{"id":470827,"date":"2026-09-21T13:13:04","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T13:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/470827\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T13:13:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T13:13:04","slug":"the-49ers-have-issues-but-heres-how-they-are-2-0-after-beating-miami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/470827\/","title":{"rendered":"The 49ers have issues, but here’s how they are 2-0 after beating Miami"},"content":{"rendered":"

SANTA CLARA \u2013 For the fifth time in Kyle Shanahan\u2019s 10 seasons as coach, the 49ers are off to a 2-0 start<\/a>. Never, however, have the 49ers in their 81-season history opened with back-to-back blowouts<\/a> by at least 20 points each, be that under Shanahan, Walsh, Seifert, Mariucci, or whoever.<\/p>\n

They routed the jet-lagged Rams 27-7 in an Australian eye-opener<\/a>, then clobbered the Dolphins 35-13<\/a> in Sunday\u2019s home opener.<\/p>\n

Here are five things that have caught my eye:<\/p>\n

1. RECEIVERS\u2019 GLASS HALF-FULL<\/p>\n

Another week, another wide receiver is sacrificed to injury, and that declining depth is indeed a concern. But look at who\u2019s still catching Brock Purdy\u2019s precise passes<\/a>: George Kittle, Mike Evans, Deebo (One Drop Per Game) Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, and more.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not great, but the 49ers can survive losing De\u2019Zhaun Stribling (ankle surgery) and Demarcus Robinson (high-ankle sprain), not to mention Ricky Pearsall\u2019s season-ending knee surgery in camp.<\/p>\n

\"San<\/a>San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk (44) celebrates his touchdown with San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) and San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re confident in the guys we have behind them,\u201d Juszczyk said Sunday, \u201cwith (Jacob) Cowing, (Jordan) Watkins, (KhaDarel) Hodge \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Deebo,\u201d Kittle interrupted. \u201cAlso Mike Evans. Did you guys know I\u2019m a huge fan of Mike Evans?\u201d<\/p>\n

A Brandon Aiyuk comeback is not an option, Shanahan confirmed with a wry smile when asked postgame. Another wide receiver will be added, likely either Wesley Grimes or Will Pauling off the practice squad.<\/p>\n

2. PURDY-PURDY-PURDY<\/p>\n

The 49ers have had three quarterbacks win NFL MVP honors: John Brodie (1970), Joe Montana (1989, \u201990), and Steve Young (1992, \u201994). Linebacker Fred Warner is campaigning for Purdy as the next in line, as are others who want Purdy to be seen as more than the NFL Draft\u2019s 2022 Mr. Irrelevant.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s unbelievable. Can he take it to another level? Yeah. But he\u2019s already in the category of somebody that is special,\u201d McCaffrey said. \u201cI\u2019ve been answering that question for years. Everyone is, \u2018Are you shocked how good he is?\u2019 Then next week, \u2018Are you shocked \u2026 ?\u2019 Then the next year, \u2018Are you shocked?\u2019 Now I\u2019m not shocked. He\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Purdy chatted pregame with the NFL\u2019s 1984 MVP, Dan Marino, the Dolphins\u2019 legend and the reason Purdy wears No. 13.<\/p>\n

3. HUNDRED CLUB<\/p>\n

McCaffrey has scored 100 touchdowns in his 10-year career out of Stanford. It\u2019s evenly split: 32 rushing touchdowns and 18 receiving both at Carolina (2017-22) and on the 49ers.<\/p>\n

Only 10 players have scored more touchdowns in 49ers\u2019 history, including Jerry Rice\u2019s 187, Kittle\u2019s 53 and Hugh McElhenny\u2019s 51.<\/p>\n

\"San<\/a>San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe accolades and stuff are nice but I know I can always get better. I just enjoy playing football,\u201d McCaffrey said. \u201cIf you get accolades, great. We want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Juszczyk: \u201cIt\u2019s insane. The guy\u2019s scored 600 points by himself. It\u2019s the beginning of what will go down as a Hall of Fame career and I don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to end at 100.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. BOSA \u2018FELT LIKE MYSELF\u2019<\/p>\n

Nick Bosa\u2019s consistent pass rush paid off with a split sack but he also drew two holding penalties and, most important, is stoked about his surgically repaired right knee. Said Bosa: \u201cI felt a lot better this week physically. My knee kind of adapted after the first game. I felt like myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 49ers\u2019 pass rush can not be a one-Bosa band, and he endorsed his supporting cast. \u201cWe have a lot of guys who haven\u2019t had this big of roles before. Obviously the rookies (Romello Height, Gracen Halton) and Keion (White), and Osa (Odighizuwa),\u201d Bosa said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to get better as we go. As long as we\u2019re taking steps in the right direction and winning games, that\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

That unit has lost Alfred Collins (knee), Sam Okuayinonu (foot) and, on Sunday, James Thompson Jr. (ankle), so Shanahan said the search remains for reinforcements. Defensive end Mykel Williams can resume practicing and get activated after two more games.<\/p>\n

