2006 season · Week 17

Pregame

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

The 49ers (6-9) host the Denver Broncos (9-6) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff in the season finale on New Year's Eve.

Jay Cutler starts at quarterback for Denver in his first year as the Broncos' starter (after Jake Plummer was benched). Tatum Bell runs the ball with Mike Bell. Javon Walker leads the receivers. Alex Smith starts for the 49ers; Frank Gore at running back; Antonio Bryant at receiver. Vernon Davis the tight end.

The 49ers can knock the Broncos from the playoffs.[1][2][3]

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

New Year's Eve at Candlestick. The 49ers (6-9) host the 9-6 Denver Broncos in the season finale, the kind of home game where the visiting team needs the game for a playoff spot and the home team is playing for the year's identity tape.

Jay Cutler is the Broncos' new starter after Jake Plummer was benched. Alex Smith stays the 49ers' starter. Frank Gore the lead back, within range of the team's single-season rushing record. The kind of finale where, with the Broncos needing a win to get into the playoffs, the 49ers can produce the year's most consequential road-spoiler game.

Favored by Denver by 7 on the road. The kind of finale where 7-9 closes the year on the right note.

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Week 17 across the NFL sees the playoff field set. The Bears, Saints, Cowboys, Seahawks, Eagles, Giants, and Buccaneers compete in the NFC. The Patriots, Colts, Steelers, Chargers, Bengals, Ravens, and Broncos compete in the AFC. The Broncos (9-6) need a win to clinch a wild-card spot. The 49ers (6-9) are eliminated but play the kind of finale where the home team's competitive arc gets to write one more chapter.

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Through fifteen games the 49ers are 6-9 with a -117 point differential. Alex Smith averages 6.6 yards per attempt with 15 TDs and 15 INTs. Frank Gore averages 99 rushing yards a game (1,499 total; needs 196 more to set the team's record). Antonio Bryant averages 57 receiving yards a game. The defense allows 25.8 points per game. The Broncos are 9-6 with Jay Cutler as the new starter (his second start). Tatum Bell averages 60 rushing yards a game. Vegas opens Denver as 7-point road favorites; total 41.

League standings entering Week 17

Standings as of kickoff, Week 17 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Tied atop the league at 13-2: San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears.

AFC

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
New England Patriots11-4W2
New York Jets9-6W2
Buffalo Bills7-8L1
Miami Dolphins6-9L2

AFC North

TeamRecStrk
Baltimore Ravens12-3W3
Cincinnati Bengals8-7L2
Pittsburgh Steelers7-8L1
Cleveland Browns4-11L3

AFC South

TeamRecStrk
Indianapolis Colts11-4L1
Jacksonville Jaguars8-7L2
Tennessee Titans8-7W6
Houston Texans5-10W1

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
San Diego Chargers13-2W9
Denver Broncos9-6W2
Kansas City Chiefs8-7W1
Oakland Raiders2-13L8

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Seattle Seahawks8-7L3
St. Louis Rams7-8W2
San Francisco 49ers6-9L1
Arizona Cardinals5-10--

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys9-6L1
Philadelphia Eagles9-6W4
New York Giants7-8L2
Washington Redskins5-10L1

NFC North

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears13-2W4
Green Bay Packers7-8W3
Minnesota Vikings6-9L2
Detroit Lions2-13L7

NFC South

TeamRecStrk
New Orleans Saints10-5W1
Atlanta Falcons7-8L2
Carolina Panthers7-8W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers4-11W1

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 2006 San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos Week 17 · channel: SW561

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Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
grass
Weather
32°F, 33% humidity, wind 4 mph
QB matchup
Alex Smith vs Jay Cutler
Vegas line
Denver Broncos -10
Over/Under
39 (over)

Score

Reveal through:

49ers 0, Denver Broncos 349ers 3, Denver Broncos 1349ers 17, Denver Broncos 1649ers 23, Denver Broncos 2349ers 23, Denver Broncos 23[1][2]

1234T
San Francisco 49ers0314603172326
Denver Broncos31037313162323

Scoring plays

Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.

Q1

TeamPlayScore
BroncosJason Elam 22 yard field goal0-3

Q2

TeamPlayScore
BroncosJason Elam 21 yard field goal0-6
BroncosChamp Bailey 70 yard interception return ( Jason Elam kick)0-13
49ersJoe Nedney 46 yard field goal3-13

Q3

TeamPlayScore
49ersMoran Norris 32 yard pass from Alex Smith ( Joe Nedney kick)10-13
49ersWalt Harris 28 yard interception return ( Joe Nedney kick)17-13
BroncosJason Elam 22 yard field goal17-16

Q4

TeamPlayScore
49ersJoe Nedney 29 yard field goal20-16
49ersJoe Nedney 46 yard field goal23-16
BroncosTony Scheffler 9 yard pass from Jay Cutler ( Jason Elam kick)23-23
OT
49ersJoe Nedney 36 yard field goal26-23

Recap

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Joe Nedney kicked a 25-yard field goal in overtime and the 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 26-23 at Candlestick Park to knock the Broncos out of playoff contention. Alex Smith threw for 194 yards and a touchdown. Frank Gore ran for 153 yards on 31 carries (setting a new franchise single-season rushing record at 1,695 yards). The defense produced a Walt Harris interception of Jay Cutler. The 49ers finished 7-9 with the season-ending overtime win.[1][2][3]

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Frank Gore set the team's single-season rushing record Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers' lead back, in his ninth 100-yard rushing game of the year, finished with 153 yards on 31 carries and put the year's rushing total at 1,695 yards, the most a 49er has ever rushed for in a season. The 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 26-23 in overtime to knock the Broncos out of playoff contention.

