Throughout the entire 2018-19 season, BSN Denver will be giving you game grades from every Denver Broncos contest. Evaluating all the starters and beyond to give you a better look at the team’s strengths and weaknesses on a game-to-game basis.

The Denver Broncos suffered arguably their worst loss of the year in a horrific 20-14 defeat at the lowly San Francisco 49ers.

Here are the goats—and few standouts—from the embarrassing defeat.

Standouts from the game:

Tim Patrick: B

• Patrick was the offense’s lone quality starter, hauling in tough catches with supreme footwork to the sideline and great ball skills to elevate on tough grabs.
• Struggled at times to create separation on lateral routes but was a valuable weapon vertically.
• Made two clutch catches on fourth down.
• Ran a nice reverse for 10 yards.
• Had a dropped pass and struggled to block for the run game in an otherwise fine showing.

Bradley Chubb: B+

• Chubb started off shakily, struggling to disengage from his block on an outside toss that went for nine yards, and soon after getting flagged for holding in coverage on George Kittle.
• He got going with a huge sack down in the red zone on 3rd-and-2, pushing the right guard into the QB for a massive stop.
• Had another sack on 3rd-and-15 off a stunt, bursting up the middle unblocked to close on QB Nick Mullens.
• His play against the run was much better as the game went on, setting a strong edge and making a couple tough tackles.

Von Miller: B+

• Miller was dynamic against both the run and pass, creating tons of pressure and ending the day with a sack, two run stuffs, three QB hurries, and as many QB hits.
• Struggled with Mullens’ cadence jumping offsides three separate times. 
• Produced a huge 3rd-and-6 sack, floating around the edge and almost yanking the ball out as he tackled the QB.
• Played strong, disciplined run defense getting both his run stuffs out on the edge, sticking to his lanes and disengaging from his blocks in the nick of time. 
• Managed two hurries in the second half by winning outside.

Defense

Domata Peko: B

• Peko played stout run defense, clogging gaps on the interior and even producing a run stuff up the middle.
• The NT’s biggest play came on a pass defensed on 2nd-and-2, forcing an incompletion that saved a big play to a wide open Kittle.
• Was flagged for holding, nullifying a nice run stuff by Miller.
• Blew up the RB in pass pro forcing the ball out in hurry for an incompletion.
• Peko was a strong contributor against the run as Denver held the Niners to only 2.8 YPC.

Derek Wolfe: B

• Battling a nasty rib injury, Wolfe was tough as nails producing two run stuffs and overpowering one-on-one blocks.
• As a pass rusher, he pushed the RT into the backfield forcing immediate pressure and an incompletion.
• He left the game for a bit but returned in a gutsy showing were he still appeared in 69 percent of the snaps.

Adam Gotsis: C

• Gotsis made his presence felt against the run with a run stuff and a two other nice stops.
• He got juked out of his shoes on a quick dump off in the backfield, where he could’ve had a TFL but instead allowed a seven-yard gain.
• A flashy performance that lacked pass rush impact.

Josey Jewell: B

• Jewell played really well in coverage, showing strong instincts to jump on the ball, only allowing one reception for four yards off of four targets.
• Run defense was a mixed bag, he had two run stuffs coming down to plug gaps but also struggled to read and react on outside gains that went for eight and 11 yards.
• A solid showing while appearing in 72 percent of the defensive snaps. 

Todd Davis: C-

• Davis was very active early on, plugging gaps, chasing down runners outside, and even playing decent enough coverage on Kittle’s first reception, holding him to a five-yard gain.
• Was one of the culprits on a couple of Kittle’s big gains, losing him over the middle. Ended the day allowing three receptions for 42 yards.
• Missed a tackle in coverage to the flats down in the red zone and just didn’t look up to the high standard he’s played at in the last month. 
• Didn’t have a massive impact despite being active and around the ball a good amount.

Darian Stewart: F

• With a lack of options at cornerback, Stewart was asked to do more in coverage and was the main culprit on Kittle’s two biggest plays: a 52-yard gain where Stewart just lost the TE in straight man coverage, whiffing on the open field tackle, and then on the big 85-yard TD where he was the deepest safety and got turned around, leaving Kittle wide open and off to the races.
• Had a couple sound tackles against the run, coming downhill to make stops.
• Did a great job pouncing on the interception on 3rd-and-9 for a crucial turnover and tough diving grab.

