49ers 2020 schedule: 3 potential trap games for San Francisco
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Week 5, 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins
It’s been much more recent a matchup between the Niners and Dolphins, who are going through one of the biggest roster turnovers in recent years.
The last time these two teams squared off was back in 2016 at a time when San Francisco was horrible and needing an overhaul, and the Dolphins were still competitive in the AFC East. The 49ers lost that game 31-24, but at least the Niners won their last home bout against Miami back at Candlestick Park 27-13 in 2012 when then-head coach Jim Harbaugh had his squad on the verge of a Super Bowl berth.
The Dolphins are going to be an interesting team to watch this year. It’s anyone’s guess whether or not their top pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, is starting by that point. But if he winds up being the star many think he’ll be, the 49ers will yet again be tasked with containing a mobile and dynamic signal-caller.
Last year’s matchups against Kyler Murray showed how troublesome these multifaceted quarterbacks can be.
Plus, with the Niners’ Week 5 matchup versus Miami book-ended by two prime-time games, Week 4 against the Eagles and Week 6 against the Rams, there’s a chance head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad can’t avoid the lapse in focus and effort in between.