2026 Week 4 Preview: Broncos Look to Hand Undefeated 49ers Their First Loss
The Denver Broncos (2-1) will face one of their toughest challenges of the 2026 season when they travel to Levi’s Stadium to take on the undefeated San Francisco 49ers (3-0) in Week 4. San Francisco has opened the season with three consecutive victories, while Denver is coming off a thrilling 30-26 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Levi’s Stadium also holds a special place in Broncos history. Denver defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium, securing the franchise’s third championship. This Week 4 matchup carries very different stakes, with Denver facing one of the NFL’s five remaining undefeated teams and two potential contenders meeting in what could be an early Super Bowl LXI preview.
The 49ers have plenty of firepower on both sides of the football, but injuries have taken a toll on San Francisco’s roster. The Broncos, meanwhile, have shown an impressive ability to overcome adversity through the first three weeks of the season. Denver will need that resilience again, but the Broncos also need to avoid putting themselves in another early hole.
Denver Must Avoid Another Slow Start
If there is one trend the Broncos cannot afford to continue, it is their inability to start games offensively.
Denver has scored just 10 points in the first half through three games this season. That did not prevent the Broncos from defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 or Los Angeles in Week 3, but repeatedly having to overcome significant deficits is eventually going to catch up with Denver.
The Broncos trailed Jacksonville 13-3 in the third quarter before scoring 17 unanswered points. Denver then fell behind the Rams 16-0 at halftime before storming back to tie the game heading into the fourth quarter.
Bo Nix deserves significant credit for how he has responded once games have become tight. Against Los Angeles, he threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter and followed each scoring strike with a successful two-point conversion. He then scored the game-winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak with less than a minute remaining.
But the 49ers represent a different challenge. San Francisco has scored at least 27 points in each of its first three games, and falling behind early against an offense this explosive could make a comeback considerably more difficult.
The Broncos do not need to dominate the opening quarter.
They do, however, need to give themselves a chance to play from ahead for a change.
The 49ers’ Offense Can Test Every Level of Denver’s Defense
The Broncos will have their hands full trying to slow down San Francisco’s offense.
Brock Purdy has been excellent to begin the season, while Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle give the 49ers elite options in both the running and passing games. San Francisco also has Deebo Samuel and recently added veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks to a receiving corps that could be among the NFL’s most dangerous when healthy.
That final qualification is important.
The 49ers have dealt with significant injuries at wide receiver. Ricky Pearsall is out for the season, rookie De’Zhaun Stribling is on injured reserve and Demarcus Robinson is also sidelined. Mike Evans is dealing with a hip injury that puts his availability for Week 4 in question.
San Francisco still has plenty of weapons even if Evans cannot play. Samuel remains capable of changing a game with the ball in his hands, while Kittle and McCaffrey create matchup problems of their own.
Denver will need to prevent the 49ers from consistently creating explosive plays while accounting for an offense capable of attacking every level of the field. If the Broncos can force San Francisco into long, difficult drives, it could make the injury-depleted receiving corps more relevant as the game progresses.
If Purdy consistently finds easy completions and McCaffrey gets into space, however, Denver could be in for a long afternoon.
The 49ers’ Defense Is Not Invincible
San Francisco’s undefeated record should not obscure the fact that its defense can be challenged.
The Arizona Cardinals scored 30 points against the 49ers in Week 3 while piling up 27 first downs and 365 total yards. San Francisco ultimately escaped with a 36-30 victory, but Arizona demonstrated that the 49ers can be moved against.
That should give the Broncos some confidence.
The Cardinals may be better than many expected entering the season, but Denver is coming off its best offensive performance of the season. The Broncos also have a quarterback who has demonstrated that he can elevate his play when the game is on the line.
Denver is also catching a break with Nick Bosa expected to miss the matchup while dealing with a calf injury. Bosa was ruled out of San Francisco’s Week 3 game after suffering the injury during practice, and the 49ers have indicated that he could miss several weeks.
That does not make San Francisco’s defense an easy matchup, but it removes one of the biggest obstacles the Broncos would have faced along the offensive line.
If Denver can protect Nix and stay ahead of the chains, the Broncos should have opportunities to attack a defense that just allowed Arizona to move the football consistently.
Denver’s Running Game Must Find a Spark
The Broncos’ passing attack has shown flashes through the first three weeks, but the running game remains a concern.
J.K. Dobbins has yet to consistently provide the production Denver needs from its lead running back. He rushed for just 36 yards on eight carries against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 before managing 36 yards on 10 carries against the Jaguars. His 3.6 yards-per-carry average against Jacksonville was hardly impressive, and his struggles were particularly costly near the goal line. After Jaylen Waddle’s 49-yard reception put the Broncos at the Jaguars’ 1-yard line in the second quarter, three consecutive runs by Denver lost a combined yard, forcing the Broncos to settle for a field goal.
Dobbins was even less efficient against the Rams. He carried the ball 17 times for just 49 yards, averaging 2.9 yards per attempt with a long of only six yards.
That has to change, particularly with rookie Jonah Coleman now on injured reserve.
Denver cannot expect to beat an undefeated opponent on the road while being one-dimensional on offense. The Broncos need to find enough success on the ground to keep the offense balanced, slow down the pass rush and prevent the 49ers from knowing exactly what is coming.
Denver is catching a break with Nick Bosa expected to miss the matchup, which should make life somewhat easier for the Broncos’ offensive line. But it does not solve the team’s problems in the running game.
Dobbins has shown he can be an effective lead back in this offense. He now needs to start playing like one.
Denver’s Resilience Could Give It a Psychological Edge
There is something to be said for a team that refuses to believe it is out of a game.
The Broncos have fallen behind by double digits in each of their last two games and won both. Against Jacksonville, they overcame a 13-3 deficit. Against Los Angeles, they erased a 16-0 halftime deficit before taking control late in the fourth quarter.
If opponents begin to believe that no lead is safe against Denver, that can create pressure of its own. A team protecting a lead may become more conservative, while an offense may feel increasingly desperate to create separation before the Broncos make their push.
Denver cannot rely on that psychological advantage forever. Eventually, the Broncos will have to start games better and prevent themselves from constantly needing fourth-quarter heroics.
But knowing that the team has already demonstrated an ability to remain composed when things go wrong is valuable, particularly against an undefeated opponent.
San Francisco has enough talent to punish Denver for mistakes, but the Broncos have shown that they can withstand adversity and play their best football when the game is at its most important.
That mentality could be critical at Levi’s Stadium.
Can Denver Start Fast Enough to Beat the 49ers?
The Broncos have already answered one major question this season: They can compete with talented teams.
Now they face perhaps their toughest challenge yet.
Can Denver’s offense avoid another slow start?
Can Bo Nix continue his late-game excellence against an undefeated opponent?
Can the Broncos take advantage of a San Francisco defense that allowed the Cardinals to score 30 points?
Can Denver’s rushing attack do enough to keep the offense balanced?
And can the Broncos’ defense contain Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle despite the injuries affecting the 49ers’ receiving corps?
Those questions will determine whether Denver can leave Levi’s Stadium with another statement victory.
The Broncos already know what it feels like to win a championship in Santa Clara.
This time, they will have to earn another victory there the hard way.
