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5 Bold Predictions For 49ers vs Broncos

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By @atylerbrett

5 Bold Predictions For 49ers vs Broncos

peyton manning
Adam Hunger - USA TODAY Sports

Two Super Bowl contenders square off on Sunday Night Football this week when the Denver Broncos (4-1) host the San Francisco 49ers (4-2) in a matchup of teams with lofty expectations for the 2014 season. Both teams are on modest winning streaks and will be looking to extend them this week and take another step towards securing their spot in the playoffs. With that in mind, here five bold predictions for how the game will go down.

5. Juwan Thompson Will Out-Rush Ronnie Hillman

juwan thompson
Chris Humphreys - USA TODAY Sports

5. Juwan Thompson Will Out-Rush Ronnie Hillman

juwan thompson
Chris Humphreys - USA TODAY Sports

Hillman is coming off a strong 100-yard performance against the Jets and is the clear No. 1 back but his sideline-to-sideline style won’t yield the same results against San Francisco. The 49ers will string him out and bring him down for minimal gains while the burlier Thompson can lower his shoulder and get positive yardage, giving him the better day of the two Denver backs.

4. Vernon Davis Will Have More Receptions Than Julius Thomas

Vernon Davis
Getty Images

4. Vernon Davis Will Have More Receptions Than Julius Thomas

Vernon Davis
Getty Images

While he looked shaky coming back from multiple injuries last week, Vernon Davis should shake off the rust and be a significant part of the 49er offense this week. With the Denver secondary locking down the San Fran receivers and the SF defense focusing in on Julius Thomas, it should pave the way for Davis to have more catches at the end of the day than the NFL leader in touchdown receptions.

3. Colin Kaepernick Will Be The Game's Leading Rusher

colin kaepernick
Kelley L. Cox - USA TODAY Sports

3. Colin Kaepernick Will Be The Game's Leading Rusher

colin kaepernick
Kelley L. Cox - USA TODAY Sports

With the Denver defense playing tough against the run this season (second fewest rushing yards allowed in the league), Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde could find some tough sledding. But as Seattle showed earlier in the year, this defense (once again without Danny Trevathen) is susceptible to a running quarterback. Look for Kaepernick to pull it down and pick up some serious chunks of yardage on Sunday.

2. Emmanuel Sanders Will Catch His First Touchdown Pass

emmanuel sanders
Ron Chenoy - USA TODAY Sports

2. Emmanuel Sanders Will Catch His First Touchdown Pass

emmanuel sanders
Ron Chenoy - USA TODAY Sports

Emmanuel Sanders has been a great free agent acquisition for the Broncos so far this season with a team-high 35 receptions through five games for 473 yards. But the one thing Sanders has not done since coming to Denver is find the endzone. Look for that trend to change this week against the 49er defense that will be scrambling to account for the Thomases (Julius and Demaryius), clearing the way for Sanders to score.

1. Peyton Manning Will Set All-Time Touchdown Mark In First Half

peyton manning
Chris Humphreys - USA TODAY Sports

1. Peyton Manning Will Set All-Time Touchdown Mark In First Half

peyton manning
Chris Humphreys - USA TODAY Sports

Peyton Manning needs just two touchdowns to tie and three to break the all-time career touchdown mark currently held by Brett Favre. Look for Manning to stand alone by the time halftime starts as the Broncos will look to get off to a fast start before San Francisco defense can regroup. Fast starts for Denver include plenty of passing opportunities for Manning which he should turn into three touchdowns, and the all-time record, before the break.

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