Miami Dolphins Related Info: Team Page City Page: • Miami Message Boards: • Dolphins • NFL

San Francisco 49ers Related Info: Team Page City Page: • San Francisco Message Boards: • 49ers • NFL

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- The Miami Dolphins can wait another nine years before visiting San Francisco again.

The 49ers forced four turnovers by quarterback Jay Fiedler and rookie Kevan Barlow scored on two short runs in a 21-0 rout of the Dolphins in a pivotal interconference game.

It was the second shutout in three weeks for the 49ers (10-3), who blanked Buffalo, 35-0 on December 2, but suffered a 27-14 loss to the St. Louis Rams last week. San Francisco trails the Rams (10-2), who play at New Orleans on Monday night, by a half-game in the NFC West.

"I love the way our defense is playing," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. "They are playing smart and aggressive."

The last time San Francisco had two shutouts in a season was in 1974. It also marked the first time Miami was blanked twice in a season since 1970. The Dolphins suffered a 24-0 loss to the New York Jets on November 18.

The Dolphins (9-4) remained in first place in the AFC East, but had their lead cut to a half-game over New England (9-5) and one game ahead of the New York Jets (8-5). Miami plays at New England next Saturday.

"When you are playing another team that has nine wins you've got to come out and be on top of your game and we were not," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. "There are no excuses for not playing better today. We've got to get ready for next week. We'll probably be playing for the division."

When the Dolphins last visited here in 1992, the 49ers rolled to a 27-3 win and Jerry Rice set the NFL record for career touchdown receptions.

This time, the Niners dominated again, relentlessly hounding Fiedler, who was intercepted three times, sacked six times and fumbled once.

"They gave us a couple of line stunts that got us, they gave us a couple of blitzes that we weren't able to figure out or pick up," said Fiedler, who completed 16-of-28 passes for 149 yards.

San Francisco controlled the ball for more than 39 minutes and held the Dolphins to just 12 first downs and 174 total yards.

Third-year defensive end Chike Okeafor, who had four career sacks, led the pass rush with 2 1/2 sacks and safety Zack Bronson had two interceptions.

"The defense did a tremendous job and we got another shutout," Bronson said. "We came in here and showed everyone that we can play with anybody."

While Barlow reached the end zone twice, Garrison Hearst rushed for 103 yards on 26 carries to surpass 1,000 yards in a season for the fourth time in his career. With 1,042 yards, Hearst can especially be proud after it was believed his career was over following five operations for a broken ankle which resulted in complications and caused him to miss the previous two seasons.

"Can you imagine what Garrison has achieved?" Mariucci said. "For us to think that he was going to be this dominating and this on top of his game after all he's been through with five surgeries is quite a story. He's so productive, and he's such a leader and such fun to be around."

Barlow scored on a two-yard run and Jeff Garcia hit rookie Eric Johnson with a 12-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to stake the Niners to a 14-0 lead.

Miami managed just four first downs and 54 total yards in the first half. Fiedler threw for just 25 yards while Garcia completed 12-of-17 for 83 yards.

"The defense if doing great, period," said Garcia, who suffered bruised ribs. "It's great to have the defense playing the way they are. It gives us great opportunities to win games."

The Niners effectively ended the game with a 17-play, 98-yard drive which consumed more than 11 minutes in the third quarter. Garcia hit Terrell Owens with a 28-yard pass and Garrison Hearst rushed seven times for 39 yards before Barlow scored his second touchdown of the game.

"They beat us in all phases of the game today -- offense, defense, special teams," Dolphins safety Brock Marion said. "They're a very good team. You've got to give them credit."

With tackles Bryant Young and Dana Stubblefield and linebacker Derek Smith clogging the middle, Miami's Lamar Smith had just 22 yards on nine carries.

"I will take nothing from their performance, they played very well," Smith said. "We couldn't establish a ground game, but the loss was a team loss. No one facet lost it for us exclusively. This loss was a team effort. We're a better team than this but we have to prove it."

Miami cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain were able to contain Owens, who had four catches for 43 yards. Owens has 82 receptions for 1,139 yards.

Bronson intercepted a pass by Fiedler to set up the Niners' first scoring drive. After picking off the pass at the San Francisco 34, Bronson fumbled after being hit by receiver James McKnight, but safety Lance Schulters recovered the ball and returned it to the San Francisco 44.

Hearst broke off a 23-yard run and caught an 11-yard pass before Barlow scored on a two-yard run 6:14 into the game to give the Niners a 7-0 lead.

San Francisco later put together a 13-play, 64-yard drive which resulted in Johnson's touchdown. Barlow broke off an 11-yard run and caught a 14-yard pass and Owens made a six-yard catch on a 4th-and-2 play to keep the drive alive.

On a 3rd-and-8 play at the Miami 12, Garcia fired a pass over the hands of linebacker Zach Thomas and into the arms of Johnson in the middle of the end zone, giving the Niners a 14-0 lead with two seconds left in the first quarter.

San Francisco's textbook 17-play, 98-yard drive included 15 runs and two passes -- completions of 28 yards to Owens and 13 yards to running back Terry Jackson. Hearst rushed seven times for 39 yards on the drive.