The 49ers came within two yards of overtime or a possible victory Sunday, yet fell 31-24 to the Dolphins in Miami, San Francisco’s 10th straight loss.
Colin Kaepernick had directed a late drive from the 49ers’ 38 yard line with 1:44 remaining to the Dolphins’ 6 with two seconds left, trailing by just a touchdown. But on the final play of the game, Kaepernick’s scramble was stopped at the 2-yard line. Had San Francisco scored, it could have tied with an extra point or won with a two-point conversion.
Instead, it was just another loss and a franchise-record 10th consecutive defeat.
It was a disappointing end to a game in which, for most of the day, the 49ers were equal to the Dolphins.
San Francisco outgained Miami 475-358, and the Niners running game (193 yards) led by a healthy Carlos Hyde and Kaepernick’s passing game (29-of-46 for 296 yards and three TDs) were solid.
Yet the 49ers lost again mostly because of two costly turnovers.
Going into Sunday’s game, the 49ers ranked among the lower half of teams in the NFL with a giveaway/takeaway deficit of three. The 49ers had taken the ball away from opponents 15 times this season, but given it away 18.
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On Sunday, they lost the turnover battle, 2-0, and it proved the difference in the game.
In the second quarter, the 49ers were driving, with a first-and-10 at the Miami 31, when Kaepernick completed a pass to tight end Garrett Celek, who gained 16 yards, but then fumbled it away to Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso. The Dolphins responded by driving 84 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, Kaepernick threw his only interception of the day, which the Dolphins converted into a field goal.
The 49ers were in position to get the win after Torrey Smith’s fine, one-handed 1-yard TD grab and Phil Dawson’s 36-yard field goal, both in the fourth quarter, after Miami had built a 31-14 lead.
The 49ers then had their final chance to break their losing streak, with Kaepernick completing five throws and also scrambling once for 20 yards to put his team in position for a tying or winning score until time ran out.
Kaepernick had his best overall game of the season. He not only threw for 296 yards, but ran 10 times for 113 yards. Hyde had 65 yards on 13 carries.
San Francisco travels to Chicago this week to play the Bears at Soldier Field. The 49ers are 0-5 on the road in 2016.
