Dolphins vs. 49ers live score updates and second-half reactions

Dec 5, 2022 - 12:14 AM

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The Miami Dolphins trail the San Francisco 49ers at halftime of their 2022 NFL Week 13 contest. The Dolphins scored on the opening play of the half, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finding wide receiver Trent Sherfield for a 75-yard score on a slant route. After that, however, Tagovailoa’s accuracy has evaporated and the offense has struggled to find their rhythm.

For the 49ers, the first half saw quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo injured on the first drive, with 2022 Mr. Irrelevant, the name given to the final selection in the NFL Draft each year, Brok Purdy coming on in his place. Purdy has played well, taking what the Dolphins defense is giving him and making smart choices to get the ball to players like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle.

Will Miami come back in the second half? Will the 49ers be able to hold on for the win? We keep up with the score and all the actions throughout the second half. Our immediate reactions for the game will also continue.

Live Score Updates - Second Half

Dolphins 17 - 49ers 33

Third Quarter Reactions

The 49ers started with the ball after deferring to the second half. They started with a one-yard run from running back Christian McCaffrey, then a four-yard pass from quarterback Brock Purdy to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Purdy then found wide receiver Jauan Jennings for a 15-yard gain across the middle, but an incomplete pass, a McCaffrey run for four yards, and a sack by linebacker Melvin Ingram led to a 49ers punt.

That is the start to the second half the Dolphins defense needed. The 49ers could have double-dipped, scoring just before halftime and right after, but the defense made the stop.

After the punt and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the 49ers, Miami came out looking to get quarterback Tua Tagovailoa into a rhythm, hoping to put the first half behind them. Tagovailoa found wide receiver Tyreek Hill for 19 yards on the first play with a roughing the passer penalty adding another 15 yards. Offensive lineman Robert Jones was called for a false start, then offensive lineman Robert Hunt was called for holding - a phantom call with no hold shown on the replay - and Miami was backed into a 1st-and-25. The offensive struggles continued on the next play, with Tagovailoa under pressure and throwing toward running back Jeff Wilson, Jr., who slipped allowing cornerback Jimmie Ward to make the interception.

Still need to settle down the offense, carrying over the theme from the first half.

After the pick, the 49ers came out throwing, with Purdy finding receiver Deebo Samuel for 11 yards and receiver Brandon Aiyuk for nine yards. After Juszczyk ran for no gain, Purdy again found Samuel for 10 yards, with the quarterback narrowly escaping the pressure to make the throw. After a timeout, running back Jordan Mason picked up six yards, then ran again for one yard. On 3rd-and-3, Purdy threw to a wide open McCaffrey, with Miami safety Jevon Holland closing and crushing the running back to prevent the first down. On 4th-and-1, Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler appeared to make a stop on the quarterback sneak, but the second effort managed to pick up the first down. On an endaround to Samuel, the Dolphins appeared to have him stopped for an 11-yard gain, but he slipped through the defenders and turned it into just a five-yard loss. A screen pass to Aiyuk picked up two yards and the 49ers settled for a field goal. 49ers 20-10.

The Dolphins defense is trying to hold on, but for some reason they are struggling agains the rookie Purdy. The 49ers have a two-score lead now and, unless the offense figures something out quickly, that feels like a huge lead.

Miami came out looking to get the offense is rhythm, rolling Tagovailoa out to his left and throwing to a wide-open Hill in the flat - but Tagovailoa again overthrew his receiver and Tagovailoa has interceptions on back-to-back pass attempts.

Seriously, what is happening?

San Francisco started with the ball at Miami’s 25-yard line after the interception, with Mason picking up five yards on the first down run. After an incomplete pass and a timeout, Purdy found McCaffrey for a two-yard gain and the 49ers kicked another field goal. 49ers 23-10.

The defense is trying to keep the Dolphins in this game. The offense has to fix itself now.

Tagovailoa threw to Hill for seven yards on first down, then to receiver Jaylen Waddle for nine yards, his first reception of the day. A false start on receiver Trent Sherfield led to the end of the third quarter.

This offense is explosive and can get back into this game, but they have to do it starting now.

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Fourth Quarter Reactions

After the break, Tagovailoa stepped up in the pocket and found Hill for 19 yards. On the next play, Hill was open down the middle of the field and Tagovailoa hit him in stride for the 45-yard score. 49ers 23-17.

The Dolphins are back in the game!

San Francisco started the drive with an incomplete pass, then Purdy found Samuel for a nine-yard gain. Purdy went back to Samuel again for a 12-yard gain before Mason was stopped for no yard. After a Purdy pass to McCaffrey for six yard, an incomplete pass led to a 49ers punt.

There is the defense doing their best to get the ball back to Miami. Now time for the offense to put together a drive and take this lead.

Miami’s drive started with a seven-yard run from running back Raheem Mostert, moving the ball out to the 17-yard line. Tagovailoa then threw to tight end Durham Smythe, who was stopped one yard shy of the first down. Tagovailoa found Sherfield deep on the next play, but the call was reversed on replay and it was ruled incomplete. On 4th-and-1, Miami went for it, with Tagovailoa throwing to Hill for nine yards. Tagovailoa then threw quickly to receiver River Cracraft for an 11-yard gain, then a bubble screen to Hill for nine yards. Mostert then picked up eight yards on 2nd-and-1, moving the ball into 49ers' territory. Tagovailoa threw to Hill for three yards on the next play, followed by a five-yard run from Mostert. On 3rd-and-2, the Tagovailoa pass was knocked down at the line of scrimmage, setting up a 4th-down play. Tagovailoa threw to tight end Mike Gesicki for what appeared to be the first down, but the 49ers challenged again and again the call was overturned, this time leading to a turnover on downs.

Damn. That drive was working.

Samuel was stopped for no gain on first down, then a throw from Purdy to Samuel picked up nine yards. On a play-action pass to tight end George Kittle, linebacker Jerome Baker just missed stopping the play short of the first down. Mason picked up two yards to get the ball to the 50-yard line. Samuel caught a short pass on the next play and tip-toed down the sideline for a nine-yard gain and a first down. After a San Francisco timeout, McCaffrey broke through the Miami defense for 30 yards. Miami took their first timeout after the play, with McCaffrey stopped for a three-yard loss on the next play. After the second Dolphins’ timeout, Purdy was sacked for an eight-yard loss. After Miami timeout number three, a holding penalty backed up the 49ers 10 yards. McCaffrey then ran for two yards and the 49ers kicked a 48-yard field goal. 49ers 26-17.

The defense tried to keep Miami in the game, but at some point the 49ers were going to find their running game. McCaffrey is too talented to think you will shut him down all day. The Dolphins will get the ball back before the Two-Minute Warning, but this is going to be tough.

The Dolphin started at their own 25-yard line, with Tagovailoa looking deep on the first play. The ball was punched out of Tagovailoa’s hand by edge rusher Nick Bosa, giving him a third sack on the day, and the 49ers recovered and returned it for the touchdown. 49ers 33-17.

Just a rough game all around for the Dolphins.