NFL: Denver wins by the narrowest of margins over San Francisco 49ers

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The Denver Broncos beat the San Francisco 49ers 10-11 in Sunday’s all-star game from Empower Field at Mile High Colorado.

The game began with two very unpromising offensive series. The first, from San Francisco, barely passed the two minutes of duration and with only seven plays and 16 yards, those commanded by head coach Mike Shanahan gave up possession. For their part, Denver did not even reach the two minutes and with a three and out they returned the ball.

On their second series, the 49ers would look much better with the ovoid, opening with an accurate pass from Jimmy Garoppolo, who returned to the starting lineup after Trey Lance’s injury, to Brandon Aiyuk for 20 yards. The big play through the air would be complemented by another great play now on the ground with a 37-yard tackle by Jeff Wilson Jr. With just two plays, the visitors were already knocking on the door in Denver’s red zone.

They followed a nine-yard pass to tight end George Kittle, who made his debut of the season after an injury to his England, followed by a one-yard carry and a five-yard slather to Deebo Samuel. The offensive series concluded second-chance and three with a short pass to Aiyuk, with whom he started the attack and now put the 7-0 in favor of San Francisco.

The Broncos had their best offense so far just seconds into the first quarter. Russell Wilson, who has yet to show the level for which he was brought to Denver from the Seahawks, opened with a 34-yard long pass to Cameron Sutton. Already in the 40th, Wilson was captured by Kerry Hyder Jr.

This would not slow down the attack and with another pass, now 16 yards, the Broncos were already in the 40 of the opponent. The next drive didn’t find much success on the ground, so kicker Brandon McManus came in to take charge of the situation, converting a 55-yard field goal and putting things up 7-3.

On his first offense of the second quarter, Jimmy G opened again with a long-yard play to Deebo Samuel, who contributed 32 yards and put his team at his 47-yard line. The impact of the play would be diminished with a holding penalty that would return them to the 37th. The quarterback would reconnect with Kittle and Samuel but they were unable to overcome the lost yards and cleared.

In an impressive, and controversial play, San Francisco special teams cornered the Broncos at their own 1-yard line, after the ball bounced millimeters out of the end zone and stayed in play for the score.

Despite the effort in the clearance, Denver quickly moved out of the compromising zone with a seven-yard carry from Javonte Williams, followed by a short pass to Cameron Sutton. Williams, a second-year NFL pick, surprised again with two straight runs for 27 yards overall.

On the next play veteran running back, Melvin Gordon would catch an acrobatic Wilson ‘shovel pass’ that would end with the Broncos knocking on the door in the 28th in San Francisco.

The timing of the game changed in two plays, the first, impressive anticipation of Talanoa Hufanga who stopped Gordon six yards behind the line of scrimmage, followed by a catch by Drake Jackson, the first of his career, which ended the Colorado attack.

Garoppolo was tasked with leading the two-minute series but they would be quickly stopped by the defense, returning the ball. With the return, Wilson would have a minute and a half from the 50-yard line to work but was also unable to put together a forceful attack and cleared. The first half would conclude without either contributing to the score that remained 7-3.

Denver had the first chance on the return but were unable to even add up yards, finishing their series after a minute thirteen seconds with -4 yards.

However, San Francisco would not do themselves any favors and in their first series of the second half, a lack of communication between the center and Garoppolo ended in a loose ball and was recovered by Jose Jewell of the defense. Denver couldn’t do anything on offense and missed an invaluable opportunity.

 

Denver’s clearing team, which along with its rival were among the most remarkable of the game, locked San Francisco at the 2-yard line. Garoppolo would make a costly mistake when with the pressure of the defense he forgot the limits of the field and floored outside it for a safety and diminished his advantage to 7-5.

Wilson started a short-yard but six-minute offense that would take them to the opponent’s 35-yard line. After failing to convert at third chance, McManus would look to take the lead but on a 53-yard kick he sent the ball loaded to the right and the attempt was unsuccessful.

The final chapter of the game opened with the first field goal for the 49ers on a 49-yard attempt that was connected by Robbie Gould for the 10-5 lead.

With 10 minutes left in the game Russell Wilson would finally give glimpses of the superstar the Broncos signed through 2027, leading a six-minute offense that would go 80 yards. The quarterback would charge the offense, completing four passes for 58 yards and a 12-yard carry where he would risk the physicality for the first chance.

 

Already at the opponent’s 1-yard line Melvin Gordon took advantage of his blocks and entered the diagonals unopposed to take the 10-11 lead. Denver went for the conversion to get within a field goal but the attempt was unsuccessful and the home side’s lead remained as minimal as possible.

The Californians’ few hopes vanished two plays later when a pass was deflected to end up in the hands of Jonas Griffith.

San Francisco once again stopped Denver and began their last offensive of the game in search of a miracle. To their misfortune, the defense had two of their best plays in the game, the first, a -12 yard catch courtesy of Bradley Chubb, followed by a loose ball recovered by Kareem Jackson, sealing the 10-11 victory.

 

The rest of WEEK 3 of the NFL is played as follows:

Thursday
Pittsburgh 17-29 Cleveland

Sunday
Detroit 24-28 Minnesota
Baltimore 37-26 New England
New Orleans 14-22 Carolina
Houston 20-23 Chicago
Kansas City 17-20 Indianapolis
Philadelphia 24-8 Washington
Buffalo 19-21 Miami
Cincinnati 27-12 New York (Jets)
Las Vegas 22-24 Tennessee
Jacksonville 38-10 Los Angeles (Chargers)
Atlanta 27-23 Seattle
Los Angeles (Rams) 20-12 Arizona
Green Bay 14-12 Tampa Bay
San Francisco 10-11 Denver

Monday
Dallas-New York (Giants), 7:15 p.m., ESPN

Thursday
Pittsburgh 17-29 Cleveland

Sunday
Detroit 24-28 Minnesota
Baltimore 37-26 New England
New Orleans 14-22 Carolina
Houston 20-23 Chicago
Kansas City 17-20 Indianapolis
Philadelphia 24-8 Washington
Buffalo 19-21 Miami
Cincinnati 27-12 New York (Jets)
Las Vegas 22-24 Tennessee
Jacksonville 38-10 Los Angeles (Chargers)
Atlanta 27-23 Seattle
Los Angeles (Rams) 20-12 Arizona
Green Bay 14-12 Tampa Bay
San Francisco 10-11 Denver

Monday
Dallas-New York (Giants), 7:15 p.m., ESPN

 

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