Denver beat San Francisco 30-9 at Levi’s Stadium on August 9, 2025, finishing with 368 total yards to the 49ers’ 203 and a 4-0 turnover margin that ended the game as a contest well before the fourth quarter. Starter Bo Nix went 6-of-11 for 31 yards and a 60.0 passer rating across three possessions — including an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone that conceded a safety and left the Broncos trailing 9-0 — before Jarrett Stidham took over and went 14-of-15 for 136 yards and two touchdowns with a 144.0 passer rating.
San Francisco scored all nine of its points in the first quarter and went scoreless the rest of the night. Wil Lutz made all three of his field goal attempts. Stidham hit Lucas Krull for 8 yards and Trent Sherfield for 36 yards in the second quarter to put Denver ahead 20-9 at halftime, and Sam Ehlinger added a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Caden Prieskorn to close it at 30-9. On defense, Nik Bonitto recorded two sacks and two quarterback hits in just five pass-rush snaps, prompting Kyle Shanahan to say afterward, “Bonitto is a hell of a player.” Three Denver defensive backs — Karene Reid, Ja’Quan McMillian, and Joshua Pickett — each intercepted a pass. Sean Payton, despite the 21-point win, called his first-team unit’s performance “average to below average” and said there was plenty to clean up.
The complete Broncos vs 49ers player stats and box score from Preseason Week 1 are below.
Table of Contents
Game Information
Date
August 9, 2025
Kickoff
7:30 PM PT
Venue
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Attendance
71,124
Final Score
Denver Broncos 30, San Francisco 49ers 9
Referee
Carl Cheffers
Score by Quarter
Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Final
Denver Broncos
0
20
3
7
30
San Francisco 49ers
9
0
0
0
9
Scoring Summary
Qtr
Time
Play
Score
Q1
10:41
Patrick Taylor Jr. 5-yd rush (Jake Moody kick) — 8 plays, 71 yds, 4:19
DEN 0, SF 7
Q1
3:20
Safety — Bo Nix intentional grounding in end zone — 3 plays, −10 yds
DEN 0, SF 9
Q2
13:38
Wil Lutz 42-yd FG — 9 plays, 26 yds, 3:55
DEN 3, SF 9
Q2
4:35
Wil Lutz 32-yd FG — 13 plays, 41 yds, 6:56
DEN 6, SF 9
Q2
1:30
Lucas Krull 8-yd pass from Jarrett Stidham (Lutz kick) — 7 plays, 35 yds, 1:33
Caden Prieskorn 7-yd pass from Sam Ehlinger (Lutz kick) — 10 plays, 50 yds, 4:56
DEN 30, SF 9
Team Stats
Stat
Denver
San Francisco
Total Yards
368
203
Passing Yards
215
107
Rushing Yards
153
96
Total Plays
72
53
Yards per Play
5.1
3.8
1st Downs
20
11
— Passing
12
5
— Rushing
7
3
— Penalty
1
3
3rd Down Efficiency
6/16
1/12
4th Down Efficiency
1/2
1/2
Red Zone (Made/Att)
2/3
1/1
Comp/Att
26/36
13/27
Yards per Pass Attempt
5.7
3.6
Sacks–Yards Lost
2–7
3–20
Rushing Attempts
34
23
Yards per Rush
4.5
4.2
Turnovers
0
4
Fumbles Lost
0
1
Interceptions Thrown
0
3
Penalties
11–87
9–67
Time of Possession
36:58
23:02
Passing Stats
Denver Broncos
Player
C/ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
INT
SACKS
RTG
Jarrett Stidham
14/15
136
9.1
2
0
2–7
144.0
Sam Ehlinger
6/10
55
5.5
1
0
0–0
108.3
Bo Nix
6/11
31
2.8
0
0
0–0
60.0
Team
26/36
215
6.2
3
0
2–7
115.7
San Francisco 49ers
Player
C/ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
INT
SACKS
RTG
Mac Jones
4/7
74
10.6
0
1
2–7
54.2
Carter Bradley
6/14
32
2.3
0
1
0–0
20.5
Tanner Mordecai
3/6
21
3.5
0
1
1–13
18.8
Team
13/27
107
4.7
0
3
3–20
22.2
Rushing Stats
Denver Broncos
Player
CAR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
Jarrett Stidham
3
36
12.0
0
18
Tyler Badie
5
32
6.4
0
7
Blake Watson
4
28
7.0
0
18
RJ Harvey
7
25
3.6
0
11
Audric Estime
8
21
2.6
0
5
Sam Ehlinger
4
6
1.5
0
9
Jaleel McLaughlin
3
5
1.7
0
6
Team
34
153
4.5
0
18
San Francisco 49ers
Player
CAR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
Corey Kiner
10
45
4.5
0
10
Ameer Abdullah
4
20
5.0
0
10
Tanner Mordecai
1
15
15.0
0
15
Patrick Taylor Jr.
