In the second preseason NFL game for the Denver Broncos this past Sunday August 17, the Broncos beat the 49ers 34-0 at their new $1.3 Billion Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers are struggling and have not scored a TD in their initial two preseason games. It should go without saying that the Broncos covered the spread with ease.
The 49ers had the ball on the first drive and managed two first downs and missed a field goal as the Broncos defense stopped the drive. On Denver’s first series, they ended with at 26 yard field goal and a 3 point lead.
On their second series the 49ers could not gain any yardage and had to punt as the first quarter ended. QB Colin Kaepernick did not play well, completing 5 of 9 passes for 39 yards.
In the second quarter, the Broncos had a 12 play drive that lasted 5.5 minutes and went 80 yards. The first TD of the game was a pass from Peyton Manning to Thomas for the seven points and the last time the Bronco fans saw Manning in the game. For the game, he threw 12 for 14 for 102 yards, one TD, and averaged 7.3 yards per pass, with no interceptions.
The 49ers on their next possession did not manage well and failed on a field goal attempt of 44 yards as they remained without a score.
The Broncos, two possessions later, had a 63 yard drive led by back-up QB Osweiler with 11 plays that finished with RB Anderson scoring on a 1 yard drive 2 seconds before half time. The score was Bronco 17, 49ers 0. Thus, for the first half ,Denver managed 194 yards which included three separate conversions on 3rd down.
In the third quarter, the Broncos started the first series but finished in a scoreless drive and had to punt. On the next series, Bronco CB Carter intercepted and Denver had possession again. Osweiler then passed to WO Latimer for the first TD of the third quarter and the third of the game. The Broncos led 21-0.
On the 49ers next series, backup QB Johnson tripped and fumbled on his firstplay of the game, and the Broncos recovered. Now the Bronco put in third-string QB Dysert and after two TDs and an interception were denied the Broncos went for a field goal.
In the fourth quarter, the Niners received a kickoff that was fumbled with Denver recovering and the Broncos scored from the 1 yard line, making the score 31-0. On their next drive, Denver did not score and the 49ers took possession and then turned the ball over for their fourth time as Denver LB Johnson intercepted a pass and again the Broncos had possession. On this drive, QB Dysert tossed a TD pass to Morrah for 16 yards and a TD. The final score was 34-0.
Prior to that drive, the 49ers had one last chance to put points on the board with a fourth and goal from the 1 yard marker with seconds to go, but the Denver third string defense was able to hold off the 49ers and finish with a shutout.
For the game, Denver won against the spread as 4 point road underdogs. The sportsbook oddsmakers thought this would be an easier one for the 49ers, playing in their new home stadium. The total went UNDER the 41 1/2 point line that was set, but could easily have gone OVER if San Francisco had managed a couple scores.