The 49ers’ Week 13 showdown against the Miami Dolphins is one of the club’s first real tests of the season. Their wins over the Rams are looking less impressive, and their victory over the Chargers came against a depleted Los Angeles club.
Miami has their health relatively in order and they bring with them one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. In games started by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, they’re averaging 27.6 points per game – the third-highest mark in the league. Over their last four contests, all victories, they’re averaging a whopping 33.8 points per game.
They combine that offense with a defense that survives in the middle. They’re 19th in points allowed, 17th in yards allowed, 17th in defensive DVOA and tied for 17th in yards-per-play. A middling defense is all that’s really necessary to accompany an offense that’s liable to put up 30 points any time it takes the field.
That’s why they offer a unique challenge for the 7-4 49ers who’ve won four in a row. This isn’t a must-win game for San Francisco, but it most definitely matters when it comes to getting a barometer of just how good this team is when it isn’t facing some of the NFL’s more mediocre clubs.
If San Francisco is going to get a win at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, they’ll need strong showings from these six players: