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Denver Broncos edge past San Francisco 49ers in low-scoring affair

San Francisco scored their lone touchdown on their second drive; Russell Wilson was 20-for-33 passing for 184 yards; Courtland Sutton had eight catches for 97 yards and Javonte Williams ran for 58 yards for Denver

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Watch highlights of the Denver Broncos' victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Week Three of the NFL season

Melvin Gordon ran for a touchdown, Russell Wilson was 20-for-33 passing for 184 yards and the host Denver Broncos beat the San Francisco 49ers 11-10 on Sunday. 

Courtland Sutton had eight catches for 97 yards and Javonte Williams ran for 58 yards for Denver, as they used a safety to beat the 49ers.

Jimmy Garoppolo was 18-for-29 passing for 211 yards, a touchdown and an interception, Brandon Aiyuk had a TD catch and Jeff Wilson rushed for 75 yards but fumbled in the final minutes for San Francisco.

San Francisco 49ers 10-11 Denver Broncos: Stat leaders

  • 49ers
  • Jimmy Garoppolo, 18/29, 211 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • Jeff Wilson, 12 carries, 75 yards
  • Deebo Samuel, five catches, 73 yards
  • Brandon Aiyuk, three catches, 39 yards, 1 TD
  • Broncos
  • Russell Wilson, 20/33, 184 yards
  • Javonte Williams, 15 carries, 58 yards
  • Melvin Gordon, 12 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD
  • Courtland Sutton, eight catches, 97 yards

San Francisco scored their lone touchdown on their second drive. A 20-yard pass to Aiyuk and Jeff Wilson's 37-yard run to set up a first down at the Broncos 18, and the 49ers capped it off with Garoppolo's 3-yard pass to Aiyuk to make it 7-0 with 7:56 left in the first quarter.

Denver went three-and-out on their first three possessions before driving to San Francisco's 37, where Brandon McManus kicked a 55-yard field goal to make it 7-3 at halftime.

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III (25) celebrates with tight end Eric Tomlinson (87) after scoring a third quarter touchdown

Defences continued to dominate in the second half and the Broncos took advantage of a punt that was downed at the 49ers 2. Garoppolo dropped back to pass and stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety to make it 7-5 with 9:53 left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, McManus missed from 53 yards out, and San Francisco extended its lead to 10-5 when Robbie Gould kicked a 51-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

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Scoring summary

FIRST QUARTER
49ers 7-0 Broncos Jimmy Garoppolo three-yard TD pass to Brandon Aiyuk
SECOND QUARTER
49ers 7-3 Broncos Brandon McManus 55-yard field goal
THIRD QUARTER
49ers 7-5 Broncos Safety
FOURTH QUARTER
49ers 10-5 Broncos Robbie Gould 51-yard field goal
49ers 10-11 Broncos Melvin Gordon one-yard TD run (failed two-point conversion)

The teams again traded punts and then Denver put together its best drive of the night. The Broncos converted on third down three times before Russell Wilson hit Sutton for 19 yards to the San Francisco 5. Gordon scored on a 1-yard TD run with 4:10 left, but the Broncos didn't convert the two-point attempt.

The 49ers had two chances after that, but Garoppolo threw an interception at the Denver 41 with 2:06 left.

After the Niners forced a punt, Garoppolo hit Jeff Wilson over the middle, but he fumbled and the Broncos recovered.

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