SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ first “Super Bowl preview” comes Sunday when they host last season’s AFC runner-up, the Denver Broncos.
Super Bowl talk already? Eh, a 3-0 start lets the imagination run wild.
In that case, count the Raiders (3-0) in, too, assuming they’ll stay hot for a Nov. 8 visit to Levi’s Stadium. Of course, the 49ers’ schedule also includes a trip to the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 27, but perhaps the 49ers Faithful is not ready to envision a third Super Bowl pairing in eight seasons.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ Lombardi Trophy odds essentially have been cut in half, and only the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills are favored more. As they say, however, hold your horses, no pun intended about the incoming Broncos (2-1).
Or as Brock Purdy said Thursday upon being named NFC Player of the Month: “It’s so early in the year that I’m trying to go win this next game and be my best today, right here, right now.”
Here are the five best ways the 49ers can remain undefeated under Sunday’s scorching sun:
1. TURNOVER BATTLE
The Denver Broncos share the league lead with four interceptions. Purdy has thrown nine touchdown passes in 64 attempts since the Rams intercepted him a month ago in Australia.
Purdy has not gone interception-free in four consecutive games since 2003, when none of his 141 passes got picked off in the 49ers’ 5-0 start that ignited their NFC Championship-winning season.
Former 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga had a pick-six and intercepted Matthew Stafford twice in the Broncos’ Sunday night win over the visiting Rams. Safety Brandon Jones and cornerback Riley Moss have the Broncos’ other interceptions, but other thieves to watch are Patrick Surtain II and Ja’Quan McMillan.
Conversely, the 49ers’ defense has gone back-to-back games without a takeaway, and it’s been 2 ½ games since Renardo Green got their lone interception. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has been intercepted once in each game this season.
2. CLEAN UNIFORM
The 49ers win if they keep Purdy from getting sacked. That’s been the case each game this season, and it will hold true if his respect-gaining linemen fend off last season’s No. 1 unit that had 68 sacks.
Purdy’s been hit just six times this season, using his pocket instincts and mobility to dodge pass rushers.
Denver’s defense has eight sacks this season; the 49ers’ have six. Statistically leading the Broncos’ pass rush is Zach Allen with four sacks, three shy of last year’s total. Also lurking is Nik Bonitto (14 sacks last year). Bonito has one sack this season, as do Malcolm Roach Eyioma Uwazurike, Que Robinson and a blitzing Hufanga.
3. QUICK COHESION
The 49ers’ most unstable unit is either at wide receiver or defensive line. Injuries have hit them hard. The constant shuffling poses risks.
Whether or not Mike Evans plays with broken ribs, Purdy figures to rely more on trusted targets George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, perhaps even Deebo Samuel, who had a historic stat line last game with no catches but 80 receiving yards courtesy of his hook-and-lateral touchdown. Kittle made history against the Broncos in 2018 with 210 yards, the most in a game by a 49ers tight end.
Brandin Cooks figures to make his 49ers debut while the 49ers weigh how much to put on Jordan Watson and Jacob Cowing.
As for the 49ers’ defensive line, Nick Bosa won’t be on that carousel a second straight game because of a strained right calf; it’s the same leg as his ACL recovery and he doesn’t expect to miss too much more time. Keion White (hamstring) is off to an impressive start, and the 49ers need Romello Height’s hustle (albeit with a casted right hand) to help contain the mobile Nix.
4. RUN DEFENSE
Coach Sean Payton blamed Denver’s poor first-half production (10 points, 10 punts in 15 series) on its run game. J.K. Dobbins has just 121 yards and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, with no game over 50 yards.
Two-time All-Pro guard Quinn Meinerz will be a handful for the 49ers’ interior linemen such as Osa Odighizuwa and Gracen Halton, who’ve fared better as pass rushers, along with the versatile White.
The 49ers’ run defense ranks 10th at just 3.7 yards per rush, but short-yardage issues got exposed last Sunday against Arizona.
A lot of attention will be on Dre Greenlaw, assuming he plays through a quadriceps contusion. His free agency move to Denver last season backfired for both sides, as quadriceps issues hindered him. Greenlaw’s sidekick, Fred Warner, is coming off a career-high,17-tackle game in which the 49ers’ defense wilted amid 87 snaps. Getting off the field faster is a must in Sunday’s heat.
5. COACHING MATCHUP
A decade after quarterbacking Cal, Davis Webb is the Broncos’ offensive coordinator and he’s taken heat as their playcaller this year from Payton.
Shanahan isn’t ready to bequeath such fun to his offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiak, even though Shanahan insists it is a collective effort and the calls wouldn’t look any different. Then again, would Kubiak have called for a hook-and-lateral on third-and-long on last Sunday’s opening series? Maybe, he’s good, too.
Shanahan will be trying to outwit the familiar and aggressive nature of Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, just as Webb will be attempting the same against Raheem Morris, who’s multiple fronts bolstered the 49ers’ opening series last week.
