49ers remain perfect with win over valiant Broncos

San Francisco outlasted Denver in a low-scoring slog in Santa Clara this afternoon.

Leroy Hinds October 4, 2026·3 min read

The Denver Broncos travelled to Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon looking to make it three consecutive victories, while the San Francisco 49ers entered the afternoon unbeaten and determined to maintain its perfect start to the campaign.

The Broncos had impressed during their opening 3 games, sitting at 2-1 after victories over the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco, meanwhile, had emerged as one of the NFC’s early contenders at 3-0, making for a highly-intriguing matchup between teams that had both made strong starts to the season.

Denver struck first through Wil Lutz, who converted a 52-yard field goal early in the opening quarter. The Broncos’ defense also made life difficult for Brock Purdy and the San Francisco offense, with neither side able to find the end zone during the opening 15 minutes.

The 49ers finally hit back in the second quarter when Eddy Pineiro converted from 24 yards to level the game at 3-3.

However, the first half was overshadowed by an injury to Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II. Surtain suffered a non-contact ankle injury late in the second term and was helped from the field by members of Denver’s medical staff. Riley Moss was also ruled questionable to return with a rib injury, leaving the Broncos severely depleted in the secondary.

The two teams entered halftime tied, with neither offence able to establish consistent control. But San Francisco finally broke through early in the third quarter.

Brock Purdy connected with Deebo Samuel Sr. for a 1-yard touchdown, giving the 49ers their first lead of the afternoon. Samuel Sr. had already made an impact on the ground, including a 22-yard run, reflective of his versatility as a true Swiss army knife in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

Denver responded with a 40-yard Lutz field goal, cutting the deficit to 10-6, but the 49ers’ began to find their offensive rhythm as the game progressed.

Christian McCaffrey then extended San Francisco’s advantage in the fourth quarter, powering through for a 1-yard touchdown of his own. The score gave the 49ers a 17-6 lead with just under 9 minutes remaining and appeared to put the game firmly in their control.

Denver refused to go quietly, however, as Bo Nix led a quick response, finding Jaylen Waddle for a 13-yard response. The Broncos then successfully converted a two-point attempt through Tyler Badie, cutting the deficit to just three points.

The momentum had shifted, but San Francisco produced one final, emphatic answer. On what was designed merely to pick up a game-sealing 1st down, Purdy found George Kittle down the left side for a spectacular 56-yard touchdown catch-and-run. The play sealed the 24-14 victory and capped another impressive performance from the 49ers’ quarterback/tight end duo.

Purdy finished with 218 passing yards and 2 touchdowns without throwing an interception or taking a sack, which he is still yet to do in 2026, while Kittle produced 4 catches for 70 yards and the decisive score. Mike Evans also continued his strong start to life in San Francisco with 5 receptions for 76 yards.

For Denver, Nix completed 25 of 42 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. Waddle led the Broncos with 5 receptions for 35 yards and a score, while RJ Harvey contributed 68 receiving yards.

The defeat dropped Denver to 2-2, while San Francisco improved to 4-0. The 49ers have now continued their remarkable start despite missing several key players on both sides of the ball, including Nick Bosa, James Thompson Jr. and Mykel Williams.

Touchdowns

Denver: Waddle
San Francisco: Kittle, McCaffrey, Samuel Sr.