Late Surge Secures Victory
The San Francisco 49ers demonstrated their resilience on Sunday, October 4, 2026, defeating the Denver Broncos 24-14 in front of 70,776 fans at Levi's Stadium. Despite falling behind early and facing a spirited comeback attempt from the visitors, the home squad managed to close out the fourth quarter with two consecutive touchdowns to seal the win.
This victory extends San Francisco's undefeated start to 4-0, while Denver drops to 2-2.
Early Lead and Mid-Game Balance
The Broncos struck first in the first quarter when Wil Lutz kicked a 52-yard field goal, putting Denver up 3-0. The 49ers responded in the second quarter as Eddy Pineiro converted a 24-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the break.
The third quarter saw San Francisco take control; Deebo Samuel Jr. caught a one-yard pass from Brock Purdy for a touchdown, giving the 49ers a 10-3 lead. Pineiro’s extra point attempt was successful, extending the margin before the final period began.
Fourth-Quarter Drama
The fourth quarter proved to be the most volatile stretch of the contest. Wil Lutz kicked a 40-yard field goal for Denver to cut the deficit to 10-6. However, the 49ers answered quickly with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Christian McCaffrey, pushing the score to 17-6.
The Broncos refused to fold, as Bo Nix found Jaylen Waddle for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Tyler Badie’s two-point conversion run made the score 14-17, keeping Denver within striking distance.
Decisive Final Play
With the game still tight, the 49ers struck one last time. Brock Purdy connected with George Kittle on a 56-yard pass for a touchdown, and Eddy Pineiro successfully kicked the extra point to finalize the 24-14 result. Purdy finished with 218 passing yards on 19-of-30 completion, including two touchdowns.
Christian McCaffrey contributed 52 rushing yards on 15 carries and one score. For Denver, Bo Nix completed 25-of-42 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown, while J.K. Dobbins rushed for 40 yards on 11 carries.
Sources
ESPN