Joe Nedney kicked the 25-yard winning field goal in overtime. Alex Smith threw a touchdown to Vernon Davis. The defense, with Walt Harris's interception of Jay Cutler, produced the key takeaway. The 49ers finished 7-9 in the kind of season-ending home overtime win where everything the year's identity has been building toward landed at once.

7-9. The kind of finale that, on New Year's Eve, closed the year with the team's record, an overtime win, and a playoff spoiler. Mike Nolan's second year ends with the kind of game-day identity the staff was hired to build. The kind of finale where the Frank Gore breakthrough, the Alex Smith Year 2 improvement, and the defense's late-season grit all produced the year's signature game.

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

49ers 26, Broncos 23 (OT). Margin: +3. Sixteen-game record: 7-9, -114 differential.

* Joe Nedney: 25y FG in OT (game-winner).
* Alex Smith: 17-of-32 for 194, 1 TD (Davis), 1 INT.
* Frank Gore: 31 carries for 153 (9th 100y rushing game; franchise season-rushing record at 1,695 yards).
* Vernon Davis: receiving TD.
* Jay Cutler: 21-of-32 for 230, 1 TD, 1 INT.
* Tatum Bell: 12 carries for 48.
* Walt Harris: 1 INT of Cutler.
* 49ers 7-9 (finale spoiler); Broncos 9-7 (eliminated).

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

A 26-23 overtime home season-finale win over the Denver Broncos at Candlestick on New Year's Eve. Frank Gore sets the team's single-season rushing record (1,695 yards). The 49ers finish 7-9 and knock the Broncos out of playoff contention.

How it unfolded

The Broncos scored on their opening drive with a Jay Cutler touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Joe Nedney field goal. The Broncos added another touchdown to push the lead to 14-3. Smith threw a touchdown to Vernon Davis to make it 14-10. The second quarter was a Jason Elam field goal that made it 17-10 at halftime. The third quarter was a 49ers Frank Gore short touchdown run to tie at 17-17. The fourth quarter was two Joe Nedney field goals that put the 49ers up 23-17, then a Cutler touchdown to make it 23-23 at the end of regulation. In overtime, Walt Harris intercepted Cutler. The 49ers drove into field-goal range and Nedney made the 25-yarder to win it 26-23.

The turning point

Walt Harris's overtime interception of Jay Cutler. With the game tied 23-23 and Denver having tied it at the end of regulation, Harris's pick gave the 49ers the field position they used to set up Nedney's winning field goal.

By the numbers

Smith 194 passing on 32 attempts with a TD and an INT. Gore 153 rushing on 31 carries (9th 100-yard game; franchise season-rushing record at 1,695 yards). Davis the TD reception. Bryant 56 receiving on 4 catches. Arnaz Battle 4 receiving on 4 catches. Cutler 230 passing on 32 attempts with a TD and an INT. Tatum Bell 48 rushing.

Personnel watch

Frank Gore's franchise single-season rushing record (1,695 yards). Walt Harris's game-winning interception in overtime. Joe Nedney's overtime walk-off field goal. The kind of season finale where the year's identity tape, against a playoff-hopeful opponent, produced the kind of complete-team game the staff was hired to build.

What it means

7-9 with the offseason beginning. The Frank Gore franchise single-season rushing record (1,695 yards). The Broncos eliminated from playoff contention. Mike Nolan's second year ends with the kind of season finale that gives the offseason conversation real football to point at. Norv Turner's only year as 49ers OC ends with the team-record rushing season. The kind of finale where the year's identity, with the offseason about to bring Mike Martz as the new OC (after Norv Turner leaves for San Diego), closed with the kind of game-day discipline the staff has been promising.

Box score

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
SFO
Alex Smith17/3219411
Michael Robinson0/1000
DEN
Jay Cutler21/3223011
Jake Plummer0/2001

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
SFO
Frank Gore31153024
Bryan Gilmore120020
Alex Smith3805
Moran Norris2804
Arnaz Battle1404
Vernon Davis1-40-4
DEN
Mike Bell1166046
Tatum Bell1248011
Jake Plummer2203
Jay Cutler2-100

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
SFO
Arnaz Battle456035
Frank Gore232026
Moran Norris132132
Michael Robinson219012
Vernon Davis31606
Taylor Jacobs215010
Bryan Gilmore114014
Eric Johnson21007
DEN
Rod Smith559015
Tony Scheffler354129
Mike Bell334024
Tatum Bell327015
Javon Walker425010
Brandon Marshall220019
David Kircus111011

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2006 W17 - 49ers at Denver Broncos - Game Thread