SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Jarrett Stidham threw two TD passes following a lackluster performance from Bo Nix and Denver's starters, and the Broncos beat the San Francisco 49ers 30-9 in the preseason opener Saturday night.

The teams approached the game very differently following a joint practice on Thursday when top players from both teams got plenty of work. San Francisco played only a handful of starters in the game, while Denver played most of its front-line players for at least a few series.

“The importance of coming off of a three-, four-day trip like this and a lot of plays is the debrief, getting back home and cleaning things up," Broncos coach Sean Payton said. "There were a number of things that we’re going to have to improve on."

Nix and the offense had three possessions with the first ending in a punt, the second a safety following an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone and then a field goal on a drive that started in San Francisco territory.

The Broncos' first-team offense managed 56 yards on 18 plays with Nix going 6 for 11 for 31 yards in his first game action in his second season.

Nix threw 29 TD passes as a rookie to help Denver make the postseason for the first time since 2015 and Payton is counting on an even bigger performance this season as the Broncos look to contend in the tough AFC.

Denver's starting defense also wasn't sharp, allowing a 50-yard pass from Mac Jones to rookie Jordan Watkins on the first drive that set up a 5-yard TD run by Patrick Taylor.

Edge rusher Nik Bonitto shined on the next drive with two sacks and a pressure to force a punt.

“I thought we started slow — both first units,” said Payton, who called the performance “average to below average.”

Stidham made the most of his opportunity, taking advantage of a coverage bust to throw a 5-yard TD pass to Lucas Krull and then connecting on a 36-yarder to Trent Sherfield to make it 20-9 at the half.

Jones went 4 for 7 for 74 yards in his first action with San Francisco as Brock Purdy's new backup, but also threw an interception on his final pass to end his third drive.

Carter Bradley and Tanner Mordecai struggled to move the ball for the Niners after they took over starting in the second quarter.

“It was frustrating," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "I liked how we started out, but after that there wasn’t much to be excited about. We didn’t get many first downs, four turnovers, the three picks, the fumble. ... We made too many mistakes.”

Injury updates

San Francisco backup running back Ameer Abdullah left in the third quarter after injuring his ribs on a play when he lost a fumble. Rookie safety Marques Sigle left with a bruised knee.

Shanahan also said that rookie CB Upton Stout missed the game with tightness in his calf and safety Richie Grant will be out about a week with a knee injury.

First-round defensive end Mykel Williams also will miss about a week after hyperextending his knee in practice Thursday.

Payton said DE Matt Henningsen tore his Achilles tendon Thursday and will undergo season-ending surgery.

Up next

Broncos: Hold a a joint practice with Arizona before hosting the Cardinals next Saturday.

49ers: Hold a joint practice at Las Vegas before visiting the Raiders next Saturday.

Gurriel doubles in 9th to drive in winning run, Diamondbacks hand Rockies 6th straight loss

PHOENIX (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled off the wall in left with one out in the ninth inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 6-5 victory over Colorado on Saturday night, the Rockies' sixth straight loss.

Geraldo Perdomo had his third hit off the game, a double to right-center off Jimmy Herget (0-2) with one out in the ninth. Gurriel followed with the drive off the wall to easily score Perdomo. Gurriel drove in three runs, the first two with a sacrifice fly and a single.

Andrew Hoffmann (1-0), just acquired from Kansas City, threw eight pitches in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first victory in the majors.

Corbin Carroll homered for the third straight game. He connected off Bradley Blalock for his 25th homer, tying his career high set two years ago when he was National League Rookie of the Year.

Carroll homered on his bobblehead night, a Star Wars-themed occasion that drew 38,337 to watch two sub-.500 teams. He also scored from first on Ketel Marte's double to right in the third.

Brenton Doyle hit a two-run homer off Eduardo Rodríguez as part of a three-run Colorado second inning. Doyle's ninth homer of the season cleared the high center-field wall.

Kyle Farmer, Warming Bernabel and Ezequiel Tovar drove in the other Rockies runs.

Rodríguez lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and five runs and walking five.

Blalock went 4 2/3, allowing seven hits and five runs. He walked three and struck out four.

Key moment

Gurriel's drive over the head of left fielder Jordan Beck won the game.

Key stat

The Rockies have allowed five or more runs in 14 straight games.

Up next

Colorado RHP Tanner Gordon (2-4, 6.59) opposes RHP Brandon Pfaadt (11-7, 5.02) on Sunday in the series finale.