Rams at Broncos
When: 6:15p.m. Sunday
³:Empower Field at Mile High
TV/radio: NBC, 850 AM/94.1 FM
Broncos-Rams series: The two franchises have played 15 times. The Rams are 10-5 in the series, winning the last matchup 51-14 on Christmas Day in 2022. Former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired the next day. The Rams are owned by Stan Kroenke, who also owns the Nuggets, Avalanche, Rapids and Mammoth.
In the spotlight: Will Denver protect Bo Nix against Aaron Donald and company?
Eliciting emotion out of Bo Nix in press conferences can be a tall task. Nix is generally reserved, offering the public only limited insight into his personality.
But when a reporter asked the Broncos quarterback about Aaron Donald’s return to football, he perked up. The praise for the future hall-of-famer started to flow shortly after.
“For a guy like that who’s played so much football at a dominant level, if anything, he could be better because he’s got some good rest. Itap exciting to play the greats, it always is,” Nix said. “I know he’s a really good football player, and he’s going to provide a challenge that we haven’t necessarily faced before. He’s literally one of the best at his position of all time, so you don’t play those many Sundays.”
Nix said it’s hard to truly stop a player of Donald’s prowess, but the Broncos will have to “limit the time he’s dominant.”
That would be a good place to start for Denver’s offensive line. For a unit that considers itself one of the best in the NFL, Sunday night will be a difficult task. Denver’s allowed only 21 pressures in the opening two weeks, the sixth-lowest mark in the NFL. On the other side, the Rams’ pass rush has generated 30 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. Los Angeles will be without one of the league’s premier players, Myles Garrett, who received arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss at least the first four games of the season.
The Rams replaced him with former sack-leader Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart and Wesley Bailey. On the interior, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner complement Donald as proven players in their own right.
“They’re loaded up front,” Nix said.
Could Los Angeles choose to send extra rushers to try and make up for the loss of Garrett? Defensive coordinator Chris Shula is usually hesitant too, although he changed the formula against the Giants. After the Rams blitzed on just 11.1% of opponents’ dropbacks in Week 1, tied for the second-lowest rate among defenses in a game this season, they more than tripled that rate in Week 2.
If Los Angeles’ defensive scheme looks familiar to Broncos’ fans, it’s because it derives from the Vic Fangio school of thought. Rush four, play good coverage and limit explosive plays.
That’s the type of defense that has given Nix trouble. Against four-man rushes last year, Nix’s 84.9 passer rating was the eighth-lowest in the NFL. This year, his rating has jumped nearly 26 points and his 86% completion rate leads the league.
While it’s a shame an injury robbed viewers of Garett Bolles vs. Garrett, the trench play Sunday will still be appointment television.
Who has the edge?
When Broncos run: J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman were all limited at practice this week with lower body injuries, so the Broncos backfield will likely not be at full strength against the Rams. Dobbins and Harvey practiced fully towards the end of the week and are set to play Sunday, while Coleman is officially out after missing multiple practices. Even when the running backs have been healthy, Denver’s running game has been largely ineffective. The Broncos have struggled to open up holes for Dobbins, although Coleman found some success on the final drive against the Jaguars. The Rams’ rushing defense is its weak link, but they just held the Giants to 52 rushing yards. Slight edge: Rams
When Broncos pass:Payton was quick to point out Nix’s second half against the Jaguars as the most important part of Nix’s start to the year. That does not mean the previous three halves of football should be ignored, but Nix seemed to finally settle into a rhythm after halftime last Sunday. Los Angeles’ defense will test him; the Rams are loaded with strong pass rushers and cornerbacks, and Donald is back. One big advantage for Denver: no Garrett for the Rams. Edge: Broncos
When Rams run:It’s early in the season, but the Broncos’ rushing defense has shown some vulnerability. Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 5 yards per carry after Kenneth Walker III decimated Denver. Now, one of the most creative rushing offenses in football comes to Mile High with a talented backfield duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The Rams’ 142.5 rushing yards per game ranks sixth in the NFL, and without Jonathon Cooper to set the edge, their wide zone running scheme could have some success against the Broncos’ edge defenders. Edge: Rams
When Rams pass:The blockbuster matchup of the night features a gluttony of All-Pros. Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, Nik Bonnito, Zach Allen and Patrick Surtain are all among the best players at their respective positions in the NFL, so expect both the Broncos’ defense and the Rams’ passing game to trade blows. One name not mentioned is star wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is doubtful for Sunday. If Nacua isn’t able to go, Vance Joseph will have one less weapon to worry about, which could be enough to tilt the advantage towards the Broncos. Edge: Broncos
Special Teams:Denver’s special teams have been solid so far this season. Will Lutz is reliable, Jeremy Crawshaw has pinned teams deep and Marvin Mims could return to his kick-return duties after missing Week 2 with a foot injury. Meanwhile, the Rams’ special teams unit has been a notorious blemish under McVay. Edge: Broncos
DzԲ:Payton and McVay are good friends, but it wasn’t always that way. There used to be animosity between two of the NFL’s best coaches, offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth , but they have grown to respect each other. Los Angeles got beat in Week 1 by another elite offensive mind — Kyle Shanahan — but McVay won’t be taking his team to Australia for this game. Slight edge: Rams
Tale of the tape
| Stat | Broncos | Rams |
|---|---|---|
| Total offense | 284 (25th) | 385.5 (6th) |
| Rush offense | 82.5 (27th) | 142.5 (6th) |
| Pass offense | 201.5 (20th) | 243 (10th) |
| Points per game | 15 (tied for 26th) | 17.5 (22nd) |
| Total defense | 330 (17th) | 280.5 (7th) |
| Run defense | 157.5 (29th) | 113 (19th) |
| Pass defense | 172.5 (8th) | 167.5 (7th) |
| Points allowed | 22 (13th) | 16.5 (tied for 8th) |
By the numbers
44.1%: The Rams played man coverage on 44.1% of passes against the Giants, their highest rate in a game since 2019, according to Next Gen Stats.
