The Broncos head to San Francisco with a problem that’s been baked into the matchup from the start: the 49ers can beat you in too many ways. They’ve got one of the league’s most dangerous offenses, one of its best defenses, and enough coaching and talent to punish any slow start.
For Denver, that makes the opening half feel especially important. If the Broncos can’t get points on the board early, this game can tilt fast.
That’s why the two matchups that matter most are easy to spot. On offense, Denver needs Waddle to be the spark. On defense, it needs Bonitto to help disrupt Brock Purdy without getting swallowed up by a tough San Francisco front.
Waddle has not been consistently involved this season, aside from his big Week 2 outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Denver’s other two games, he has only three catches on 10 targets for 12 yards.
But when he’s part of the offense, everything looks more dangerous. The Broncos are more explosive, and the whole unit operates with more rhythm.
That’s exactly why this trip to Levi’s Stadium puts him in the spotlight.
The coverage matchup also lines up in a way Denver has to like. The Broncos should try to get Waddle matched up with Green, who struggled badly in 2025 but opened this season well before being targeted last week.
Green has allowed nine catches on 12 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown overall, and seven catches on nine targets for 65 yards with the touchdown coming in San Francisco’s Week 3 game. He can still be aggressive and make plays on the ball, though, with an interception and a pass breakup this season, so Bo Nix has to be sharp no matter who he’s throwing to.
The other battle is in the trenches, where Denver’s margin for error gets even thinner. The Broncos have to hold up against the run and find ways to pressure Purdy, which is a difficult assignment against a 49ers team that does a lot of damage on the ground.
Bonitto gives Denver a real chance to affect the pocket, but he’ll be lined up against Williams, one of the best left tackles in football. Williams has allowed just five pressures on 84 pass-blocking snaps and shut down Myles Garrett in Week 1. He’s also been a force in the run game, with the 49ers running behind him 22 times for 101 yards, two touchdowns and five first downs.
Bonitto’s edge rush is the bigger reason Denver needs him in this game, even if his run defense leaves some concern. San Francisco could test him there, but the Broncos are counting on him to make Purdy uncomfortable and create some chaos in a passing game built to produce explosive plays. Getting through Williams won’t be simple, but Bonitto has shown before that he can rise to the challenge against top tackles.
All of that leaves Denver with a clear formula: score early, keep the big plays in check, and win a couple of critical one-on-one battles. The Broncos and 49ers are tied 8-8 all time and 2-2 in their last four meetings, and Levi’s Stadium has been a memorable place for Denver before. This time, though, the Broncos need those matchups to go their way.
In Other News...
Broncos Could Get A Dangerous Weapon Back Just In Time
Marvin Mims Jr. was back on the practice field in full Wednesday, a welcome sign for a Broncos offense that has been waiting to get one of its more explosive pieces back in the mix. The second-year wide receiver missed the last two games because of a foot injury, and his return to full participation suggests Denver may be getting close to restoring a dangerous vertical threat just in time for a matchup with the 49ers.
The Broncos will still have to wait for the rest of the week before anything is official, but Mims availability is suddenly a storyline worth watching. If he can keep trending in the right direction, Denver could have a timely boost in a game where every bit of speed and spacing matters. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Get Early Injury Relief Before A Huge 49ers Test
The Broncos got a little encouraging injury news early in the week as they began preparing for a tough test against the 49ers. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was back on the practice field after previously being seen in a walking boot, and Marvin Mims Jr. also logged a full session after being limited and then inactive for a game. Running back J.K. Dobbins was another welcome sight, practicing in full despite the hip issue that had been hanging over him.
There were still a few spots to monitor, though. Edge rusher Dondrea Tillman sat out with a hamstring issue, even if he was around the team, and defensive lineman Zach Allen was limited as the Broncos managed his workload for rest. With San Francisco looming, Denvers early-week health picture is trending in the right direction, but the availability of a few key pieces will still matter as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Is Flipping A Costly Trend From Last Season
Through three games in the Sean Payton era, the Broncos have found something that was hard to come by at times last season: takeaways. Denvers defense has already forced four interceptions, the most in the league so far, and has produced at least one turnover in every game, giving the unit a steadier edge than it showed a year ago.
The payoff has shown up in the numbers, too, with opposing quarterbacks managing only a 74.3 passer rating against Denver. For a team that spent much of last season chasing consistency on defense, the early return is encouraging, even if the real test will be whether this turnover streak can hold once the schedule starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]