Broncos 49ers Recap

San Francisco 49ers running back Maurice Hicks (43) jumps over Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) in the first quarter. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma).

Courtesy the Associated Press and ESPN.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alex Smith and Jay Cutler both looked ready to shoulder the big responsibilities they’ll carry this season.

Smith went 4-for-5 for 58 yards passing while leading two first-quarter scoring drives for the 49ers, and Cutler was sharp in limited action for Denver in the Broncos’ 17-13 preseason victory over San Francisco on Monday night.

Neither team scored in the final 19 minutes, and the Broncos’ defense stopped the 49ers at the Denver 3 with 1:21 to play as the clubs finally played the NFL’s last exhibition opener, a full eight days after the Hall of Fame game kicked off the preseason.

But Smith, the 2005 No. 1 draft pick in his third season with San Francisco, built on his promising efforts in practice with a poised, precise quarter. With his third offensive coordinator in three seasons and a new crop of receivers, Smith would have excuses for slow development.

He didn’t need any in the opener.

“I felt a lot more comfortable than I’ve ever played,” Smith said. “Knowing what’s happening and reading defenses, everything is really slowing down. I felt really comfortable about that.”

The clubs met in their regular-season finales last New Year’s Eve, when the 49ers’ 26-23 overtime victory kept Cutler and the Broncos out of the playoffs. Both teams will head into this season with postseason expectations resting on their young franchise quarterbacks.

Cutler led a 67-yard scoring drive while playing just two series for Denver. After claiming the starting job from Jake Plummer with five weeks left last season, Cutler believes he’ll find it easier to take charge of the offense with a strong training camp behind him.

“Last year there were a lot of ‘ifs,” Cutler said. “I was learning the playbook, the new teammates, the new city. This year I’m a little more established, a lot more confident, so it’s a whole different ballgame.”

The Broncos played without defensive tackle Gerard Warren amid reports they’re trying to trade the seven-year veteran. Amon Gordon started in place of Warren, who didn’t make the trip to Candlestick Park.

Maurice Hicks and Michael Robinson both looked good in limited action in their battle to be Frank Gore‘s backup. Hicks rushed for 30 yards and Robinson added 25. Gore, the 2006 NFC rushing leader, will sit out at least the 49ers’ first three exhibitions with a broken hand.

The Broncos kept Cutler safe behind a patchwork offensive line missing starters Ben Hamilton and Matt Lepsis, calling for just two passes during Cutler’s brief action. A few plays after hitting Walker for a 24-yard catch, Cutler nimbly avoided Marques Douglas’ sack attempt and scrambled 16 yards to the 1, where Travis Henry punched it in.

Smith then hit new target Darrell Jackson with an 18-yard pass while Champ Bailey was draped all over the receiver. That drive ended with Joe Nedney‘s 37-yard field goal, but Smith uncorked another strong throw on the next drive. He hit Arnaz Battle with a perfectly thrown 26-yarder at the 1, setting up Robinson’s TD dive.

After Quincy Morgan made a 58-yard kickoff return for Denver, Patrick Ramsey replaced Cutler and led another scoring drive, hitting backup fullback Troy Fleming with a TD pass shortly after San Francisco replaced its first-team defense.

San Francisco receiver Ashley Lelie had two catches for 26 yards, playing with the Niners’ third-stringers against his former team.