Tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC the Denver Broncos (4-1) will host the San Francisco 49ers (4-2) in a Week 7 edition of Sunday Night Football. Watch the game online free by clicking this link; Broncos fans can hear the radio broadcast on 850 KOA, while 49ers fans may do likewise on KNBR 1050.
This matchup could easily be painted as a classic clash of offense (Broncos) vs. defense (49ers) but that wouldn't do justice to the tremendous strides Denver's defense has made from a season ago. After adding DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib this offseason, the Broncos defense now ranks fourth against the run and third against the pass.
Offensively, Peyton Manning has kept them atop the league even though the running game's taken a step back without Knowshon Moreno. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh spoke reverentially about Manning ahead of the primetime showdown.
"Whenever he takes the field, he's just great all the time and that speaks volumes for the player that he is and continues to be," Harbaugh said. "Just keeps doing it and doing it and doing it. Great. Great with a capital 'G' at the highest level."
Despite numerous injuries and off-field issues the 49ers' defense has remained one of the better units in the NFL. Broncos coach John Fox lamented Denver's tough schedule early on, and said the 49ers are as tough a challenge as they've faced in 2014.
"We've had a pretty salty schedule thus far," Fox said. "And this week is no different."
Offensively though the 49ers path to points is unclear. They rank middle-of-the-pack in the running and passing game, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick expressed concern about Denver's pass rushers.
"They have two great ends that can rush the passer well," Kaepernick said. "We're going to have to be ready for that."
Broncos Injury Report
Montee Ball
RB
Groin
Did Not Participate In Practice
Out
Omar Bolden
CB
Groin
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
David Bruton
S
Ankle
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Christopher Harris
CB
Knee
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Brandon McManus
K
right Groin
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Corey Nelson
LB
Hamstring
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Juwan Thompson
RB
Knee
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
49ers Injury Report
Mike Iupati
G
Concussion
Did Not Participate In Practice
Out
Patrick Willis
LB
Toe
Did Not Participate In Practice
Out
Christopher Cook
CB
Quadricep
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Perrish Cox
CB
Quadricep
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Vernon Davis
TE
Back
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Tony Jerod-Eddie
DE
Shoulder
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Steve Johnson
WR
Hip
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Justin Smith
DE
Not Injury Related
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Ian Williams
DT
Ankle
Full Participation in Practice
Probable
Chris Culliver
CB
Shoulder
Did Not Participate In Practice
Questionable
Jimmie Ward
S
Quadricep
Did Not Participate In Practice
Questionable
Tramaine Brock
CB
Toe
Limited Participation in Practice
Questionable
Anthony Davis
T
Knee
Limited Participation in Practice
Questionable
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