Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers

The preseason clash at Levi’s Stadium started with the 49ers in full control. Mac Jones, making his San Francisco debut, wasted no time connecting with rookie Jordan Watkins on a 50-yard strike, setting up Patrick Taylor Jr.’s 5-yard touchdown run. Moments later, Denver quarterback Bo Nix found himself in trouble, committing intentional grounding in the end zone and handing the 49ers a safety for a quick 9-0 lead. It was a confident opening from the home side, backed by an energized crowd eager to see their new signal-caller in action.

Denver’s answer came through resilience and patience. Wil Lutz put the Broncos on the board with a composed field goal, ending their early scoring drought. That kick marked a momentum shift, as Jarrett Stidham took the reins and began dissecting the 49ers’ secondary. He first hit Lucas Krull for an 8-yard touchdown before delivering a perfectly timed 36-yard bomb to Trent Sherfield Sr., turning a 9-0 deficit into a 20-9 halftime advantage. The Broncos’ sideline came alive, their offense suddenly looking in midseason form.

The second half was all Denver. Lutz added a 45-yard field goal to extend the cushion, and Sam Ehlinger later found Caden Prieskorn on a 7-yard touchdown pass that all but sealed the game. By the final whistle, the Broncos had rattled off 30 unanswered points, silencing the Levi’s Stadium crowd. San Francisco, meanwhile, struggled to regain its early spark, with stalled drives and missed opportunities defining their second-half effort.

Defensively, Denver’s front seven dictated the tempo. Nik Bonitto consistently disrupted San Francisco’s backfield, racking up pressures and keeping the 49ers quarterbacks under duress. Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian delivered the game’s lone interception, reading Mac Jones perfectly and returning the ball deep into 49ers territory. These defensive stands not only stifled the 49ers’ comeback hopes but also gave Denver’s offense prime opportunities to add to their lead.

For Mac Jones, the night was a mixed bag—he completed 4 of 7 passes for 74 yards, showing flashes of deep-ball accuracy but also tossing a costly interception. The 49ers’ offense moved the ball well early but couldn’t sustain drives after the opening quarter. On the other side, Denver left Santa Clara with a convincing 30-9 win, a performance that will boost confidence heading deeper into the preseason while leaving the 49ers searching for consistency.