Denver’s offense started slowly. Bo Nix, in his second season and coming off a strong rookie year where he threw 29 touchdown passes, managed only 31 yards on 6-of-11 passing in three series. The Broncos’ first three possessions resulted in a punt, a safety (on intentional grounding by Nix in the end zone), and a field goal. The 49ers capitalized on their opening drive, as Jordan Watkins caught a 50-yard pass from Mac Jones, setting up a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Patrick Taylor Jr. San Francisco’s defense, led by Chase Lucas, also forced the early safety, giving them a 9-0 lead.
The tide turned when Stidham entered the game for Denver. He took advantage of defensive lapses, throwing a 5-yard touchdown to Lucas Krull and later connecting with Trent Sherfield on a 36-yard scoring strike, giving the Broncos a 20-9 halftime lead. Denver’s defense, with Nik Bonitto recording two sacks on a key drive, tightened up after the opening series and did not allow another touchdown. The 49ers’ offense, after their initial success, stalled for the remainder of the game. Mac Jones finished his San Francisco debut 4-of-7 for 74 yards but was intercepted on his final throw. Backup quarterbacks Carter Bradley and Tanner Mordecai failed to generate offense for San Francisco, who committed four turnovers (three interceptions and a lost fumble).
Special teams provided a bright spot for the 49ers, as rookie Junior Bergen notched a 28-yard punt return and added two kick returns for 40 yards. On defense, Lucas finished with eight tackles and a pass breakup, while rookie Marques Sigle made seven stops before exiting with a knee injury. The 49ers also saw running back Ameer Abdullah leave with injured ribs after losing a fumble in the third quarter. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan cited “too many mistakes” and a lack of first downs after the opening quarter. Denver coach Sean Payton described the performance of his starters as “average to below average,” despite the final margin.
Both teams suffered injuries: for Denver, defensive end Matt Henningsen tore his Achilles and will miss the season; for San Francisco, rookie CB Upton Stout (calf), safety Richie Grant (knee), and first-round DE Mykel Williams (knee) are expected to miss at least a week.
Historically, the 49ers and Broncos have been evenly matched in preseason meetings, with both teams holding an 8-8 record in prior contests. Looking ahead, the Broncos will host the Arizona Cardinals after a joint practice, while the 49ers face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 of the preseason.
For a full breakdown of the game, including stats and highlights, visit Broncos 30-9 49ers (Aug 9, 2025) Game Recap and the official 49ers website for additional analysis.