5. PURDY-TO-EVANS<\/p>\n

No combination has looked as artistic as Purdy completing passes to Evans, and not just for third-down conversions or, as was the case in Week 1, a jump-ball touchdown. Sunday\u2019s showpiece came when Purdy pump-faked the defense and finely found Evans in stride for a 27-yard catch-and-run to the 1 in the third quarter. The defense didn\u2019t exactly invite Purdy to look away from Deebo Samuel yet there went a pass threaded to a double-covered Evans. \u201cBrock just stayed with him, waited for him to clear him and it was a perfect ball,\u201d Shanahan said. \u201cIf it wouldn\u2019t have been a perfect ball, it would have been an interception because the guy was looking to undercut it. He just faded it over the top of him. It was a dime.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"San<\/a>San Francisco 49ers’ Mike Evans (5) makes a catch in front of San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk (44) against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Said Purdy: \u201cFor Mike to use his length to reach out and get the ball and make a play like that was pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n

6. KITTLE\u2019S ACHILLES TEST<\/p>\n

Eight months since his right Achilles popped in Philadelphia, Kittle was sprinting down the spine of his home field for a 40-yard reception to open the second half.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey blitzed and tried to stop the run and we had Kittle down the middle screaming,\u201d Shanahan said. \u201cThere\u2019s no better feeling getting him the ball in open space and letting him do what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"San<\/a>San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) celebrates a touchdown by San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kittle said the ball usually isn\u2019t supposed to come his way there, but an alert was triggered once the Dolphins split their safeties. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s always fun to rumble, bumble and tumble, man, and stiff-arm people into the dirt,\u201d Kittle said. \u201cIt just feels really good, it revitalizes you, and it definitely gives you a bunch of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Purdy: \u201cThey brought a double corner blitz, which opened the middle up, and<\/p>\n

George saw it and took it, which was a hell of a job seeing. You can see how explosive he was<\/p>\n

after the catch and how hard he is to bring down.\u201d<\/p>\n

7. KITTLE-JUSZCZYK COMBO<\/p>\n

Kittle and Juszczyk celebrated a rare feat Sunday in that each scored in the same game. The 49ers are 5-0 when that\u2019s happened (others: 2017 vs. Indianapolis, 2023 vs. Dallas and Jacksonville, and 2024 vs. Seattle). Kittle and Juszczyk shared the mic at the postgame lectern and riffed off each other. They\u2019re the first 49ers to play 10 seasons with the franchise since Joe Staley.<\/p>\n

8. KICKER SITUATION<\/p>\n

Eddy Pi\u00f1eiro won the 49ers\u2019 home opener a year ago with a 35-yard, walk-off field goal against Arizona. This time, he overcame a week-long sickness and, with much less pressure than last year, had five point-after kicks, six kickoffs, and no field-goal attempts.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>A San Francisco 49ers fan dressed as San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan cheers from the stands in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 49ers worked out two kickers Saturday, Greg Joseph and Younghoe Koo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe asked him if we should just sign one of these guys to be safe,\u201d Shanahan said. \u201cAnd he answered it the way he should, so we were real confident that he felt better.\u201d<\/p>\n

9. HALFTIME SPEECH?<\/p>\n

The 49ers have taken a one-score lead into halftime of each game, then blown out their foes. They outscored the Rams 17-0 in the second half of the season opener, then scored three touchdowns in Sunday\u2019s third quarter before yielding a garbage-time touchdown to Miami.<\/p>\n

Kittle said it\u2019s not as if Purdy or Bosa are rattling the locker room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis halftime speech wasn\u2019t any different than the NFC Championship Game a couple years ago (against Detroit) when we were down by 20,\u201d Kittle said. \u201cIt was the exact same speech: \u2018Hey you\u2019ve got 30 minutes to go. Got put it all out there.\u2019 It\u2019s pretty straight forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

10. CHILDHOOD IDOLS<\/p>\n

McCaffrey joined Randy Moss and Marshall Faulk as the only players to score 50 touchdowns with two different franchises. Said McCaffrey: \u201cI watched all those guys growing up, Marshall Faulk being somebody that I\u2019ve probably seen every single snap he\u2019s played. So I don\u2019t take it for granted, man. And Randy Moss, I probably threw it to him a million times in Madden growing up, so those are huge honors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Purdy felt the same way handing off the ball for McCaffrey\u2019s historic scores Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just telling the guys on the sideline, \u2018It\u2019s crazy, I grew up watching him in high school when he was at Stanford and then with the Panthers,\u201d\u2019 Purdy said. \u201cTo be there when he scored his 100th touchdown is insane.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SANTA CLARA \u2013 For the fifth time in Kyle Shanahan\u2019s 10 seasons as coach, the 49ers are off…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":470828,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[13734,184,7,949,402,181,752,101,296,103,102,197,198,104,106,105,200,127],"class_list":["post-470827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-francisco","tag-49ers-hq","tag-bay-area","tag-california","tag-football","tag-inside-sports","tag-latest-headlines","tag-nfl","tag-san-francisco","tag-san-francisco-49ers","tag-san-francisco-headlines","tag-san-francisco-news","tag-santa-clara","tag-santa-clara-county","tag-sf","tag-sf-headlines","tag-sf-news","tag-south-bay","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470827\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/470828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}