Week 4 of the NFL season is already here and the Denver Broncos are facing another strong opponent in the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers have yet to lose a game this season and will be looking to get to 4-0 against the Broncos.
The Broncos have had a rough schedule to start the season, but in many ways, this might be the biggest challenge yet. The 49ers have played complete football through three games and look like one of the league's best teams. Throw in the fact that it will be played at Levi's Stadium and the Broncos are likely to have their hands full.
One of the biggest things for the Broncos in beating the Rams last Sunday night was that they won't have to worry about digging themselves out of a 1-3 hole should they lose this game. Still,
they want to go on the road and make another statement against one of the league's best squads.
In order to do that, they will need to be wary of these three things.
Broncos' causes for concern vs. 49ers in Week 4
49ers' running game
The Kansas City Chiefs obliterated Denver's defense with their running game in Week 1. Last week, the Los Angeles Rams also found plenty of success on the ground, averaging 5.0 yards per carry.
The 49ers are a run-first team that will use the run to set up the play-action pass. That is when they are at their best. They have one of the league's most dangerous and versatile running backs in Christian McCaffrey and can spell him quite well with rookie running back Kaelon Black.
Look for the 49ers to get the ground game going early. The Broncos will have to show they can slow it down, or it will be a long day.
George Kittle
The Broncos generally struggle against tight ends and George Kittle is one who can bring out the worst in a defense. Plus, he's been hot lately.
Kittle has 10 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns across the Niners' last two games and now he gets a matchup where he could find himself against the likes of Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad. That won't go well for Denver.
Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones will need to be prepared to help out with Kittle, or he could have his sights set on the kind of day he had against the Broncos in 2018, when he went for 210 yards and a touchdown on nine catches.
Slow starts
Broncos fans have talked about this and heard about this ad nauseam in this young season, as it has carried over from last season and is something coach Sean Payton knows the team needs to nip in the bud.
It often ends in the Broncos' favor, but against a disciplined and well-coached team like the 49ers, particularly on the road, it seems like a bad situation.
The Broncos need to come out sharp on offense and leave themselves makeable third-down conversions. Instead of being in third-and-long, they need to work on getting five or six yards on first down in order for Davis Webb to have his full playbook at his disposal. This will also be huge for Bo Nix, who needs to find a quick rhythm, as that is all but essential for this team to get off the starting blocks better than it has.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 3 causes for concern when Broncos face 49ers in Week 4
