SANTA CLARA, California \u2014 Just how far are the Miami Dolphins from the top teams in the NFL in 2026?<\/p>\n
Take Sunday\u2019s 35-13 defeat<\/a> against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi\u2019s Stadium as a measuring stick.<\/p>\n The 49ers (2-0), who came off an impressing season-opening win in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and cruised against the rebuilding Dolphins (0-2), showing they were better and more experienced in every aspect of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cReally disappointing,\u201d Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said. \u201cThought we had a great week of preparation, and I felt like we were ready to play better. In the first half we did. In the second half, just not good enough in any phase.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a sobering loss for Miami, but leaders vowed it\u2019s not one that will snowball into deteriorating team morale.<\/p>\n \u201cIt won\u2019t unravel,\u201d linebacker Jordyn Brooks said. \u201cWe have the right guys in the locker room, and it\u2019s just a matter of time. We got to go through this. When you\u2019re a young team, you got to go through this.\u201d<\/p>\n San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy was 20 of 22 for 287 yards, two passing touchdowns and another one on the ground. Running back Christian McCaffrey added a pair of touchdowns.<\/p>\n Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis went 14 of 23 for 197 yards and a late touchdown.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t do good enough to win the game,\u201d Willis said. \u201cSo, just got to continue to get better and learn from this and implement it as fast as possible, because this season is going to keep going. We got to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n He took four sacks while being hit with pressure all game.<\/p>\n Said right tackle Austin Jackson, who was consistently beat by 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa: \u201cI got to play better.\u201d<\/p>\n Running back De\u2019Von Achane had 62 of his 74 rushing yards come in the first half. There was a concerted effort to run the football and get Achane, who finished with 20 carries and three catches, his touches.<\/p>\n After leading by a modest 14-6 score at halftime, the 49ers immediately went to work early in the second half.<\/p>\n They went 65 yards in four plays, with tight end George Kittle breaking free from linebacker Willie Gay Jr. for a wide-open 12-yard touchdown shortly after streaking for a 40-yard catch and run over the middle earlier in the drive.<\/p>\n On the next San Francisco possession, fullback Kyle Juszczyk was the featured eligible receiver, making one catch on a corner route for 21 yards and then hauling in a 6-yard touchdown reception.<\/p>\n With it all falling apart for Miami, the onslaught continued before the third quarter was over. Punter Bradley Pinion dropped the football before he could punt it away following another empty possession. It gave San Francisco favorable field position to have McCaffrey punch in another 1-yard touchdown after Purdy found wide receiver Mike Evans for a 27-yard reception.<\/p>\n The Pinion fumble came directly after rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas, who left with an ankle injury, dropped a third-down pass.<\/p>\n \u201cIt hit us in the face really hard in the second half,\u201d Hafley said, \u201cand we just didn\u2019t coach well enough in the second half, we didn\u2019t play well enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the evening was over, Willis hit wide receiver Ryan Miller, more commonly known for special teams contributions deep over the top for a 77-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt good for Ryan. I didn\u2019t feel good for the Miami Dolphins,\u201d Willis said. \u201cThat didn\u2019t help us. Obviously, it helped us on the stat sheet, but it didn\u2019t help us as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dolphins stayed in the game in the first half by controlling the clock, winning time of possession to that point, 19:17-10:43.<\/p>\n The 49ers had two possessions before halftime and scored on each.<\/p>\n