The San Francisco 49ers are back in Levi’s Stadium this Sunday, kicking off their first North American game of 2026, and after what they pulled off in Week 1, it’s no shock they’re favored by nearly two touchdowns against a new-look Miami Dolphins squad. Seriously, who’s surprised by that line?
The 49ers Are Rolling Into Their Home Opener After a Total Domination
Let’s talk about Week 1, because it truly could not have gone any better for the 49ers. They just hopped back from Australia after absolutely clobbering the Los Angeles Rams, beating them 27-7. That wasn’t just a win, it was a *dominant* performance from start to finish. Quarterback Brock Purdy looked fantastic, turning in another great game, and the whole team just clicked. Yeah, there was that whole jet lag question after flying back across the globe, but all signs point to the squad being completely adjusted and ready to go for Sunday’s showdown. Health-wise, they’re looking pretty solid too. It’s a real bummer that wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is out for an extended period needing surgery, and tight end Jacob Tonges is done for the season. Those are tough hits early on, for sure. But the good news? Kicker Eddie Pineiro was sick but is confirmed playing, and running back Kaelon Black, who was questionable, also looks like he’s playing. The Niners are coming home mostly intact and riding high on confidence.
Malik Willis and the Dolphins Are Staring Down a Massive Week 2 Challenge
Now, the Miami Dolphins are a whole different story. If you’re looking for a team positioned for anything grand in 2026, you won’t find it here. Their offseason was pure churn, blowing up the coaching staff by firing Mike McDaniel and moving on from Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. They brought in Jeff Hafley, who used to be the defensive coordinator for the Packers and was even the 49ers’ defensive backs coach back in the day, to take over as head coach. And at QB? They signed Malik Willis. Their Week 1 performance? Yikes. They lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 27-13, and Willis, in his first start as the Dolphins’ quarterback, had a truly rough outing. He went 15-of-27 for 220 yards passing, had an interception, fumbled, and got sacked five times, though he did punch in one rushing touchdown. Their ground game was just as disappointing, managing only 74 total yards across 18 carries. The defense had a *bit* better day, grabbing two interceptions and limiting Kirk Cousins to just 160 passing yards, which is decent, but they couldn’t get a single sack. Adding to their woes, they’ll be without EDGE Chop Robinson and inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison this Sunday. This team has some serious uphill climbing ahead.
This Sunday’s afternoon game kicks off at 01:25 PM PST with Kevin Kugler on play-by-play and Daryl Johnston providing color. Given the 49ers’ Week 1 dominance and the Dolphins’ messy start, it feels like the discussion isn’t *if* the 49ers win, but rather *how* they absolutely beat them. Honestly, if the Dolphins somehow pull off an upset or even keep it within three points, 49ers fans are going to be having some truly unpleasant conversations on Monday. But after seeing both teams last week, don’t hold your breath for that kind of chaos.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
Leave a Reply