What will we learn about this team from this match-up? The Broncos are like a scaled-down version of some of the beasts they\u2019d need to slay on their way to the Super Bowl. A legit defensive line (but not quite Seattle), an athletic quarterback (but not quite a peak Mahomes or Josh Allen), and a veteran coach on Kyle\u2019s level (but not quite Andy Reid). This almost feels like the starting gun to the \u201creal\u201d season. Here are the things I will be looking for, beyond the box score, that can tell us a lot about this team\u2026<\/p>\n
Can the 49ers handle a ferocious pass rush? It\u2019s great that the offensive line hasn\u2019t given up a sack. They haven\u2019t faced a defensive line this good yet. Seattle next week will be even better. Connor Colby and the interior o-line have exceeded my expectations so far, but this isn\u2019t Miami or Arizona.<\/p>\n
Can the 49ers keep exploiting linebackers in coverage without their best wide receivers? Mike Evans might not play. All due respect to Brandin Cooks, but they need big games out of their non-WR skill players like George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and even a little Kyle Jusczyzk. That\u2019s always been the case but especially so against the \u201celite DB\/vulnerable LB\u201d combination that Denver has going.<\/p>\n
Can the 49ers establish the run? Kansas City provided the blueprint in Week 1 when they forced the Broncos to miss 26 tackles.<\/p>\n
Can they keep an athletic quarterback in the pocket\u2026. without Nick Bosa? Bo Nix isn\u2019t as good as Matt Stafford but he is the most athletic QB they\u2019ve faced yet (that\u2019s still a mid-tier or above passer). He\u2019s maddenly inconsistent but can also win games on his own.<\/p>\n
How\u2019s the secondary holding up? Jaylen Waddle is good to go, and Courtland Sutton is no slouch. I can see a world where the Broncos start slow and then start coming back because of coverage busts on the back end. It just takes one bad bust to breathe life into Bo Nix, who otherwise struggles when forced to step up in the pocket.<\/p>\n
Wait, is the 49ers O-line actually good? Broncos, Seahawks can help settle the debate (paywall)<\/a> \u201cHe knows when to call his shots,\u201d Kubiak said of Joseph. \u201cHe knows when to be aggressive and come after the quarterback. That group\u2019s been playing together for a while. And when they call those blitzes, they usually work.\u201d<\/p>\n Part of the 49ers\u2019 winning formula so far this year is that they aren\u2019t hurting themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Five 49ers to watch as Brock Purdy leads charge to stay undefeated vs. Broncos<\/a> Halton, a fourth-round 2026 NFL Draft pick, will make his third start in a row. He has a couple of tackles for loss, and appears to be trending toward making more big plays.\u201d<\/p>\n 49ers add a rookie to the injury report; Dante Pettis hurt his calf<\/a> Brandin Cooks will make his 49ers debut on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOffensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said the big red zone sack Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga had against the Los Angeles Rams late in Denver\u2019s win Sunday shows how efficient \u2014 and aggressive \u2014 defensive coordinator Vance Joseph\u2019s unit can be. Hufanga, a former 49er, lined up to quarterback Matthew Stafford\u2019s blind side at the last second and was unaccounted for as he came off the edge.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa clearly is the main guy. The 49ers need another player or two to stand out among their nine-man rotation. Rookie Gracen Halton could be on the verge of a breakout.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvans will be a game-time decision with his rib injury. Shanahan compared his rib injury to Evans, saying, \u201che\u2019s definitely a lot tougher than me. Hopefully, he\u2019s got a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n