Sean Payton says Brock Purdy is “playing at a real high level” ahead of Broncos-49ers

Through three games, San Francisco hasn't allowed a sack and is great in the red zone, two of the things the Broncos head coach attributes to the 49ers QB

BY JOEY FREEBURG

Sep 30, 2026, 3:51 PM

Follow on Google News

Watch: The Broncos pass rush has disappeared? Do they miss Jonathon Cooper that much? | 54 seconds

Sean Payton knows what his defense is facing this weekend.

After practice on Wednesday, the Broncos coach praised 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Denver heads to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday to play a San Francisco team that is 3-0 and hasn’t given up a sack all season.

Purdy has started three games and thrown 83 passes without being sacked once. The 49ers are only the fourth team since 1990 to go sack-free through three games. The others were the 2014 Bengals with Andy Dalton and the 1999 and 2005 Colts with Peyton Manning. Purdy also leads the NFL with nine touchdown passes and a 133.1 passer rating, and he’s up to second in the MVP odds. His last game was a four-touchdown performance in a 36-30 win over Arizona.

When asked about Purdy and the missing sacks, Payton didn’t hold back.

“Yeah, he’s playing at a real high level,” Payton said. “Very decisive. He’s through his progressions fast. Kyle (Shanahan) and those guys have done a great job, you know, whether he’s under center or in the gun. The mix of run, play pass, and drop back is impressive.”

Payton also went through the numbers.

“You see in three weeks, not only no sacks, first in third down, first in redzone. Very efficient. You know, he’s making all the throws.”

Getting rid of the ball quickly is only part of it. When the pocket breaks down, Purdy has been willing to run. He has 93 rushing yards and eight first downs on just 10 carries. That makes him hard to pin down for pass rushers who are used to closing in on a quarterback who stays put.

This is exactly the kind of matchup the Broncos’ defense wants. Denver led the NFL in sacks last season and is tied for seventh so far this year. Something will have to give on Sunday.

Denver also has momentum. Last Sunday night, the defense gave reigning MVP Matthew Stafford trouble all game. Safety Talanoa Hufanga intercepted him twice: first a 66-yard pick-six that gave Denver its first lead, then a game-ending pick in the end zone to seal a 30-26 comeback win. The Broncos finished with five sacks and 14 quarterback hits.

Stafford still threw for 390 yards, so the Broncos know an elite quarterback can hurt them even on a night when they win. Purdy won’t make it easy. Still, after taking down one of the league’s top passers last week, Denver’s defense heads west believing it can handle this test too.

The 2-1 Broncos will visit the 3-0 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, October 4, at 2:25 p.m. MT.