49ers vs. Dolphins: Previewing Week 12 for San Francisco

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Nov 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) scrambles looking to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of a NFL football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback Comparison

The 49ers have had to endure three consecutive weeks facing off against elite-level quarterbacks — Drew Brees, Carson Palmer and Tom Brady.

Finally, they get a break facing off against merely an OK quarterback in Ryan Tannehill.

November 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. The Patriots defeated the 49ers 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Tannehill might not be the big passing-touchdown threat he had been over the last three years. But he’s still completing 65.9 percent of his passes, which is just a shade lower than his career-best mark back in 2014 (66.4).

His efforts have led to a respectable 91.1 passer rating on the season, and one can only imagine what his stat line might be with an elite receiving corps.

On the flip side, quarterback Colin Kaepernick has looked better over the last three games than his first two, since taking over for Blaine Gabbert in Week 6.

Kap is still completing only 53.1 percent of his passes, which is still lower than Gabbert’s percentage. But it’s clear Kaepernick is the better option even if he’s far from the perfect one.

If there’s one major problem with Kap’s game, it’s how ineffective he has been in the second half. Kaepernick’s first-half passer rating this season is a wowing 126.2. But that number falls off dramatically to 55.8 in the third and fourth quarter.