Broncos Thump 49ers 30-9 in Preseason Opener

Broncos lost the coin toss and the 49ers offense opted to start with the ball.

Mac Jones started at QB for San Fran and make quick work of the Broncos vaunted defense as they quickly moved down the field. After a 50-yard completion to Jordan Watkins beating Jaquan MacMillian, Patrick Taylor punched it in from 5 yards out for the first score of the game. SF lead 7-0 with 10:41 remaining in the 1st quarter.

Bo Nix and the Broncos offense took the field for the first time and were able to string together a drive that got into 49ers territory but the drive stalled at midfield and Jeremy Crawshaw was on for his first punt as a Bronco. Troy Franklin had a nice catch to get the Broncos their initial first down and RJ Harvey had a nifty 7 yard run on the drive.

Mac Jones didn't have as much success on the next drive as Nik Bonitto terrorized Jones and accumulated 1.5 sacks before the 49ers were forced to punt. The Broncos started their next from their own 10 yard line with 4:08 remaining in the 1st quarter.

Bo Nix was called for Intentional Grounding on 3rd and 6 in the End Zone and the 49ers tacked on 2 more points, now leading 9-0 with 3:20 remaining.

Denver's defense gave the Broncos offense a reprieve as JaQuan MacMillian intercepted Jones at the 49 yard line getting the ball back into Bo Nix's hands.

RJ Harvey had a nice 11 yard run and then on 4th and 5, Nix hit Troy Franklin for a 9 yard gain to keep the drive going. Unfortunately, the offense stalled out and Wil Lutz came on to convert a 42 yard field goal, cutting into the SF lead 9-3 with 13:38 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

Carter Bradley took over at QB but was unable to get a 1st down and the 49ers punted it back to the Broncos. Nice return of 25 yards by Courtney Jackson to get the ball to Denver 45 yard line.

Jarrett Stidham took over at QB, Bo Nix night was over. Nice pass to Pat Bryant the initial 1st down of the drive, 12 yard gain. Stidham was sacked as the offense was nearing the Red Zone but on 3rd and 15, Stidham scrambled for 18 yards to keep the drive moving. Eventually the offense stalled out and Wil Lutz was brought on to convert a 32 yard field goal. 49ers lead 9-6 with 4:35 remaining in the 1st half.

Karene Reid came up with an easy interception on Carter Bradley to get the ball back to the offense with 3:03 remaining in the 2nd quarter. Tyler Badie with two nice runs gained the initial first down of the drive. McLaughlin caught a swing pass for 5 yards out of the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and 5, Pat Bryant caught a 9 yard pass to move the Broncos inside the 10 yard line and keep the drive going. Vele had a catch over the middle to get the Broncos inside the 5 and, after a false start, Stidham found a WIDE OPEN Lucas Krull for Denver's first touchdown of the game. Broncos take the lead 13-9 with 1:30 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

Denver's defense forced an extremely quick 3 and out to give the offense one more crack at scoring before half. After a 19 yard completion to Trent Sherfield, Stidham went right back to him and he made an INCREDIBLE toe tap catch in the end zone to extend the lead 20-9 with 26 seconds remaining in the half.

Bradley was called for intentional grounding after Jonah Ellis forced him to throw it away. 49ers content to run it out.

Broncos offense started with the football, Stidham still in the game. Trent Sherfield went back to work with an 18 yard catch and run but then a couple of penalties put the Broncos behind the sticks and facing a 3rd and 13. Stidham took off an ran but fumbled the ball...fortunately Pat Bryant was able to come up with it but the offense came up short and Denver was forced to punt.

San Francisco would start their next drive from their own 10 yard line after a holding penalty. 11:08 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Carter Bradley seemingly threw another interception but an illegal hands penalty by Uwazerike wiped it out. A couple plays later, JL Skinner came up with a huge hit on Abdullah and jarred the ball loose. Rookie Sai'Vion Jones came up with the ball and gave it back to the offense at the Denver 37 yard line.

Blake Watson rushed for 18 yards and then followed that up with a 16 yard catch and run in the flat to get the Broncos into 49ers territory. A penalty by Frank Crum on 3rd and 12 that wiped out a 1st down gain ultimately sunk the drive and Wil Lutz was brought on to convert a 45 yard field goal, extending the Denver lead 23-9 with 1:39 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

As we began the 4th quarter, the Broncos offense got the ball back at their 19 yard line with a 14 point lead. Sam Ehlinger in at QB. Broncos offense quickly went 3 and out.

Tanner Mordecai took over at QB for the 49ers and got an initial 1st down on a DPI penalty vs Delarrin Turner-Yell but couldn't do much more than that. They went for it on 4th down but Chosen was tackled short of the sticks and the offense went back to work at the SF 38 with 10:39 remaining in the game.

Ehlinger and the offense worked down to the 21 yard line before facing a 4th and 6. Watson caught a short pass on the right but came up short by a yard so the ball went back to San Francisco with 8:39 remaining.

Mordecai gave it right back as he threw an interception to Joshua Pickett, setting the Broncos up at midfield. Audric Estime had a great catch and run for 20 yards on 3rd and 9. On 3rd and 14, Ehlinger hit Joaquin Davis for a 14 yard gain to keep the drive going. Estime converted ANOTHER 3rd down to give the Broncos a Goal-to-Go opportunity. On the next play, Ehlinger hit Caden Prieskorn in the flat for a 7 yard touchdown, extending the lead 30-9 with 2:15 remaining.

Broncos beat the 49ers 30-9 to win their 1st game of the preseason.

The next broadcast will be next Saturday, August 16th as the Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals. Coverage on KOA starts at 4pm, kickoff at 7:30pm.

Below are the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix and Trent Sherfield