5
7
1.4
1
5
Ke’Shawn Vaughn
1
4
4.0
0
4
Jordan Watkins
1
3
3.0
0
3
Mac Jones
1
2
2.0
0
2
Team
23
96
4.2
1
15
Receiving Stats
Denver Broncos
Player
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
TGT
Trent Sherfield Sr.
3
73
24.3
1
36
3
Pat Bryant
2
21
10.5
0
12
2
Blake Watson
3
21
7.0
0
16
3
Audric Estime
1
20
20.0
0
20
1
Troy Franklin
3
18
6.0
0
9
4
Joaquin Davis
1
14
14.0
0
14
1
Tyler Badie
2
9
4.5
0
6
2
Courtney Jackson
2
9
4.5
0
5
4
Lucas Krull
1
8
8.0
1
8
2
Caden Prieskorn
1
7
7.0
1
7
1
Devaughn Vele
1
6
6.0
0
6
1
Jaleel McLaughlin
1
5
5.0
0
5
1
JK Dobbins
1
4
4.0
0
4
1
RJ Harvey
1
4
4.0
0
4
2
Marvin Mims Jr.
1
3
3.0
0
3
1
Courtland Sutton
1
2
2.0
0
2
3
Michael Bandy
1
−2
−2.0
0
−2
1
Jerjuan Newton
0
—
—
0
—
1
Kyrese Rowan
0
—
—
0
—
1
Team
26
222
8.5
3
36
35
San Francisco 49ers
Player
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
TGT
Jordan Watkins
3
56
18.7
0
50
6
Jake Tonges
2
36
18.0
0
19
2
Demarcus Robinson
2
20
10.0
0
12
2
Isaiah Hodgins
1
5
5.0
0
5
3
Patrick Taylor Jr.
1
4
4.0
0
4
1
Russell Gage Jr.
2
3
1.5
0
6
4
Corey Kiner
1
2
2.0
0
2
1
Robbie Chosen
1
1
1.0
0
1
2
Terique Owens
0
—
—
0
—
1
Junior Bergen
0
—
—
0
—
1
Team
13
127
9.8
0
50
23
Defensive Stats
Denver Broncos
Player
TOT
SOLO
SACKS
TFL
PD
QB HTS
Jordan Jackson
6
1
0
0
0
0
Keidron Smith
4
4
0
0
0
0
Garrett Nelson
4
4
0
0
0
0
JL Skinner
4
3
0
0
0
0
Jordan Turner
3
1
0
0
0
0
Justin Strnad
2
2
0
1
0
0
Levelle Bailey
2
2
0
0
0
0
Jahdae Barron
2
2
0
0
0
0
Karene Reid
2
2
0
0
1
0
Brandon Jones
2
1
0
0
0
0
Talanoa Hufanga
2
1
0
0
0
0
Joshua Pickett
2
1
0
0
1
0
Que Robinson
2
1
0
1
0
0
John Franklin-Myers
1
1
1
1
0
1
Nik Bonitto
1
1
1
1
0
2
DJ Jones
1
1
0
0
0
0
PJ Locke
1
1
0
0
0
0
Sam Franklin Jr.
1
1
0
0
0
0
Damarri Mathis
1
1
0
0
0
0
Tyler Badie
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jaden Robinson
1
1
0
0
1
0
Riley Moss
1
1
0
0
0
0
Quinton Newsome
1
1
0
0
0
0
Kris Abrams-Draine
1
1
0
0
1
0
Jonah Elliss
1
1
0
0
0
1
Malcolm Roach
1
0
0
0
0
0
Eyioma Uwazurike
1
0
0
0
0
0
Jordan Miller
1
0
0
0
0
0
Andrew Farmer
1
0
0
0
0
0
Kristian Williams
1
0
0
0
0
0
JB Brown
1
0
0
0
0
0
Dondrea Tillman
1
0
0
0
0
0
Ja’Quan McMillian
0
0
0
0
1
0
Sai’vion Jones
0
0
0
0
1
0
Team
56
37
3
4
6
4
San Francisco 49ers
Player
TOT
SOLO
SACKS
TFL
PD
QB HTS
Derrick Canteen
8
7
0
0
0
0
Chase Lucas
8
5
0
0
1
0
Marques Sigle
7
5
0
0
0
0
Tatum Bethune
6
5
0
0
0
0
Darrell Luter Jr.
