Christian McCaffrey scores twice as 49ers handle Dolphins 35-13

Christian McCaffrey scored twice and Brock Purdy ran for one touchdown while the San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 35-13 on Sunday.

San Francisco built its lead through repeated short scoring drives. McCaffrey opened with a one-yard touchdown run, and Purdy added a two-yard rushing score after Miami had answered with a Riley Patterson field goal. George Kittle's 12-yard touchdown catch then pushed the 49ers ahead 21-6.

Purdy continued to find the middle of the field. He connected with Kyle Juszczyk for a six-yard touchdown, and McCaffrey scored his second one-yard touchdown soon after. The two short rushing scores gave McCaffrey the game's clearest finishing role, while San Francisco's passing touchdowns kept Miami from loading the box.

Miami's offense managed another Patterson field goal before halftime, but the Dolphins never reached the end zone with their starting attack. The 49ers led 28-6 before Ryan Miller's 77-yard touchdown catch from Malik Willis supplied Miami's only touchdown of the day.

That late score did not change the result. San Francisco's earlier possessions had already created a four-score gap, and the 49ers continued to protect it. The scoring pattern also showed the difference between the teams: San Francisco converted drives into touchdowns, while Miami settled for field goals and then needed a long play to reach the end zone.

The 49ers improved to 2-0, and Miami fell to 0-2. McCaffrey's two scores, Purdy's rushing touchdown and the passing touchdowns to Kittle and Juszczyk gave San Francisco five touchdowns from several parts of the offense. Miami's late touchdown was evidence of its explosive ability, but it arrived after the 49ers had already controlled the game.

San Francisco's offensive margin was built before the Dolphins found their only touchdown. McCaffrey's first one-yard run opened the scoring, Purdy's quarterback sneak restored the lead after Miami's field goal, and Kittle's reception made the gap two scores. Juszczyk's touchdown and McCaffrey's second short run then gave the 49ers a 35-6 advantage. ESPN's report also recorded McCaffrey reaching 100 career touchdowns, a milestone that put the two rushing scores in a broader context. San Francisco entered the game 1-0 after its overseas opener and moved to 2-0. Miami entered 0-1 and fell to 0-2. The late 77-yard touchdown from Willis to Miller showed Miami retained big-play ability, but it arrived after San Francisco had already turned every earlier red-zone trip into a touchdown or controlling field goal situation.