49ers Thwart High-Flying Broncos in Bruising Win
San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy (#13 center) gestures after running for a first down during the second half of a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
10.04.2026 – Santa Clara, California – The San Francisco 49ers QB1 Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes and Christian McCaffrey ran for a score as the 49ers scored touchdowns on three straight second-half possessions to beat the Denver Broncos 24-14 on Sunday to remain undefeated (4-0).
The 49ers’ early offensive struggles on Sunday did not bode well for their chances to earn a win against the Broncos. The Niners entered halftime with just three points. To make matters worse, the Broncos had scored 50 second-half points across their first three games.
But all afternoon, Denver’s sluggish offense failed to solve the mystery that is 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ scheme. And head coach Kyle Shanahan dug deep enough in his playbook to find 21 second-half points — capped by a George Kittle 56-yard touchdown on a tight end screen — against a fierce Broncos defense that got decimated by injuries during a hot afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.
2026.10.04 – (CO Broncos vs SF 49ers) NFL Game Highlights
San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy (#13 center) makes a throw during the first half of Sunday’s 24-14 win over the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. He passed for 218 yards. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
2026.10.04 – (CO Broncos vs SF 49ers) NFL Game Highlights
2026.10.04 – (CO Broncos vs SF 49ers) NFL Game Highlights
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (#23 center) gestures after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
The 49ers, despite an imperfect performance, beat the Broncos, a possible Super Bowl contender out of the AFC.
“We knew that was going to be a dogfight,” running back Christian McCaffrey said. “That’s a hell of a team. Good defense. Good players all around. So, for us, it’s about playing four quarters, not letting what happens in the first half get to you.”
Here are our takeaways from the 49ers’ win, which improved them to 4-0 for the third time under Shanahan and for the first since 2023.
Ugly offense: If you’re entertained by acrobatic touchdown catches and breakaway runs, this football game was not the one for you.
The first 40 minutes brought little to no offensive action. The highlight reel consisted of a pair of field goals by Eddy Piñeiro and Will Lutz. And a whole lot of defensive stands.
The 49ers’ second drive strangely stalled out after they marched into Broncos territory. On 4th-and-1½, Shanahan dialed up a quarterback sneak for Purdy. He landed short of the marker. San Francisco, with an opportunity to get three points on the board, left with zero.
After surviving three games without taking a sack, the Broncos came close to snapping Purdy’s streak multiple times. But it didn’t happen. Late in the second quarter, Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones came close to getting home. He delivered a big hit on Purdy, who just got the ball off in time for an incompletion. A couple plays later, outside linebacker Que Robinson pressured Purdy, who escaped the pocket and targeted an open Mike Evans in the end zone. Purdy missed him, delivering an off-target throw. The 49ers settled for a 24-yard field goal.
There were missed opportunities on both sides.
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (#85 right) runs for a 56-yard touchdown after catching a pass in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Broncos at Levi’s Stadium. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
On the 49ers’ second defensive drive, linebacker Dre Greenlaw had a clean look at Broncos QB Bo Nix in the backfield on 3rd-and-3. But he took the wrong angle, allowing Nix to juke left and dump off a pass to running back Tyler Badie, who scurried down the left sideline for a 25-yard gain. Later that drive, Nix found Jaylen Waddle over the middle, but a crushing drop by the receiver bailed out the 49ers on what could have been an early scoring drive. Denver still salvaged the possession with a field goal on a 13-play, 55-yard drive in which it converted three of four third downs.
The 49ers did gain 140 yards on the ground. Forty-two of them came on two chunk plays from Deebo Samuel, who continues to look like one of San Francisco’s best offensive weapons. But the 49ers failed to string together a drive longer than 5 minutes and 25 seconds. They earned points on one of their first seven possessions before scoring three consecutive touchdowns across the third and fourth quarters.
Surprisingly strong defense: Even with a banged up defensive line, the 49ers held the Broncos to 3.7 yards per carry. None of Denver’s backs — J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey or Badie — managed a run longer than nine yards. Limiting explosives on the ground was the key that allowed Morris’ unit to hold the Broncos to one touchdown, despite them converting on eight third downs.
Shanahan explained that, even though the 49ers’ offense came to life in the second half, the defense is what keyed Sunday’s win. By consistently getting stops, the 49ers were able to control the game script and keep the ball on the ground (35 carries vs. 30 passes), which, in turn, evened out time of possession after San Francisco was dominated in that category last Sunday.
“Last night at the team meeting, we said how we really wanted to run the ball in this game and stick with it,” Shanahan said. “I don’t believe (that’s) just an offensive thing. I said: ‘That’s our goal, defense, if you guys can allow us to be that way.’ And I thought they did completely.”
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (#5 center) is being tackled by Denver Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (#31) during the second half of a NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The 49ers defeated the Broncos 24-14. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2026.10.04 – CO Broncos vs SF 49ers – (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
The defensive line struggled to generate much of a pass rush. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix wasn’t sacked. But holding him to 214 yards through the air on 42 throws (and just 5.1 yards/attempt), while missing key linemen such as Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, counts as a success for the 49ers.
Unexpected heroes: Two surprise candidates flipped the game in the 49ers’ direction in the third quarter: safety Siran Neal and running back Kaelon Black.
The reserves each made a key play when San Francisco desperately needed points. First, with just under 10 minutes remaining in the period, Neal, the lone man out in front on a Broncos punt return, tugged on the right leg of wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. The ball came loose as Mims hit the turf, and Neal swiped it, giving the 49ers’ offense a prime opportunity on Denver’s 28-yard line.
Purdy proceeded to lead the first touchdown drive of the afternoon for either side: nine plays and 28 yards, capped with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Samuel. But the touchdown wouldn’t have come if it weren’t for Black, who saved a poor snap from center Jake Brendel that sailed to the right of Purdy on 4th-and-1. Black corralled it, took the direct snap and plowed forward for two yards, just enough to keep the drive going.
The score when those two plays occurred: 3-3. From that point on? 49ers 21, Broncos 11.
“The momentum changed after that,” Shanahan said.
Injuries
Broncos: Surtain (ankle), CB Riley Moss (ribs) and WR Pat Bryant (ankle) all left with injuries and didn’t return. Payton had no immediate word on the extent of the injuries.
49ers: FB Kyle Juszczyk left with a sprained knee injury after being hit by Jahdae Barron and didn’t return. … S Marques Sigle (ankle) and CB Upton Stout (shoulder) also left. Shanahan had no immediate word on the extent of the injuries.
Up next (49ers Roster)
Broncos: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.
49ers: Visit Seattle next Sunday.
Related: See below – 49ers rally to beat Lions and secure Super Bowl trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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