Bo Nix Was The Lowest-Rated Bronco, And The 49ers Are Ready To Feast

The Broncos might be the most formidable opponent yet for the 49ers, but let me tell you, they look gettable, especially on the ground. When you dig into their PFF grades from the Rams game, some interesting stuff pops out, and it’s not looking great for Denver.

Denver’s D Has Some Holes, And Their QB Is Struggling

First off, Patrick Surtain II, who everyone talks up, had the absolute worst game of his career against Davante Adams. Seriously, the *worst*. And honestly, just wait til he sees Dante Pettis. Then there’s Riley Moss, who was a liability on the back end for their defense. Even their linebacker, Justin Strnad, only had a decent pass coverage grade, which was initially pegged as a weakness anyway. But the kicker? Bo Nix was the *lowest rated player on offense* for the Broncos. You read that right. Their QB.

Trench Warfare: Some Standouts, Some Worries

Now, let’s talk about the 49ers’ trenches, because that’s where games are won. Sebastian Valdez? Impressive in the run game, they used him everywhere but a wide-nine role. Khalid Kareem had a surprisingly good day, though we gotta be real, a lot of that came against Cardinals RT Elijah Wilkinson, who’s apparently “terrible.” Osa’s grade ended up higher than expected too, especially since he faced a ton of double teams, pulling off those “Dom Puni-esque survivor reps” by holding up long enough to occupy two defenders. Kevin Givens chipped in with a few nice reps, and Keion White was probably the best pass rusher, even if most pressures came from blitzes.

But flip to the offensive line against the Cardinals, and there are some things to unpack. Colton McKivitz was “downright imperious” this week, which is awesome. But Trent Williams? He underwhelmed in pass protection before he even left the game, getting attacked at his inside hip a few times. Wild, right? In the run game though, he was magnificent. The dude attacking a linebacker in space is legitimately one of the best things the 49ers do.

Fred Warner Gets Real About The Pressure

And then there’s Fred Warner. He just got super honest about what was going on. He admitted there were “little things going on physically early on” and he “was just not playing like myself.” The real kicker? People were asking him if he was “trying to do too much because of the contract?” He initially did not think that was the case, but once that got in his head, he started thinking about it. That’s a huge insight into the mental game, and it tells you a lot about the pressure these guys are under.

So, going into this Broncos matchup, the 49ers know what they’re up against: a formidable team, sure, but one with some clear vulnerabilities. They’re gettable on the ground, and their starting QB is coming off his worst game. It’s going to be a fascinating battle in the trenches and a true test. This match-up is gonna be exciting!

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Niners Nation.