49ers survive Broncos: Rapid reactions

• 49ers' defense is playing with a lot of intensity, but is having trouble getting off the field.
• Not a lot of pass rush from the 49ers' defense. That needs to change.
• That was a 13-play scoring drive for Denver. The 49ers' defense can't keep giving up long drives like that, especially on a hot day like today.
• I thought Deebo Samuel was about to turn that short pass into a big gain, but he got tripped up.

Second quarter

• That fourth down was way too long to try a QB sneak. Broncos take over. That's not good.

• Raheem Morris brought pressure on that third down, and it worked. The 49ers will get the ball back. Nice job by the defense.
• Kaelon Black runs hard. It's only a matter of time until he breaks off a big one.
• A three-and-out by the offense. They're not helping their defense at all. They look like they're half asleep.
• The 49ers are still having trouble stopping the run, but when you consider they have several backups on the defensive line, they're not playing too bad. But they've been on the field too long and that's going to cause problems as the game rolls along.
• What a play by Malik Mustapha to break up that pass and force a Broncos punt. Now, if the offense could just get something going.

• Samuel doesn't look sleepy. He's out there running through tackles.

• Kyle Juszczyk picked up the first down and did his juice chug. Take that, NFL.
• Nice drive by the offense, but they have to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Eddie Piñeiro. It's tied up.
• Purdy still hasn't been sacked, but the Broncos are getting pressure and forcing some bad throws.
• Stupid play by Deommodore Lenoir with the penalty and stopping the clock. And it gave the Broncos an extra five yards.
• The defense holds, though.
• Has Cooks played in the first half? I haven't seen him yet.
• Dang, Mike Evans made a big catch but got drilled in the ribs/chest. You can tell he's hurting today, but he's still out there. Such a warrior!
• Piñeiro's FG attempt is blocked. Ugh!

Third quarter

• Samuel fumbled the opening kickoff, but Brayden Willis saved the day with the recovery.
• Cooks gets in the game, and it doesn't go well. He committed a penalty, and then the third-down throw to him is incomplete. That's a horrible start to the second half—a three-and-out. 49ers' offense has been no help to the defense.
• The 49ers have had lousy field position to begin most of their drives.
• Purdy is really off today. Some of it is the injuries to his receivers. And some of it is the pressure he's under.
• Great open-field tackle and forced fumble by Siran Neal on the punt. The 49ers are in business.

• I wish Talanoa Hufanga was still in San Francisco.
• The offense is struggling today. But they are facing one of the league's best defenses.
• Black just turned a huge Jake Brendel mistake into a first-down conversion on fourth down.
• Purdy is so good with his legs.
• This Broncos defense is so good. Even without their two best corners. Their defensive front is dominant.
• The offense finally gets in the end zone. Purdy to Samuel for the touchdown. It's 10-3, San Francisco.

• Greenlaw is playing like his hair is on fire. He's been everywhere.
• No pass rush. Nix has all day to throw.

Fourth quarter

• It's 10-6, and the offense desperately needs to put more points on the board and take some time off the clock.
• Samuel wasn't back to receive the kickoff. I hope he's not hurt. He fumbled his last kickoff, so maybe that's it.
• Now Juszczyk is down and holding his knee. He's being helped off the field.
• Evans has been amazing today, in spite of the pain he's in.
• Christian McCaffrey gets in the end zone, and the 49ers take a 17-6 lead. The offense looked like its dominant self on that drive.

• Poor tackling by the defense, and the Broncos are on the move.
• It's been the Denver run game and passes to running backs that have caused so much trouble.
• Jack Jones just got beat bad, and the Broncos scored. That was pitiful.
• And the two-point conversion makes it a three-point game. The offense has to put this away now.
• The defense was great all game, but completely collapsed on that drive. That shoulder injury to Upton Stout may have hurt the defense more than I thought.
• Huge play to George Kittle to beat the blitz for a 56-yard touchdown. He made one man miss and outran Hufanga and the rest of the defense to put the 49ers up 24-14. Time for the defense to step up.

• Then the kickoff team gives up a big return. That puts more pressure on the defense.
• Marques Sigle is down for the second time today. He's being helped to the locker room.
• The Broncos missed a field goal, and the 49ers will escape with the win.

This was a tough test for San Francisco. Putting 24 points on one of the best defenses in the league is impressive. Yes, Denver was missing some players, but not as many as the 49ers were.

Next up is a trip to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. You have to think the 49ers will be a little more motivated for that one, considering what happened in the playoffs back in January.