Tua Tagovailoa threw for 215 yards and a touchdown, Jason Sanders hit five field goals and the Miami Dolphins kept their playoff chances alive by beating the San Francisco 49ers 29-17 on Sunday.

The 49ers were eliminated out of the playoffs before the game due to wins by the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders early Sunday. The loss left last year’s NFC champions suffering a losing season for the first time since 2020.

The Dolphins (7-8) improved their chances of making the playoffs for the third straight season, but to do so they will need to win their last two games and get help from losses from the Broncos, Chargers and Colts.

Trailing by nine early in the fourth quarter, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy found tight end Eric Saubert for a 2-yard score that cut the lead to 19-17, but the Niners were able to recover from their self-inflicted wounds not overcome.

After kicking the ball back to Miami with 6:45 left, San Francisco was penalized with consecutive illegal substitution, unnecessary roughness and offside penalties, which gave Miami 25 yards and helped set up Sanders’ 48-yard field goal to prepare, which extended the Dolphins’ lead to five.

The 49ers were penalized 11 times for 90 yards.

Cornerback Kader Kohou then intercepted Purdy on the next drive after the quarterback was pressured by defensive tackle Calais Campbell. Dolphins running back De’Von Achane sealed the win with a 50-yard touchdown run.

Tagovailoa finished 22 of 34. Purdy was 26 of 40 for 313 yards and two touchdowns.

Tyreek Hill’s inconsistent season continued. He caught just 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown, with drops on the game’s first two drives and another on a potential touchdown in the third.

Jonnu Smith caught six passes for 62 yards, setting the Dolphins’ single-season franchise records for receptions (76) and receiving yards (802) by a tight end.

Sanders was 5 of 5, including a 54-yarder, making him 11 of 13 on field goals over 50 yards this year. San Francisco’s Jake Moody missed a 41-yarder in the third.

Deebo Samuel caught his first touchdown since Week 6 on a 16-yard score, pushing through several defenders on his way to the end zone.

Miami entered 49ers territory three times in the first half but settled for field goals before Hill caught a 3-yard touchdown catch from Tagovailoa that gave the Dolphins the lead with 3:20 left in the second half .

Purdy then drove San Francisco 67 yards down the field, setting up Moody’s 21-yard field goal and cutting Miami’s lead to 13-10 at halftime.

Injuries

• 49ers: LB Dre Greenlaw (right calf), LG Aaron Banks (knee) and LT Jaylon Moore (quad) are out with injuries. … DE Leonard Floyd played with a shoulder injury suffered in the first quarter.
• Dolphins: WR Jaylen Waddle did not play because of a knee injury he suffered last week. … CB Kendall Fuller (knee) and LB Jordyn Brookes (quad/knee) exited in the second half.

Next

• 49ers: Host Detroit on Monday, December 30th.
• Dolphins: Next Sunday in Cleveland.