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, 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, showing they were better and more experienced in every aspect of the game.<\/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. He took four sacks while being hit with pressure all game.<\/p>\n Running back De\u2019Von Achane had 62 of his 74 rushing yards come in the first half.<\/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 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