The San Francisco 49ers protection started the sport with a three-and-out. Cornerback Renardo Inexperienced was concerned in two of the three performs. The Denver Broncos wished a pass-interference name, however the ref noticed it in a different way.
After a 57-yard punt pinned the offense at their six-yard line, the Niners picked up a few first downs to get out of the shadow of their very own finish zone. After a reverse wherein Jacob Cowing solely gained two yards, Brock Purdy and Cowing weren’t on the identical web page on third down, which led to a 49ers punt.
The Broncos have been additionally backed up. They flipped the sphere on third down after Nix used his legs to increase the play and located the operating again streaking down the sideline. Raheem Morris blitzed Dre Greenlaw and dropped Keion White and Romello Top in protection. No person picked up the operating again.
Nix discovered Marvin Mims for 10 yards on third & 8, giving Denver their first actual likelihood to attain. However outdated buddy Mike McGlinchey was flagged for holding. The Broncos settled for a 52-yard discipline objective. These have been the primary factors the 49ers have allowed within the first quarter of the season.
Deebo Samuel started the subsequent drive at operating again. He ran by a sort out by Talanoa Hufanga for a primary down. On third and 4, the 49ers ran for 3 yards. It was nearer to 4th and a pair of than 4th and 1, however that didn’t cease the offense from making an attempt a quarterback sneak. Purdy didn’t acquire any yards, because the offense stalled for its second consecutive drive.
The protection didn’t disappoint. After a penalty that made it third and seven, Raheem Morris dialed up a blitz that led to a free rusher. Dre Greenlaw flushed Nix from the pocket, and Denver went three-and-out for the second time in three drives.
The third drive started on the Niners 12-yard line. Brandin Cooks noticed his first motion. The drive lasted two minutes, as McCaffrey was stopped brief on third and 1.
Through the protection’s fourth drive, Malik Mustapha rotated in for Marques Sigle. Dre Greenlaw missed a sort out to make it third and one, however the Broncos had one other false begin to make it third and 6. Nix couldn’t discover anyone open, however reversed discipline and made one other play together with his legs. This time, it resulted in a primary down for Denver.
Mustapha obtained the final snicker on the drive after breaking apart a move on third down and making a diving cease to power a punt.
Purdy discovered Mike Evans for an 18-yard acquire to start out the fourth drive. McCaffrey gained ten on a second-and-short. The offense confirmed indicators of life because it approached the two-minute warning. Kyle Shanahan went again to the reverse. This time, it was to the left aspect with Deebo Samuel. Deebo ran by a number of arm tackles, gaining 20 yards to offer San Francisco an opportunity to place factors on the board earlier than the two-minute warning.
Purdy discovered Kyle Juszczyk for a 12-yard acquire, and the Niners had one other recent set of downs. On third and objective, Purdy scrambled, however missed Evans in the long run zone, who was open. Eddy Pineiro kicked a 24-yard discipline objective to tie the sport at three.
Denver’s offense had 1:36 remaining within the half, however was out of timeouts. They mustered one first down, however the protection held and gave the offense the ball again with two timeouts and 47 seconds remaining.
Fred Warner had been within the blue medical tent earlier within the half. After that collection, he headed to the locker room early.
Purdy discovered Evans for a 25-yard acquire. It was over the center, and Evans took a shot to the ribs. He was clearly in ache, however Patrick Surtain was the one down on the sphere. The Broncos have been compelled to make use of considered one of their timeouts. It was a non-contact damage for Surtain, who limped off the sphere with assist from the trainers.
The offense did its half. They obtained into discipline objective vary. On Pineiro’s try, rookie Carver Willis was shocked by Zach Allen, who blocked the kick. The sport remained tied at three heading into halftime.
The Broncos averaged solely 3.8 yards per play, in comparison with the 49ers’ 5.6. However the Niners have been 3-for-8 on late downs, whereas Denver transformed 54% of their alternatives. The Niners’ protection dominated early downs, however Nix’s scrambling made the distinction.
Nix had 24 makes an attempt within the first half for 93 yards. His aDOT was 4.1 yards, 4.1 yards under the NFL common. He was 3-for-10 in opposition to the blitz for 15 yards. He was not sharp.
