3 quick takeaways from 49ers win over Broncos: Timely plays put Niners on top for 2nd straight week
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to throw during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 24-14 to start the season 4-0 on Sunday and cap off a three-game home stretch with another quality win.
Over the first three weeks, the 49ers offense dominated,
but it took a while to get things going on Sunday, as San Francisco had just 10 points through three quarters in a low-scoring affair.
However, timely plays at the end led the 49ers to another double-digit victory, and they stand atop the NFC West a quarter into the season.
Here are three quick takeaways from the 49ers win over Denver on Sunday.
Finishing games strong
The 49ers have faced some adversity the last two weeks in the fourth quarter, as they’ve found themselves in close games after holding double-digit leads.
Last weekend, after the Arizona Cardinals pulled within two, the 49ers were aggressive offensively, and a touchdown drive sealed the game.
This weekend, after the Broncos got a touchdown and two-point conversion to cut the lead to three, the 49ers had the ball with just over four minutes left and a chance to finish the game. And that’s exactly what they did.
After getting a first down that inched the 49ers near midfield, San Francisco got the explosive play they had been searching for all game as Brock Purdy hit George Kittle, who outran the defense for a 56-yard touchdown to put the 49ers up 10.
On the following drive, the 49ers forced Denver into multiple fourth downs, and the Broncos looked to kick on 4th & 5 at the 40-yard line to try and bridge the gap for an onside kick. However, a Will Lutz field goal sealed the deal and the 49ers came away with yet another impressive win.
This wasn’t the prettiest win for the 49ers. They did not look great offensively, as the Broncos defense neutralized explosive plays and kept the run game in check for the most part.
But in games like these, they need timely plays at the end, and Kyle Shanahan’s squad delivered.
Defensive Line stops the run
The Broncos have generally been a pass-heavy team under Sean Payton and Bo Nix. But with the 49ers’ shorthanded defensive line, stopping the run was a priority.
Well, San Francisco’s unit did a pretty good job of that, holding Denver’s running backs to 3.6 yards per carry. Moreover, the 49ers contained explosives, as the Broncos had no carries for 10 or more yards.
Of course, a big part of that was also linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw swarming to the ball. They had 19 tackles combined.
Now, San Francisco’s defensive line is clearly lacking a pass rush. While Bo Nix has generally been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks at avoiding sacks, he had a ton of clean pockets on Sunday. Credit goes, though, to the 49ers secondary for locking up well in coverage, limiting explosive plays through the air.
We’ll see if the 49ers can get players back or look for reinforcements over the next couple of weeks, but it was a good sign that players showed up in run defense on Sunday.
Playing clean football
As simple as it sounds, one of my keys to the game for the 49ers was playing clean football. Why?
Well, San Francisco entered the game as one of the least-penalized and least turnover-prone teams, ranking in the bottom five in both categories. Meanwhile, the Broncos were in the middle of the pack, and penalties have especially been a recurring theme for Denver.
In a close game like Sunday’s, I thought those two factors could tilt things in the 49ers’ favor, and they did. The Broncos were penalized seven times on Sunday, compared to just one for the 49ers.
Additionally, Marvin Mims’s fumble on the punt led to the 49ers first touchdown of the game, opening things up for the Niners offense.
Even when they may be struggling in some facet of the game, playing clean football can keep the 49ers ahead, and it did on Sunday.
Next up, the 49ers get another big challenge, as they take on the Seattle Seahawks on the road next week at Lumen Field. But 4-0, the 49ers are in a great spot through the first quarter of the season.