Broncos Fell to 49ers in Week 4 Loss
The Denver Broncos suffered a 24-14 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers during Week 4 of the NFL season.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Football
The Denver Broncos lost to the San Francisco 49ers with a final score of 24-14. Despite the loss, several players stood out for their performance, including a notable special teams effort from Zach Allen.
Why it matters
This loss highlights significant struggles for the Broncos, who failed to record a single sack throughout the contest while allowing the 49ers to convert nearly half of their third-down opportunities.
Zach Allen recorded an elite special teams grade of 93.5, while offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz earned a 79.0 offensive grade. Conversely, Que Robinson struggled on defense, finishing the game with a grade of 36.5.
The players
Zach Allen
He is a defensive player for the Denver Broncos who earned a high grade of 93.5 for his special teams performance in the Week 4 game.
Quinn Meinerz
He is an offensive lineman for the Denver Broncos who was credited with a grade of 79.0 for his performance.
Nik Bonitto
He is an outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos who received a defensive grade of 76.5.
Que Robinson
He is a cornerback for the Denver Broncos who recorded a defensive grade of 36.5 during the matchup.
The details
While the defense struggled to pressure the quarterback, Zach Allen managed to block a field goal attempt to provide a highlight for the special teams unit. The Broncos offense faced challenges sustaining drives, and the defense allowed the 49ers to convert 46% of their third-down attempts.
Timeline
The Broncos played the 49ers during Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season.
The team is scheduled to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5 of the 2026 season.
Season Trajectory
This loss to the 49ers complicates the Broncos' standing early in the 2026 season as they search for consistency on both sides of the ball. The team must quickly pivot to prepare for their upcoming divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Broncos' failure to record any sacks suggests a critical gap in pass-rush efficiency that could influence defensive matchups in Week 5. With the 49ers converting 46% of third downs, the team's defensive unit faces pressure to improve efficiency before the upcoming game in Los Angeles.
The takeaway
The Broncos must address their lack of defensive pressure and third-down defensive efficiency to remain competitive in upcoming matchups. Fans should look for adjustments in the defensive line rotation and blitz packages heading into the Week 5 game.
What happens next
The Denver Broncos will face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season.
Further reading
For more on the team's performance, see the Denver Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broncos Wire.
