Scooter & Hum: Day 999, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-49ers Game 12 Review

Miami saw its five-game winning streak come to an end after going on the road and losing the turnover battle (4-1) and committing eight penalties. The game featured some momentous fourth-down plays and a couple of challenge overturns, but the difference was the 'Niners controlling possession (a whopping 40:34 to 19:26) and finding a way to win despite being down to Mr. Irrelevant at quarterback for nearly the entire game.

On the back-to-the-lab recap ...

Offense

After a promising start, Miami just had far too many empty possessions. The Dolphins did not convert a single third down (0-7) and had just 45 offensive plays (to San Francisco's 79), and managed just 33 yards (on eight carries) in the contest. The 'Fins visited the red zone just once in the game -- settling for a field goal -- and committed four turnovers. Overall, coach Mike McDaniel has to fight the temptation to throw the ball on every down and seek more balance against the league's most talented defenses.
In a game where Tua Tagovailoa appeared to be too indecisive and panicky, he connected on 18 of 33 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. However, he threw two interceptions, narrowly avoided a couple more, coughed up a fumble that resulted in a score, was sacked three times, and took too many awkward hits. When he got banged up late, the 'Fins put in Skyler Thompson, who promptly tossed yet another pick.
Raheem Mostert carried the ball seven times for 30 yards in his 28 snaps, but inexplicably, Jeff Wilson got a single carry (for three yards) and two targets (no catches) against the team that traded him in just 17 snaps. Alec Ingold (25 snaps) had a flurry of activity with three catches for 15 yards on one drive, but otherwise was not much of a factor as the Dolphins abandoned the run.
At receiver, Tyreek Hill was a monster once again, hauling in nine of 14 targets for 146 yards and a touchdown to earn a 90.4 grade from Pro Football Focus. Jaylen Waddle was limited to just a single catch for nine yards on five targets in 24 snaps, but Trent Sherfield picked up some slack with a 75-yard score on his lone catch among three targets in his 30 snaps. River Cracraft (20 snaps) earned three targets, pulling in two for 29 yards. Down the stretch, the 'Fins will need a healthy Waddle and to hope that Cedrick Wilson (nine snaps vs. San Francisco) is able to provide some return on investment this season.
Durham Smythe led the way once again among modest tight end involvement with 27 snaps, recording two receptions for 21 yards. Mike Gesicki had a fourth-down catch for a conversation overturned on replay and otherwise was not targeted in only nine snaps, while rookie Tanner Conner did not record a stat in his two scrimmage snaps. After being shut out in back-to-back games, "G-Sick" now has just three catches in the last four games.
Up front, the Dolphins faced a massive challenge when both starting offensive tackles (Teronn Armstead and Austin Jackson) were ruled out for the contest, and left tackle Greg Little and right tackle Brandon Shell had understandable struggles at times. Shell was much more solid, earning a 73.9 PFF grade, while left guard Robert Jones (false start) and right guard Rob Hunt (holding) had crucial penalties. The playcalling did no favors for the offensive line, with the one-dimensional strategy backfiring when the 49ers got up two scores and were able to rush the passer with abandon.

