Bo Nix and the Broncos have built a strange kind of habit against the NFC, and it gets put back on the line in Week 4.
Denver heads to San Francisco to meet an undefeated 49ers team that has looked sharp on both sides of the ball, even while dealing with plenty of injuries. On paper, this is a tough draw.
The 49ers have been rolling through three weeks, and they’re coming off games against Miami and Arizona. But the Broncos have also shown they can hang in these NFC matchups, and that’s the part that matters most here.
The Nix-led Broncos are 10-1 against the NFC, with 10 straight wins after that lone loss in Nix’s first NFL start against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2024 NFL Season. That run has come with Nix putting up big numbers across 11 games against NFC opponents:
262/405 (64.7 percent)
2,686 yards
21 touchdowns
5 interceptions
95.8 passer rating
268 rushing yards
6 rushing touchdowns
Stretch that production over a full 17-game season, and the pace looks even louder:
405/626
4,151 yards
32 touchdowns
8 interceptions
414 rushing yards
9 rushing touchdowns
That’s a 41-touchdown pace against the NFC so far, and with Denver playing the entire NFC West this year, this is the stretch where that trend has to keep showing up. The NFC West might be the best division in football, which makes this test even more telling.
The 49ers bring a strong statistical profile into the matchup, ranking 2nd in points per game and 3rd in points allowed per game. Still, the Broncos have been close to automatic against NFC teams, and this game fits right into that pattern. Denver has spent well over a year living in close games, and this one feels like it should be no different.
That matters because the AFC playoff race could be tight enough that every win ends up counting. Denver may not get many easy ones, and this trip to San Francisco comes in the middle of the team’s six-game gauntlet to open the season. If the Broncos are going to keep their edge in that kind of schedule, Nix’s NFC dominance needs to be there again in Week 4.
In Other News...
Broncos Linebacker Struggles Are Forcing An Uncomfortable Veteran Debate
Through three weeks, the Broncos linebacker play has been a mixed bag, and the imbalance is becoming hard to ignore. Justin Strnad has held up well, but Alex Singleton has had a rough start, including a high missed-tackle rate that has put extra pressure on a defense trying to find steadier footing in the middle.
Bobby Wagner is the veteran name that naturally enters the discussion because he was productive last season even as his speed continued to decline. For Denver, the question is whether the need for help at linebacker is strong enough to make that phone call, and whether a late addition could tighten up a group that has yet to convince anyone it has settled in. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Concerns Could Open A Big Door For Denver
The Broncos head into Week 4 in a much cleaner spot physically than a lot of teams around the league, with rookie running back Jonah Coleman on injured reserve and expected back in Week 7, while key pieces such as Mims are working their way back from injury. There is still some uncertainty on Denvers side, including the possibility that Tillman may not be available, but overall this is a team that can focus on football rather than the daily churn of the injury report.
San Francisco, meanwhile, is carrying a longer list of concerns, and one of the biggest is the absence of Bosa because of a calf injury that is expected to keep him out for several games. For Denver, that kind of situation can change the complexion of a matchup quickly, especially when a pass rush centerpiece is missing and depth gets tested. It is the sort of opening the Broncos have to be ready to press if they want to turn a cleaner bill of health into a real advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Coach Is Pushing A Kickoff Change The NFL May Have To Hear
Darren Rizzi is already trying to shape the next conversation around kickoffs, and it is one that goes beyond Denvers own special teams room. The Broncos special teams coach wants the league to consider limiting the use of holders on kickoffs, arguing they should only be allowed when weather makes them necessary. To make sure the idea gets real traction, he has organized a conference call among special teams coordinators to talk through the issue.
Rizzis push comes in the wake of earlier NFL changes to kickoff procedures, which have already altered how teams approach one of the games most specialized plays. His concern is that the current setup can give clubs an unfair advantage, and the discussion now figures to test whether enough coaches around the league see the same problem. For Denver, it is another sign that Rizzi is not just managing the third phase, but trying to influence how it is played. [Read more 🡒]