The 49ers obtained the ball to start out the fourth quarter. Deebo fumbled the kickoff, however Brayden Willis was Johnny on the Spot.
Cooks and Jordan Watkins have been the wideouts to start the drive. Cooks was flagged for an unlawful shift, however the penalty was declined. He was focused on third down, however saved drifting on his route, and the ball went proper by his fingers. And the offense went three-and-out.
Second-year security Marques Sigle was shaken as much as start the subsequent drive. Mustapha got here in for Sigle, who headed to the blue medical tent. It was an unlucky damage, as Sigle made an awesome run-stuffing play.
The protection compelled one other third-and-long, however Upton Stout couldn’t work his means by the decide to stop the first-down reception. Warner jarred the ball free on first down. Greenlaw tracked Nix down on third down, and Denver was compelled to punt as soon as once more.
Broncos cornerback Riley Moss left with a rib damage and was questionable to return. That meant Denver was down their prime two corners. Might the Niners take benefit?
Watkins and Deebo can be the receivers on this drive. Evans returned on the subsequent two downs, however he was coated on third down.
That drive lasted one minute. Corliss Waitman booted a 61-yarder, however Siran Neal had an much more spectacular play, forcing a fumble and gifting the offense the ball at Denver’s 28.
On 4th and 1, Jake Brendel snapped the ball as if Purdy have been below middle. The ball flipped up into the air and into the fingers of Kaelon Black, who transformed. Then, on 2nd and 11, Purdy scrambled for a primary down, and the Niners had first-and-goal.
That might not be the final time Purdy used his legs. On third-and-goal, Purdy appeared like he may run for a landing. After he realized he’d come up brief, he noticed Deebo in his peripheral imaginative and prescient. Samuel was extensive open, and the landing was the primary of the sport, giving the 49ers a 10-3 lead.
Sigle returned to the sport after struggling a stinger earlier within the sport. It appeared as if the 49ers had the Broncos lifeless to rights, however Stout obtained misplaced in protection, and Pat Bryant discovered a comfortable spot within the zone and gained 30 yards.
Denver confronted a third and 10 from the 30. They threw a display screen move for seven yards, nevertheless it meant the Broncos would accept a discipline objective to make it 10-6.
Purdy purchased time that led to a 16-yard acquire to Juszczyk, however the defender went low on him. Juszczyk wanted assist off the sphere after grabbing his knee. Brayden Willis crammed in for Juszczyk, who was dominated out for the rest of the sport.
As that occurred, Stout ran to the locker room. He was questionable to return with a shoulder damage.
After discovering Evans for 9 yards, McCaffrey picked up 14 yards to place the 49ers in discipline objective vary. A play-action move to Evans gained 16 yards, giving the offense a goal-to-go state of affairs. McCaffrey dove into the top zone, giving the Niners a 17-6 lead.
Jack Jones changed Stout, and Deommodore Lenoir moved to nickel. Jones missed a sort out on the primary play, permitting RJ Harvey to choose up 18 yards. Greenlaw made a heck of an effort to power a fumble on Harvey a few performs later — Warner may get credit score for it — however the ball bounced again to Denver. So, the fumble luck evened out.
After a few profitable rushes, Lenoir obtained caught in no-man’s-land in protection. Jones was late to react, and the Broncos scored to make it 17-12. A two-point conversion made it a ballgame, and it was 17-14 with 4 minutes remaining. The Broncos drove 70 yards in 8 performs in below 5 minutes.
The offense had a possibility to empty the clock with 4 minutes remaining. We’ve seen them do it to finish video games all season. After discovering McCaffrey for a nine-yard acquire, Purdy snuck for a primary down.
We’ve additionally seen Shanahan go for the kill shot in these conditions, as he did final week. Shanahan dialed up a display screen to Kittle. Jake Brendel made an awesome block, and Kittle, who appeared shocked by all of the area in entrance of him, outran Talanoa Hufanga for a 56-yard completion.
Kittle reaching practically 20 miles per hour after we’re lower than 9 months faraway from his Achilles surgical procedure is exceptional.
Denver’s 58-yard discipline objective try was extensive proper, and that will seal the deal. The 49ers are 4-0.
