STAFF PREDICTIONS

Latest line: 49ers favored by

9 points. Over/under: 49. DaveHyde, Sports Columnist (Season record:

2-2): 49ers 30, Dolphins 23 The 49ers have played four underwhelming teams, losing two, so their hospital floor of injuries have changed them from the Super Bowl teamof last year. The key question is that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo seems to be ready to return. If so, some of the 49ers’ hope returns, too, at a bad time for the Dolphins. San Francisco, coming off a 25-20 home loss to Philadelphia, hasn’t lost back-to-back home games since 2016.

OmarKelly, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 2-2): 49ers 30, Dolphins 24 Even though San Francisco is limping into Sunday’s gamebecause of all its injuries, the Dolphins haven’t proven they can beat a physical teamat their game yet. Without an effective run gameand the ability to stop the run, finesse teams get pushed around by physical ones. The Dolphins rank last in the NFL in yards allowed per play (6.6) and last in yards allowed per pass (9.3).

The struggling Dolphins hit the road to face the Super Bowl runner-up, which looks nothing like the teamthat came to Miami at the end of last season due to injuries to several key players. The Dolphins have been close in their three losses to playoff teams this season. Still, it is a long cross-country trip, and Jimmy Garoppolomay be back behind center.

With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo hobbled and his status uncertain, the injuryriddled 49ers are looking more vulnerable than usual. Lastweek’s sloppy loss to the Eagleswas certainly a wakeup call. That said, the Dolphinswe have seen this season will have a tough time pulling out awin in their first gamein San Francisco since 2012. A solid running gamewould really help in a gamelike this.

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Jimmy Garoppolo returned to practiceWednesday for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain inWeek 2 and is expected to start against the Dolphins. San Francisco is 20-6 when Garoppolo starts. The 49ers are also expecting standout running back Raheem Mostert to return, while star cornerback Richard Sherman remains out. But the 49ers are in a must-win situationwith a brutal schedule that follows: vs. Rams, at Patriots, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Saints.

phins17 SafidDeen, DolphinsWriter (Season record: 3-1): 49ers 33, Dolphins 23 Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record: 1-3): 49ers 30, Dolphins 24 Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 3-1): 49ers 27, Dol

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 2-2): 49ers19, Dol

This matchupwould favor the Dolphins if they could generate a better four-man pass rush than they have thus far. Rookie offensive linemen Austin Jackson and Solomon Kindley eachwere dinged-up against Seattle, and they have been key to Ryan Fitzpatrick getting sacked as little as he has. This is the first trip to the Pacific Time Zone for Brian Flores as a head coach.