The Denver Broncos lost the opening coin toss. San Francisco deferred to the second half to bring Bo Nix and the offense out to start this game.
A screen pass to Jaylen Waddle only gained a couple then Nix rolled out on play action on second down where he was forced to throw it away. The 49ers burned a timeout on defense before Denver’s third down play. On third and eight, Nix would throw it outside to Courtland Sutton who got tripped up with the defender for that quick and predictable three-and-out
for the Broncos.
The 49ers came out running the ball and — wouldn’t you know it — they did not go three-and-out. They would convert on a third and short along the way too. However, that great punt by Jeremy Crawshaw would give Denver’s defense plenty of space to get a stop on third and at the 49ers 36 yard line.
Denver’s next possession began with an illegal formation penalty, but Nix was able to get most of those yards back on passes to RJ Harvey and then to a tight end to bring up third and three. Nix would be flushed out on third down to avoid a Dre Greenlaw blitz to find Tyler Badie open for a 25-yard catch and run.
They’d finally run the ball with Harvey picking up five yards on first down, then a short pass outside back to Harvey gained three to bring up third and two at midfield. Nix, from the shotgun, would hand off to Badie who fought his way inside for a three yard gain and another Broncos’ first down.
Two plays later a wide open Jaylen Waddle over the deep middle had a Nix pass dropped perfectly to Waddle’s hands where he dropped it. On third and eight, a screen pass to Marvin Mims Jr. ended up picking up the first down and got Denver into field goal range. That field goal range was immediately put into danger after a Mike McGlinchey holding penalty.
The Broncos would those 10 yards back up to give them a chance at a 52-yard field goal that he would bang through to put Denver on the board first.
Broncos 3, 49ers 0.
Deebo Samuel kicked off the next drive by breaking a Talanoa Hufanga tackle attempt to break loose for 22-yards all the way out to the Broncos 43-yard line. The first quarter would end with the 49ers already knocking on the field goal range door facing a third and four at the Denver 37.