Defense

Despite the 'Niners dominating possession and putting up 24 first downs and 351 yards under a third-string rookie quarterback, the Miami defense kept them in the game, holding San Francisco to four field goals, allowing just two touchdowns in five red zone trips, and surrendering a respectable 121 yards to one of the best running teams in the league. The 49ers averaged just 4.4 yards per play (to Miami's 6.8), but converted 8 of 19 third-down attempts to sustain drives.
The defensive ends led the way again, with Christian Wilkins (77.9 PFF grade) and Zach Sieler putting up monster games while both playing a staggering 76 snaps. Wilkins had 12 tackles, including a team-best eight solos and one stop for a loss. Sieler notched seven tackles, half a sack, and two quarterback hits, while Justin Zimmer contributed an assisted tackle in his 13 snaps.
At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis did not record a statistic in his 49 snaps, but John Jenkins made three tackles in his 26 snaps, earning a 75.7 PFF grade.
On the weak side, Bradley Chubb registered three tackles, a sack, a stop for loss and two quarterback hits in his 48 snaps, drawing a holding flag while committing an unsportsmanslike conduct penalty as well. In his 21 snaps, Melvin Ingram posted a solo tackle, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit, though he also was whistled for tripping.
On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips recorded three tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits in his 55 snaps, while Andrew Van Ginkel put up five tackles, half a sack, and one quarterback hit in his 31 snaps.
At middle linebacker, Jerome Baker had another strong game, delivering 12 tackles, half a sack, one stop for a loss, and a quarterback hit in a hefty 74 snaps. Elandon Roberts added four tackles and one stop for a loss in 56 snaps, while Duke Riley collected two tackles and had a rough game in pass coverage in his 30 snaps.
Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou played all 84 snaps as the starting corners, with "X" contributing three solo stops, two pass breakups, and an interception and Kohou notching five tackles. Both players were called for pass interference. Keion Crossen's three tackles and a pass breakup in 25 snaps were enough to earn a 78.6 PFF grade, but he appeared to miss his assignment on the McCaffrey touchdown. Justin Bethel did not see any snaps from scrimmage in this one.
At strong safety, Eric Rowe had five tackles and a pass breakup in his 80 snaps, while Verone McKinley contributed a solo stop in his seven snaps.
Once again, Jevon Holland played every snap (84) at free safety, picking up seven tackles. Elijah Campbell had two solo tackles in five reserve snaps.

Special teams

Jason Sanders hit a 43-yard field goal and both extra points, but his counterpart Robbie Gould was a monster, drilling all four field goals (three of 43 yards or more) and all three extra points.
Thomas Morstead averaged 51.5 yards on four punts -- getting some good bounces along the way -- with a long of 63. The 49ers' Mitch Wishnowsky downed two of his four punts inside the 20-yard line.
On kickoffs, Mostert had a 25-yard return and Smythe added a nine-yarder at the end of the half. Cedrick Wilson returned a pair of punts for 21 yards, but the Dolphins surrendered 84 yards in kickoff and punt returns by San Francisco's Ray-Ray McCloud.
Campbell and Bethel played 27 special teams plays to lead defensive players, while Smythe's 15 snaps in the third phase paced all offensive players. Campbell was whistled for being out of bounds on kick coverage.

