Grades from 49ers despicable prime-time loss to the Broncos

The 49ers had every opportunity to win Week 3 against the Broncos, but they instead lost 11-10. Niner Noise details grades from the disappointing loss.

A record of 1-1, first in the NFC West. A chance for the San Francisco 49ers to set this new phase of the season, the one headed by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Bright lights of Sunday Night Football at Empower Field at Mile High against the Denver Broncos and, more specifically, against an old nemesis in former Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson.

And, well, two-thirds of the team showed up.

By the time 60 minutes were in the books, the Niners defense had done its job on more than one occasion. Yet Garoppolo and the offense completely faltered, then faltered again.

All the way to a rare 11-10 defeat at the hands of an inferior Broncos team.

Time after time, San Francisco’s offense struggled to convert on third downs, and it missed many a prime opportunity to score. And while the 49ers defense had Denver’s offense under siege the entire game, a safety by Jimmy G stepping out the back of the end zone proved to be the difference in a game that was defined by its failures and its incompetency rather than anything particularly interesting.

Here are the grades from the putrid (offensive) display, and it’ll be hard to mask those with otherwise impressive grades from the defensive and special teams groups.