Justin Simmons: B

• Simmons did a nice job covering the slot, allowing one reception for six yards all game, though he was flagged for holding on Kittle.
• Was a reliable last line of defense stopping the bleeding with some key tackles on big gains.
• The one reception he did allow sealed the game for the Niners on 3rd-and-3, as he couldn’t get through on a well-executed pick play.
• A sound, if unspectacular performance.

Isaac Yiadom: F

• Yiadom’s struggles to react on routes as they broke doomed him, leading to five receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.
• He too lost Kittle on a big gain—with Cravens’ help—and was flagged for pass interference down on the goal line.
• Was simply abused by Dante Pettis off the line on his TD reception in the red zone, allowing an easy score.
• Off a miscommunication with Parks, he lost Pettis on 3rd-and-7 which essentially won the Niners the game.
• Made a really a nice play on 3rd-and-3 early, flying downhill to tackle and forcing the ball out on his hit.
• He remains incredibly unreliable in coverage after a really rough game.

Bradley Roby: B-

• Roby wasn’t targeted at all in the first half, doing a nice job down the sideline and even coming up with some tough tackles in space.
• Was beat by Pettis on a 17-yard reception, and was lucky the rookie dropped another pass as he was wide open on third down.
• Whiffed on Kittle as he rumbled through the Broncos secondary for his massive 52-yard gain.

Other noteworthy defensive performances:

Will Parks: C+

• Parks was sound in coverage when on the field, allowing only one reception on 3rd-and-2 as Kittle converted with a six-yard catch over the middle, though No. 34 did bring him down immediately.
• He came unblocked on a 3rd-and-9 blitz to deliver a vicious QB hit and force an incompletion.

Shelby Harris: B+

• Harris was very active, producing two deflections at the line—one which was almost intercepted, reading a screen beautifully.
• Produced a strong TFL, cutting through his gap for a one-yard loss.
• Burst through the middle on a stout run stuff on an inside run.

Su’a Cravens: F

• Cravens struggled mightily in coverage, losing Kyle Juszcyk on 3rd-and-9 and missing the tackle, allowing the fullback to convert the first down.
• He was called for holding on 3rd-and-8, nullifying a fumble that could’ve changed the game.
• Was flagged for pass interference on the Niners final drive of the first half, which they ultimately scored a TD on.
• Lost Kittle on two big gains and conceded three receptions for 48 yards.

Offense

Garett Bolles: C

• Bolles might’ve been the best blocker on the Broncos line, which isn’t saying much as he allowed a sack and was flagged for holding on 3rd-and-8 by Ronald Blair off the edge.
• Allowed pressure, forcing Keenum to throw it away in the two-minute drill to end the half, and was beat by Solomon Thomas who hit the QB forcing a short dump off.
• Did a nice job on a couple outside runs, getting on the move and blocking well in space, even if the runs didn’t go for more than five yards.

Billy Turner: C-

• Turner, like Bolles, was pretty good run blocking on the move, getting to the second level and finishing in space.
• Allowed a QB hit on 2nd-and-11 and was overpowered on a run stuff up the middle, attempting to move laterally only to get flipped on his back, conceding an easy stop. 
• His performance in pass protection was shaky at times.

Connor McGovern: F

• McGovern had a horrendous game and especially struggled run blocking. Looked like he was on skates and was constantly stood up into the backfield.
• Allowed two run stops and key pressures on three different third downs, all resulting in incompletions.
• Arik Armstead and Thomas gave him major issues with their power and length as he seemed outmatched.

Elijah Wilkinson: D-

• Wilkinson was shaky at best, regularly getting beat to his spots when blocking on the move for the run, and struggling in pass protection.
• DeForest Buckner ran right through him on a swim move forcing a run stop for no gain.
• Allowed four QB hits and two more pressures, as he just wasn’t playing with great bend and struggled against the Niners’ combination of power, agility, and length up front.

