In a season marked by inconsistency, the San Francisco 49ers’ 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday underscored the team’s ongoing struggles. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the media postgame, expressing his frustration with the team’s performance.
“We made too many mistakes today,” Shanahan stated. “Penalties missed assignments, and missed opportunities. It’s been a recurring theme this season, and it’s something we need to address immediately.”
The 49ers were penalized 11 times during the game, including three for unnecessary roughness. Defensive end Nick Bosa commented on the impact of these penalties, saying, “When you have that many penalties, it’s a harbinger of loss.”
Offensively, quarterback Brock Purdy completed 26 of 40 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Tight end George Kittle recorded eight catches for 106 yards, while wide receiver Deebo Samuel added seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Despite these individual performances, Shanahan acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “We have to execute better. We can’t afford to make these mistakes, especially against a team like the Dolphins.”
Defensively, the 49ers struggled to contain the Dolphins’ offense, allowing 166 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards to running back De’Von Achane. Shanahan noted, “We couldn’t stop the run, and we couldn’t get off the field on third down. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
Special teams also contributed to the loss, with kicker Jake Moody missing a 41-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter. Shanahan remarked, “We can’t leave points on the field. Every opportunity counts.”
Looking ahead, Shanahan emphasized the importance of addressing these issues before the next game. “We have to clean up our mistakes,” he said. “We can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s time to turn this around.”
The 49ers’ playoff hopes are now in jeopardy, and the team will need to make significant improvements to remain in contention.
