San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins: 2024 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-22, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 29–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with +5.97 total EPA, and -1.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Samuel (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.98 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-19.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (2:00) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle intended for 15-J.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 4-K.Kohou [93-C.Campbell] at MIA 38. 4-K.Kohou pushed ob at SF 46 for 16 yards (85-G.Kittle). The Replay Officia

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 D. Samuel · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +9.98 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Achane · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +7.17 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +6.95 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Purdy · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +5.97 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Smith · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.36 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Tagovailoa · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +3.99 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Achane · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.98 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Washington · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.93 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• San Francisco 49ers — D. Samuel (B. Purdy pass) (Q2 44:22)
• Miami Dolphins — T. Hill (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 33:22)
• San Francisco 49ers — E. Saubert (B. Purdy pass) (Q4 12:05)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Achane (Q4 1:44)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q1 48:34)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 39:44)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Moody (Q2 30:50)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q3 26:01)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q3 16:11)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q4 2:13)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q4 2:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the SF 26 (Q1 48:34) — (3:34) 7-J.Sanders 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIA 16 (Q2 44:22) — (14:22) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle to 1-D.Samuel for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 44:14) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-40-P.O'Donnell.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the SF 20 (Q2 39:44) — (9:44) 7-J.Sanders 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the SF 3 (Q2 33:22) — (3:22) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 33:20) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the MIA 3 (Q2 30:50) — (:50) 4-J.Moody 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-40-P.O'Donnell..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 6–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the SF 36 (Q3 26:01) — (11:01) 7-J.Sanders 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the SF 15 (Q3 16:11) — (1:11) 7-J.Sanders 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 19–7. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the MIA 2 (Q4 12:05) — (12:05) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle to 82-E.Saubert for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 12:02) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-40-P.O'Donnell.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the SF 30 (Q4 2:13) — (2:13) 7-J.Sanders 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the MIA 35 (Q4 2:10) — 7-J.Sanders kicks 65 yards from MIA 35 to end zone, Touchback to the SF 30.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the SF 50 (Q4 1:44) — (1:44) 28-D.Achane right tackle for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the SF 15 (Q4 1:36) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle intended for 15-J.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 4-K.Kohou [93-C.Campbell] at MIA 38. 4-K.Kohou pushed ob at SF 46 for 16 yards (85-G.Kittle). The Replay Officia [WPA -19.0% · EPA -3.65]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 44:22) — (14:22) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle to 1-D.Samuel for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.47]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 6:45) — (6:45) 40-P.O'Donnell punts 39 yards to MIA 24, Center-46-T.Pepper, out of bounds. PENALTY on SF-22-I.Yiadom, Illegal Substitution, 5 yards, enforced at MIA 24. [WPA -10.2% · EPA -0.89]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 46:43) — (1:43) (No Huddle) 32-P.Taylor right end to MIA 36 for 4 yards (21-J.Poyer; 91-E.Ogbah). PENALTY on MIA, Defensive Too Many Men on Field, 5 yards, enforced at MIA 40 - No Play. [WPA +8.9% · EPA +2.64]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 45:58) — (:58) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 1-D.Samuel to MIA 18 for 17 yards (29-K.Fuller). [WPA +7.5% · EPA +2.44]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 1:44) — (1:44) 28-D.Achane right tackle for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.2% · EPA +5.26]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 20:56) — (5:56) 4-J.Moody 41 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-40-P.O'Donnell. [WPA -7.5% · EPA -4.06]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle intended for 15-J.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 4-K.Kohou [93-C.Campbell] at MIA 38. 4-K.Kohou pushed ob at SF 46 for 16 yards (85-G.Kittle). The Replay Officia [WPA -19.0% · EPA -3.65]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 44:22) — (14:22) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle to 1-D.Samuel for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.47]

Quarterback report card

B.Purdy led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) · 45 dropbacks · 57.8% completion · -1.4% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +5.97 total EPA
• T.Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 35 dropbacks · 62.9% completion · +0.8% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +3.99 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Miami Dolphins held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.20 vs +0.01), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, +15.76 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, +0.84 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Miami Dolphins leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Samuel (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 48:34 · SF 26 · Score 0-3
   (3:34) 7-J.Sanders 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
2. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 44:22 · MIA 16 · Score 6-3
   (14:22) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle to 1-D.Samuel for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 44:14 · MIA 15 · Score 7-3
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-40-P.O'Donnell.
4. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 39:44 · SF 20 · Score 7-6
   (9:44) 7-J.Sanders 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 33:22 · SF 3 · Score 7-12
   (3:22) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 33:20 · SF 15 · Score 7-13
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
7. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 30:50 · MIA 3 · Score 10-13
   (:50) 4-J.Moody 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-40-P.O'Donnell.
8. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 26:01 · SF 36 · Score 10-16
   (11:01) 7-J.Sanders 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
9. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 16:11 · SF 15 · Score 10-19
   (1:11) 7-J.Sanders 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
10. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 12:05 · MIA 2 · Score 16-19
    (12:05) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle to 82-E.Saubert for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 12:02 · MIA 15 · Score 17-19
    4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-40-P.O'Donnell.
12. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 2:13 · SF 30 · Score 17-22
    (2:13) 7-J.Sanders 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
13. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 2:10 · MIA 35 · Score 17-22
    7-J.Sanders kicks 65 yards from MIA 35 to end zone, Touchback to the SF 30.
14. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 1:44 · SF 50 · Score 17-28
    (1:44) 28-D.Achane right tackle for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Miami Dolphins TD (+7) — Q4 1:36 · SF 15 · Score 17-29
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.