DEN
Denver Broncos
82.0PFM Team Score#11 NFL
VS
Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the San Francisco 49ers higher than the Denver Broncos overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the more dependable offense and the deeper roster.
Current PFM Team Scores
Clear edgeSF
San Francisco 49ers
90.1PFM Team Score#2 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the San Francisco 49ers Higher
The San Francisco 49ers have the more dependable offense. The unit has more ways to create points when a game forces the team away from its preferred approach. Denver's strongest counterargument is Franchise Direction. The long-term football direction favors the Denver Broncos only because San Francisco carries the larger concern.
San Francisco also brings the deeper roster. San Francisco adds the stronger defense. That is enough to keep the San Francisco 49ers ahead.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Denver vs. San Francisco Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
DENDenver Broncos
SFSan Francisco 49ers
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Denver Broncos’ Best Argument
The Denver Broncos have the clearer long-term football direction, although the grade remains a concern. The franchise direction advantage is a real point in Denver's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Denver is that San Francisco counters with the more dependable offense and the deeper roster.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
DEN82.0
Denver Broncos 82.0SF90.1
San Francisco 49ers 90.1Overall NFL Rank
DEN#11
Denver Broncos #11SF#2
San Francisco 49ers #2QB Stability
DEN82.2
Denver Broncos 82.2SF86.4
San Francisco 49ers 86.4Roster Strength
DEN80.4
Denver Broncos 80.4SF83.7
San Francisco 49ers 83.7Coaching Direction
DEN85.0
Denver Broncos 85.0SF85.7
San Francisco 49ers 85.7Recent Performance
DEN79.5
Denver Broncos 79.5SF92.1
San Francisco 49ers 92.1Offense
DEN76.9
Denver Broncos 76.9SF88.1
San Francisco 49ers 88.1Defense
DEN83.6
Denver Broncos 83.6SF86.1
San Francisco 49ers 86.1Franchise Direction
DEN77.5
Denver Broncos 77.5SF75.5
San Francisco 49ers 75.5Explosiveness
DEN66.6
Denver Broncos 66.6SF90.0
San Francisco 49ers 90.0Conference Rank
DEN#6
Denver Broncos #6SF#1
San Francisco 49ers #1Division Rank
DEN#2
Denver Broncos #2SF#1
San Francisco 49ers #1Outlook
DENPlayoff ContenderSFSuper Bowl Favorite
Stronger outlook: San Francisco 49ersSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Denver Broncos
Remaining schedule rank: #24
Toughest stretch: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers
Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots
Next five difficulty: 78.5
View Denver Broncos Road AheadSan Francisco 49ers
Remaining schedule rank: #17
Toughest stretch: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs
Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams
Next five difficulty: 77.6
View San Francisco 49ers Road AheadSan Francisco has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 17. The strongest opponents include Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams. Denver gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while San Francisco still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated October 13, 2026. Schedule data updated October 16, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams