Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-05 · by Arnie Stapleton The Associated Press
Story summary
On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos 24-14 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, remaining unbeaten through four games. The game saw Brock Purdy throw two touchdown passes and Christian McCaffrey run for a score, capitalizing on injuries to both of Denver’s starting cornerbacks: Patrick Surtain II (who left with an ankle injury) and Riley Moss (out with rib injuries). The Broncos' defense ranked among the best in the league last season but struggled without their top players. Additionally, receiver Pat Bryant was carted off with a leg injury, further hampering Denver’s chances. Despite trailing early, the Broncos rallied in the fourth quarter but couldn't overcome the deficit. This victory highlights the 49ers' resilience and offensive prowess under Purdy's leadership, who has completed passes at an impressive 63.9% Success Rate this season.
Written for “Broncos vs 49ers Game” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Sluggishness finally caught up to the Denver Broncos in a loss at San Francisco that could prove even costlier with injuries to cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss and rising second-year receiver Pat Bryant.
uncertain
that → catch → cornerbacks
Coach Sean Payton declined to reveal any updates on their conditions Monday.
asserted
Payton → decline → conditions
For the fourth consecutive week, the Broncos started slow and by the time they rallied in the fourth quarter Sunday, it was too late; they were saddled with a 24-14 loss.
asserted
they → start → loss
The Broncos (2-2) have scored just 13 points before halftime so far and they’ve put up 61 points after the break, including 39 in the fourth quarter.
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they → score → quarter
They rallied to beat the Jaguars and Rams at home after trailing by double digits but their propensity for slow starts has proven costly with losses at San Francisco and Kansas City.
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propensity → rally → Francisco
Payton said after the game it was too early to consider changing things up with new play-caller Davis Webb, but clearly Webb and quarterback Bo Nix have some chemistry to build — and fast — with a trip to play the Chargers up next before hosting the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
asserted
Webb → say → champion
“It’s too early.
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It → ’ → ?
It’s a fair question; I appreciate it.
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I → ’ → it
It’s tough to discuss any of that right now,” Payton said when asked about switching up the play-calling duties.
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Payton → ’ → duties
“But I told those guys, ‘Hey, we’ve played some tough teams, and this is another good football team.’
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this → tell → teams
”
Nix trusts the kinks will get ironed out soon between him and Webb.
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kinks → trust → him
“Yeah, I’m real confident in him.
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I → ’m → him
I think when you look at the overall landscape, we’ve played four of the top teams in the league, and not easy for a first-time OC as young as he is to go against some of the, quite frankly, the best teams in the league,” Nix said.
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Nix → think → league
“So, he definitely is going to continue to work to put us in the right spots. ...
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he → go → spots
I think it’s just overall something that we’ve got to continue to help him and execute, and as players, you’ve got to put him in a better spot.”
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you → think → spot
The Broncos punted on five of their first six possessions against the Niners and scored just three points in the first three quarters.
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Broncos → punt → quarters
“Obviously, we want to have a really explosive offense and that’ll come, but we’ve played really good teams,” Nix said.
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Nix → want → teams
“We’ve played four really good challenges so far, and we’re sitting here at 2-2.
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we → play → 2
I definitely don’t think we hit the panic button, but at the same time we just have to continue to grind and find ways to get better.”
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we → think → ways
What’s working
Backup cornerbacks Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine performed well when pressed into duty.
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cornerbacks → work → duty
“I thought they came in and did a real good job,” Payton said.
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Payton → think → job
“It was good to see.
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It → see → ?
I think it’s a position we have depth at and those guys both kind of got thrown into the fire and I thought handled it well.
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I → think → it
”
What needs help
Webb and Nix need to figure out how to jumpstart the offense from the start, which would only help Denver’s stout but tiring defense.
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which → need → defense
RB R.J. Harvey was a one-man band, piling up 157 total yards Sunday.
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Harvey → pile → yards
He caught all 10 passes thrown his way, for 68 yards.
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He → catch → yards
he rushed seven times for 25 yards and had 64 yards on two kickoff returns.
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he → rush → returns
Stock down
PR Marvin Mims Jr.‘s fumbled punt return was the turning point in the Broncos’ loss.
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return → fumble → loss
Moss has either been injured or ineffective going back to training camp and isn’t nearly the sparkplug he’s been in the past for the Broncos special teams.
asserted
he → go → teams
Injuries
Surtain (ankle), Moss (ribs) and Bryant (ankle) could miss multiple games.
uncertain
Moss → miss → games
Key number
5 — punts in six drives through three quarters for the Broncos, who had a field goal, a touchdown and a missed field goal on their three fourth-quarter possessions.
Next steps
The Broncos travel to Los Angeles to face the winless Chargers (0-4) and can ill afford yet another slow start.
asserted
Broncos → have → start
The Aporia
