49ers vs. Broncos: Live Score and Analysis for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos squared off in each team's third preseason bout prior to the 2015 NFL season.

San Francisco pulled off a 23-6 victory at home over the Dallas Cowboys a week ago, while the Broncos are riding a 2-0 preseason record with back-to-back victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.

Head coach Jim Tomsula's squad traveled to Denver prior to the contest at Sports Authority Field on Saturday evening in order to hold joint practices with the Broncos. But Week 3 of the preseason typically marks games in which teams play their starters the longest.

The 49ers' first-team guys—and the Broncos as well—will out there for more than just a few drives. Most ended up playing throughout the first half.

And all NFL teams will have to trim their respective rosters from 90 players to 75 after this critical third week.

Denver got on the board first with a field goal late in the first quarter. But it came following a drive where linebacker NaVorro Bowman had two sacks of quarterback Peyton Manning.

The Broncos then tacked on a safety following a poor return decision by running back Reggie Bush and a follow-up sack of quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the end zone. They added on yet another field goal shortly after the two-minute warning.

Yet Kaepernick and the 49ers engineered their first successful offensive drive of the night that culminated in a Phil Dawson field goal to put San Francisco on the board.

The 49ers scored first after the half. Most of both sides' starters had been removed by this point. And backup kicker Corey Acosta pulled San Francisco within two points after a 50-yard field goal. His second of the quarter gave the 49ers their first lead.

But the Broncos answered back with a field goal of their own to retake the lead in the fourth quarter. The 49ers answered right back. Nine of the 49ers' 12 points have come from Acosta's leg.

Denver's offense answered back late in the fourth. 49ers cornerback Mylan Hicks was flagged for a pass-interference call in the end zone, which set up a one-yard rush from Denver running back Juwan Thompson. The Broncos subsequently converted a two-point attempt.

The 49ers could not answer back and now own a 1-2 preseason record.

FINAL: 49ers 12, Broncos 19

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the San Francisco 49ers. Follow him (@PeterPanacy) on Twitter.