Dolphins vs. SF 49ers: 3 matchups Niners must win in Week 5
By Peter Panacy
The SF 49ers look to rebound against a one-win Dolphins squad in Week 5, meaning these three specific matchups must go in the Niners’ favor.
In many ways, the Miami Dolphins could make life hell for the SF 49ers when both teams square off for their Week 5 matchup this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
At 1-3 a quarter of the way through the season, the Dolphins have little to play for aside from building for the future and deciding when highly touted rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa takes over the reins under center from the veteran, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Dolphins head coach Brian Flores eluded to Fitzpatrick being the starter over the rookie this Sunday, which bodes well for a Niners defense struggling to contain mobile quarterbacks so far this season.
But Flores could just as easily be keeping his cards close to home.
If Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins somehow manage to pull off a win over the suddenly scuffling and injury-riddled SF 49ers, it’ll spell a pretty big early disaster for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. Already last place in the NFC West with a 2-2 record, falling to 2-3 would put a massive dent in San Francisco’s chances to reclaim the division title, particularly with the 4-0 Seattle Seahawks sitting at the top. That’ll be a tough stretch of ground to make up, especially with these first five weeks considered the “easy” portion of the SF 49ers’ schedule.
Miami doesn’t have a lot on the line, while the Niners are almost fighting for their proverbial playoff lives just over a quarter of the way through the season, putting an emphasis on Shanahan and Co. coming away with the victory this Sunday.
If San Francisco wants to ensure that happens, it’ll have to win these three crucial matchups.