Some might say that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been steadily improving since his first start of the season. Since the bye week, Kaepernick has a passer rating of 96.1 through four starts.
On Sunday, the 49ers came within two yards of tying the Miami Dolphins in the closing seconds of the game. They went on to lose their 10th straight game, which is a franchise record.
During the loss, Kaepernick was 29-of-46 for 296 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He also had 113 yards rushing, which is the most by an NFL quarterback this season. When it comes to grades by advanced statistics site Pro Football Focus, Kaepernick's performance was his best of the season. He earned a 79.6 grade in Miami. By comparison, Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill earned a 91.0 grade on Sunday.
The game grade puts Kaepernick at the top of the "average" range and bordering "above average." Pro Football Focus' grades go beyond just stats. The grading system looks at how a player did on each play and not necessarily the outcome of the play. For example, Kaepernick would not be penalized for a great pass that a receiver dropped. He would get credit for the great pass itself.
"Through the air and on the ground Colin Kaepernick ensured the Dolphins had a torrid day on defense chasing him around the field," wrote Ben Stockwell of Pro Football Focus. "Though there were still the quantity of misses that you come to expect from a Kaepernick performance, he hit on plenty of throws and the Dolphins seemed unprepared and unable to adjust to his threat on read option plays and as a scrambler."
Kaepernick's lowest grade of the season came at home against the New England Patriots just over a week ago where he earned a miserable 36.1. Below are Kaepernick's Pro Football Focus grades for each of his starts this season.
| PFF Grade | |
| at Buffalo Bills | 40.2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 74.8 |
| New Orleans Saints | 42.0 |
| at Arizona Cardinals | 61.0 |
| New England Patriots | 36.1 |
| at Miami Dolphins | 79.6 |