Jared Veldheer: D+

• Veldheer was probably the best on the line as far as run blocking, though he, too, allowed a TFL on a pull block, as he just let a defender run right by him.
• Pass pro was a mixed bag as he allowed multiple pressures on Keenum, flushing him out the pocket and forcing incompletions on thrown away balls.
• Didn’t look very comfortable blocking outside as he was getting beat off the edge too often.

Phillip Lindsay: D

• For the first time in his pro career, Lindsay was ineffective, struggling to beat one-on-ones in space and not winning the corner against loaded boxes.
• Didn’t get any inside runs and had a hard time breaking any tackles outside.
• Targeted a good amount in the passing game, even lined up out wide, but couldn’t make DBs miss. Was always thrown to on short routes, instead of allowing him to create separation prior to the catch.
• Showed nice patience and vision to get into the end zone on a goal-line run, ducking inside to score a TD.
• His best play may have come in pass pro, where he lowered his shoulder and knocked the oncoming blitzer to the ground.
• Nothing came easy in a really tough game

Courtland Sutton: D-

• Sutton went missing in action for most of the contest, settling for two short gains while dealing with a thigh injury.
• He struggled to separate, looked slow out of his breaks and had issues getting open on key downs. Couldn’t get open on consecutive targets down in the red zone.
• Did a nice job running after the catch for a 10-yard gain on a short dump off and that was about as good as his game got.

DaeSean Hamilton: C-

• Hamilton caught a decent amount of short throws, getting open underneath but was unable to extend plays.
• His highlight was a tough reception over the middle where he got wallopped with a helmet-to-helmet hit but still held onto the ball.
• Drew a defensive pass interference down in the end zone to set up 1st-and-goal at the one.
• Did a nice job to get open on 4th-and-goal scoring a TD.

Matt LaCosse: D

• LaCosse had an unspectacular game, struggling to run block and barely doing anything as a receiver.

Case Keenum: D

• Keenum settled on safe throws too often and was unable to throw it deep or make any sort of special plays.
• Fought an uphill battle as he was under constant pressure and his receivers struggled to get open, making third-down conversions with his arm incredibly difficult.
• Completed some gutsy throws on fourth down, finding a way to come through on a couple difficult passes right as he was getting knocked to the ground.
• Ball placement wasn’t always on point and his inability to improvise or play above the X’s and O’s was sorely lacking.

Other noteworthy offensive performances:

Andy Janovich: D

• Jano wasn’t his best as a blocker, getting beat on a QB hit on the opening play, and his performance as a run blocker was below par as well. 
• Converted 4th-and-inches ramming his way up the gut.

Royce Freeman: C

• Freeman got going with back-to-back runs: showing quick feet on a nice seven-yard gain that he cut inside, and then breaking through with a dynamic lateral move to get outside for 23-yards and breaking a Richard Sherman tackle.
• Struggled on inside runs up the middle.

Special Teams: C-

Punter Colby Wadman was the special teams MVP, with six kicks for an average of almost 48 yards and two pinned into the 20s. 

Brendan Langley fumbled a kick return with Cravens coming up with a huge recovery, while River Cracraft came through with a nice 20-yard punt return. 

Coaching: F

The Broncos were thoroughly out coached on both sides of the ball, as San Francisco found ways to get Kittle open while Denver couldn’t do anything offensively and had a plethora of breakdowns in coverage on ‘D’.

Bill Musgrave had some odd play calls on fourth down, a 4th-and-3 outside run in particular. He struggled the entire game to manufacture easy completions. His play calling was exposed as the run game struggled.

Joe Woods’ defense was horribly undisciplined, wracking up penalties left and right on crucial drives. The inability to fix breakdowns in coverage, while Kittle was constantly allowed to roam freely in the first half, proved to be catastrophic.

Vance Joseph showed guts going for it on fourth down seven times and converting five. His decision not to challenge Patrick’s catch to the left sideline, which would’ve been a 20-yard gain and potentially saved ample time, but then choosing to challenge a Niners pass completion and losing a valuable timeout with 3:41 left in the game—which would’ve only saved seven yards—proved costly, as once again Joseph’s game management skills were exposed in a huge loss.