Fresh off a dominant victory in Australia, San Francisco’s relentless pass rush aims to exploit Miami’s fragile offensive line and keep the Dolphins winless in Santa Clara.
Following a dominant 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, the San Francisco 49ers (1-0) return to Santa Clara for their 2026 home opener. They host the Miami Dolphins (0-1) at Levi’s Stadium in a Week 2 matchup featuring two teams heading in opposite directions.
San Francisco made a loud statement in Week 1, overcoming an early 7-3 deficit to score 24 unanswered points. Meanwhile, Miami limps into Santa Clara following a 27-13 road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Game Details & How to Watch
- Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Kickoff Time: 1:25 p.m. PT (4:25 p.m. ET)
- Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara CA
- TV Channel: FOX
Key Matchup: Miami’s Struggling Line vs. Bosa & The Defensive Front
The most alarming narrative for Miami coming out of Week 1 was the collapse of their offensive protection. Quarterback Malik Willis was sacked five times by Las Vegas and faced constant pressure throughout the afternoon, finishing with 220 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception (alongside a 14 yard rushing TD).
| Quarterback | 2026 Stats (1 Game) | Passer Rating | Touchdowns / INTs |
| Brock Purdy (SF) | 205 Passing Yds | 105.6 | 3 TDs / 1 INT |
| Malik Willis (MIA) | 220 Passing Yds | 66.9 | 0 TDs / 1 INT |
Facing Nick Bosa and a San Francisco front that generated 14 total pressures in Melbourne, Miami's front five will have to perform drastically better to give playmakers like De’Von Achane and rookie standout Caleb Douglas (6 catches, 94 yards) a chance to make an impact. If Miami cannot make quick pre-snap adjustments to slow down San Francisco's edge rushers, Willis could be in for another long afternoon under constant duress.
Managing Jet Lag & Injury Statuses
The biggest question mark for Kyle Shanahan’s squad is whether any lingering travel fatigue from the cross globe trip to Australia will affect their opening tempo.
Additionally, both teams enter Sunday managing notable injury reports:
- San Francisco 49ers: Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle surgery) and tight end Jake Tonges (knee) have both been declared OUT and placed on IR. Tight end George Kittle (Achilles ramp-up), kicker Eddy Pineiro (illness), edge rushers Keion White and Khalid Kareem, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk are listed as questionable.
- Miami Dolphins: Linebacker Kyle Lewis (knee) is OUT on IR. Linebackers Chop Robinson (concussion) and Ronnie Harrison Jr. (hamstring), tight end Seydou Traore, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, and long snapper Tucker Addington are listed as questionable.
If San Francisco maintains its offensive efficiency behind Purdy, McCaffrey, and Mike Evans while exploiting Miami's pass protection vulnerabilities, the 49ers will be well positioned to advance to 2-0 before heading deeper into their September slate.