Momentum plays

The Dolphins got off to the ideal possible start, with Tua hitting Sherfield over the middle, where he took advantage of bad angles by a linebacker and safety to race 75 yards for a touchdown on the game's very first play.
San Francisco converted its first third down when Brandon Aiyuk beat Howard on a 3rd & 7, then got another big play when Christian McCaffrey easily dusted Riley in coverage for a 33-yard gain, with Holland saving a potential touchdown. After a near interception by Ingram off a deflection by Roberts, Miami got a third-down sack from Baker and Phillips. Jimmy Garapolo was injured and lost for the game on the play, but the ageless Gould hit a 47-yarder to trim the margin to 7-3.
A quick three-and-out from the 'Fins ensued, with a dangerous third-down pass from Tua falling incomplete. On the 49ers' next possession, McCaffrey beat Riley in coverage again to convert a 3rd & 3. A shaky pass interference call on Kohou gave San Francisco another first down on a 3rd & 10 play, then Kohou appeared to miss an assignment, allowing any easy touchdown by Kyle Juszcyk to push the 'Niners ahead, 10-7.
The Dolphins had another three-and-out when Tua fired incomplete twice for Waddle. A tripping call on Ingram gave San Francisco some life on its next drive, but Wilkins made a huge stop on McCaffrey on a 3rd & 2 run, with the three-yard loss forcing a 49ers punt.
On the second play of the next Miami possession, Tua threw a perfect pass to Smythe, who absorbed a big hit but pulled it in for 19 yards. Two plays later, Tua hit a back shoulder pass to Hill, who made a stellar adjustment with the ball in the air to reel in the 18-yarder. Another 17-yard pass to Hill and a couple of Ingold catches gave the 'Fins two more first downs, but a bad play concept on 3rd & 1 left Nick Bosa to be blocked by a running back. After the easy sack, Sanders hit from 43 yards away to tie the score at 10.
The 'Fins forced a three-and-out when Baker pressure led to a Crossen pass breakup, but Miami couldn't do anything with the ball, going three-and-out as well after three straight incompletions, including a dropped pass by Jeff Wilson on a wheel route that would have been a big gainer.
A 19-yard run by Jordan Mason got the 49ers going, but a sack by Van Ginkel and Sieler was followed by third-down pressure from Holland that resulted in a short gain. On 4th and 4, Holland pressured third-stringer Brock Purdy again, and "X" picked off a fade attempt to Aiyuk for his first interception of the campaign.
Miami started its next drive with an 18-yard completion to Cracraft on a risky throw, but another third-down Bosa sack forced the 'Fins to punt once again.
Oddly, the Dolphins accepted an illegal man downfield penalty on its next drive to give San Francisco a 2nd & 8 rather than a 3rd & 3, and the home team responded with a McCaffrey conversion. On 3rd & 10, Phillips applied massive pressure, but Purdy hit Kittle over the middle for 19 yards on a clutch play. A missed tackle by Howard resulted in a Jauan Jennings 19-yard gain, with a big hit by a hustling Wilkins forcing a fumble that went out of bounds on the play. With the 'Niners retaining possession, a Howard pass interference on the next play compounded matters, and on a 3rd & goal play, Purdy found McCaffrey on an angle route for an easy score. The play looked like another missed assignment by the 'Fins, with Rowe seeming to give McCaffrey entirely too much room. The touchdown with four seconds left was a demoralizing way to end the half, with San Francisco pushing ahead, 17-10.
On the first drive of the second half, the 'Niners got 15 yards on a pass to Jennings, but consistent Chubb pressure contributed to an Ingram sack that led to a San Fran punt.
Miami got going with a 19-yarder to Tua plus a roughing-the-passer penalty on Bosa, but a false start on Jones and a hold on Hunt was followed by an interception by Jimmy Ward on a 1st & 25 play that saw Jeff Wilson fall down on his route.
A 12-play drive that covered just 39 yards but took up more than seven minutes ensued. The 49ers converted a 3rd & 1 and a 4th & 1 (a controversial play that should have been blown dead short once the quarterback had his momentum stopped on a sneak), but the defense rallied to force a 43-yard Gould field goal and a 20-10 lead.
Tua immediately followed with a poor throw to Hill that was tipped and intercepted to give the 'Niners back-to-back picks. The 'Fins responded by seeming to force a McCaffrey fumble that was recovered by Baker, but the pass was ruled incomplete. San Francisco got yet another Gould field goal to push the advantage to 23-10.
Short passes to Hill and Waddle earned Miami a first down, then Hill pulled in a 19-yarder off of play action. On the next play, Tua hit him in stride from 45 yards away on a deep post to give the Dolphins a crucial touchdown and trim the margin to 23-17 early in the fourth quarter.
A dangerous 3rd & 1 throw was reeled in for 12 yards and a first down by Deebo Samuel. Sieler turned in three straight good plays to help force a punt that Phillips appeared to get a piece of, but the kick still ended up at the Miami 10-yard line.
A grinding 11-play drive by the 'Fins ensued, with a Sherfield conversion on 3rd & 2 later overturned as incomplete on a challenge. On 4th & 1, Tua hit Hill for nine yards, with the wideout absorbing a big hit for the first down. Tua then hit Cracraft for 11 and Hill for nine, with Mostert then bursting off tackle for eight yards and another first down. On a 4th & 2 play, Tua hit Gesicki on the sideline for a first down, but the catch was overturned once again on a 49ers challenge to give the ball back to the home team.
San Francisco put together an important 10-play drive, using short gains before McCaffrey ripped off a 30-yard run that saw Chubb chase him downfield to help save a touchdown. A Chubb sack helped set up a 4th & 28, but Gould once again delivered, booting a 48-yarder to make it a two-score game at 26-17 with just over two minutes remaining.
On the first play of the following possession, Tua was hit by Bosa and fumbled. When no one went for the ball and assumed an incompletion -- something that happens seemingly every week -- Dre Greenlaw picked up the ball and walked in from 23 yards away for a gift touchdown and a 33-17 lead.
With Tua hobbled on the previous sack, Miami went with Skyler Thompson on the next drive. On his first play, he threw into quadruple coverage for an easy Fred Warner interception. Instead of sliding to end the game, Warner returned it for 20 yards before Smythe finally tackled him.
After three straight kneeldowns by Purdy, the 'Niners had secured the 33-17 victory.