-yard score to put the 49ers up 14-3 in the second quarter.
Purdy took what Miami was giving, and it resulted in a big day for the 49ers quarterback.
Throughout the season, we will track the three stars of the season by tallying points for each star award using a complex scoring system: three points for being the first star, two for the second, and one for the third. Through Week 2, the standings are:
- QB Brock Purdy – 5 points
- LB Fred Warner – 3 points
- DE Nick Bosa – 2 points
