49ers Grind Past Broncos 24-14 to Stay Perfect at 4-0
A sluggish first half gave way to a dominant second as Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle all found the end zone against Denver.
The San Francisco 49ers are 4-0, and the way they got there on Sunday says as much as the record: a 3-3 slog through the early going, then a second half they controlled from start to finish in a 24-14 win over the Denver Broncos, who fall to 2-2.
A game of two halves
San Francisco's offense sputtered early — per 49ers Webzone, the teams were tied 3-3 after the opening quarter and the Niners flirted with their first scoreless half since October 2021. The breakthrough came in the third, when Brock Purdy hit Deebo Samuel from a yard out to take the lead. Christian McCaffrey added a 1-yard plunge in the fourth, and after Bo Nix answered with a 13-yard touchdown to Jaylen Waddle, George Kittle ended it — turning a short throw into a 56-yard catch-and-run score.
Purdy steady, line spotless
Purdy finished 19-of-30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover, good for a 107.4 rating, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. McCaffrey ground out 52 yards on 15 carries, Samuel chipped in 44 rushing yards on top of his touchdown catch, and Mike Evans led the receivers with 76 yards while playing through a rib injury. The quieter headline might be the biggest one: San Francisco's offensive line has now gone four straight games without allowing a sack — per NBC Sports Bay Area, the first team to do that in more than 20 years.
The cost, and what's next
It wasn't free. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, and Denver's banged-up secondary lost Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss during the game, with receiver Pat Bryant also exiting with an ankle issue.
The schedule now bares its teeth: Week 5 brings the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. A 4-0 start earns attention; beating Seattle would earn belief.