6
4
0
0
1
0
Nick Martin
5
2
0
0
0
0
Stone Blanton
5
2
0
0
0
0
Jaylen Mahoney
4
4
0
0
1
0
Sebastian Valdez
4
2
0.5
1
0
1
Kalia Davis
3
3
1
1
0
1
Tre Brown
3
2
0
0
0
0
Jalen Graham
2
2
0
0
0
0
Luke Gifford
2
1
0
1
0
0
Bradlee Anae
2
0
0
0
0
0
Michael Dwumfour
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jonathan Garvin
1
1
0
0
0
0
Isaiah Hodgins
1
1
0
0
0
0
Brayden Willis
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jordan Watkins
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jakob Robinson
1
1
0
1
0
0
Dallis Flowers
1
1
0
1
0
0
Jason Pinnock
1
0
0
0
0
0
Robert Beal Jr.
1
0
0.5
0
0
1
Jaylon Allen
1
0
0
0
0
0
Bruce Hector
0
0
0
0
1
0
Team
75
51
2
5
4
3
Interceptions
Denver Broncos
Player
INT
YDS
TD
Karene Reid
1
5
0
Ja’Quan McMillian
1
0
0
Joshua Pickett
1
0
0
Team
3
5
0
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco did not record an interception in this game.
Fumbles
Denver Broncos
Player
FUM
LOST
REC
Jarrett Stidham
1
0
0
Courtney Jackson
1
0
0
Sam Ehlinger (rec.)
—
—
1
Pat Bryant (rec.)
—
—
1
Sai’vion Jones (rec.)
—
—
1
Team
2
0
3
San Francisco 49ers
Player
FUM
LOST
REC
Ameer Abdullah
1
1
0
Tanner Mordecai
1
0
1
Team
2
1
1
Special Teams
Kicking
Team
Player
FG
FG%
LG
XP
PTS
Denver
Wil Lutz
3/3
100%
45
3/3
12
San Francisco
Jake Moody
0/0
—
—
1/1
1
Lutz converted from 42, 32, and 45 yards.
Punting
Team
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
TB
In 20
LG
Denver
Jeremy Crawshaw
3
111
37.0
0
0
50
San Francisco
Thomas Morstead
5
202
40.4
0
2
44
Kick Returns
Denver Broncos
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
Courtney Jackson
1
28
28.0
28
0
Team
1
28
28.0
28
0
San Francisco 49ers
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
Dallis Flowers
3
73
24.3
26
0
Junior Bergen
2
40
20.0
23
0
Ameer Abdullah
1
22
22.0
22
0
Corey Kiner
1
17
17.0
17
0
Team
7
152
21.7
26
0
Punt Returns
Denver Broncos
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
Courtney Jackson
2
31
15.5
25
0
Michael Bandy
1
6
6.0
6
0
Team
3
37
12.3
25
0
San Francisco 49ers
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
Junior Bergen
1
28
28.0
28
0
Team
1
28
28.0
28
0
Officiating Crew
Position
Official
Referee
Carl Cheffers
Umpire
Derek Anderson
Down Judge
Daniel Gallagher
Line Judge
Scott Green / Quentin Givens
Field Judge
Nathan Jones
Side Judge
Eugene Hall
Back Judge
Martin Hankins
Injuries
Denver Broncos: DE Matt Henningsen tore his Achilles tendon during Thursday’s joint practice and was ruled out for the season. No in-game injuries were reported for Denver.
San Francisco 49ers: RB Ameer Abdullah left in the third quarter with rib injuries after fumbling on the play. S Marques Sigle exited with a bruised knee. CB Upton Stout, dealing with calf tightness, did not dress. S Richie Grant was expected to miss approximately a week with a knee injury. First-round pick DE Mykel Williams — who also missed the game — had hyperextended his knee during Thursday’s joint practice and faced a similar timeline.
Denver headed home to a joint practice with Arizona ahead of Preseason Week 2 against the Cardinals the following Saturday. San Francisco traveled to Las Vegas for a joint session with the Raiders before their second preseason appearance. Nix’s 60.0 passer rating across three series gave Payton legitimate corrections to make, but Stidham’s 93.3 completion rate and Bonitto’s two sacks and two quarterback hits on five pass-rush snaps against San Francisco’s first-team offensive line were the numbers that made this preseason opener worth remembering long after the final score stopped mattering.
I'm Tony S. Elder, a Washington-based journalist with more than six years of reporting experience across local and digital newsrooms. I hold a BA in Journalism and have covered everything from breaking national news and international affairs to sports, politics, technology, entertainment, celebrity news, automotive, gaming, and culture. In April 2026, I founded The Edge Post to build a publication where every story, regardless of the beat, is reported and verified to the same professional standard. I report, write, and edit every piece published on this site.