9:Payton has won nine consecutive games against NFC opponents, while the Rams have won 8 straight games against AFC opponents. Each is the longest active streak in the NFL.
0:Completions Surtain has allowed in 22 snaps of man coverage this year.
38: Missed tackles by the Broncos this season. Their 24.2% missed tackle rate is the highest by any defense since at least 2018 in the first two games of a season, according to Next Gen Stats.
X-factors
Broncos: Ben Powers. You don’t often see an offensive lineman listed as an “X-factor,” but Powers will be key for the Broncos on Sunday night.He struggled against Chris Jones in Week 1, and now gets the pleasure of facing one of the greatest defensive tackles in league history. Donald isn’t the only disrupter in the middle of Los Angeles’ defense either. Fiske and Turner are emerging young players and could give Powers trouble with their quickness. Quinn Meinerz should be fine on one side, but Powers and center Luke Wattenberg could be the key to keeping Nix upright.
Rams: Terrance Ferguson.If Nacua doesn’t play, Ferguson’s targets should continue to increase. The second-year tight end caught 6 of 9 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown against the Giants. He finished second on the Rams in receptions, targets and receiving yards behind Adams. Ferguson dropped a touchdown, but Stafford kept targeting the Oregon product. Denver’s defense has had some trouble guarding tight ends during Vance Joseph’s tenure. Could Ferguson be the next?
Post predictions
Parker Gabriel, Broncos writer: Broncos 22, Rams 21
The Broncos bounced back in a big way in Week 2, but this is an even stiffer challenge. The Rams are balanced and dangerous offensively, explosive defensively and have a future Hall of Famer at quarterback. Oh, and another ramping up at defensive tackle. Still, the Broncos have found all manner of ways to win at home and they started to find their footing on both sides of the ball last week. Somehow, some way this feels like it’ll come down to the final possession. Denver’s been good in those games for a while now.
Sam Jane, Broncos writer: Rams 20, Broncos 17.
This game truly feels like a toss-up. Nacua’s status could swing the matchup in Denver’s favor, but the Rams should be able to run the ball effectively against the Broncos’ smaller edge defenders. That will set Stafford up for third-and-manageable situations and protect the Rams offensive line from the Broncos’ pass rush and home crowd. It’ll be another defense-oriented contest, but Stafford will outduel Nix in the fourth quarter by leading a game-winning drive late.
Troy Renck, columnist:Broncos 22, Rams 21
The Walmart Bowl could be a preview of the Super Bowl. Both teams regained their footing Week 2. Denver is positioned to pull off the upset if the offense starts fast and stays balanced, setting up Jaylen Waddle for play-action strikes. The Broncos boast nine straight wins against NFC opponents, dating to 2024. They have lost one regular season game at home in two seasons. And the Rams are coming off a short week and will be without defensive menace Myles Garrett and possibly star receiver Puka Nacua. The Broncos’ defense will produce two takeaways, muting 14 receptions by the Rams’ tight ends and running backs.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 21, Rams 20
Compared to Trevor Lawrence and Patrick Mahomes, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and those 38-year-old knees are practically a stationary target for Vance Joseph’s defense. On the surface, The Sean Bowl is as tossy as toss-ups get — Payton is 3-4 with a rest advantage since 2024; McVay is 5-4 on a short week over that same span. But the other trend lines lean orange — the Broncos have won nine of their last 10 against the NFC dating back to Week 1 of the Nix Era, and have won five straight at home. Denver is 5-1-1 against the spread as an underdog since the start of the ’25 season. Aaron Donald is a marvel. But when Nix is 15-3 as a starter at Empower Field, he’s got his work cut out for him.
Nate Peterson, sports editor: Broncos 27, Rams 24
Talk about a game that’ll make you never want to shop at Target again. Even if Puka Nacua plays, you might not want to start him on your fantasy team, given his injury status leading up to the game. We already know Myles Garrett is out, although the Broncos’ offensive line will still have its hands full with Aaron Donald and the Rams’ front four. Denver catches the odds-on preseason Super Bowl favorite just at the right time — on a short week and not at full strength. With the home crowd behind them, the Broncos will have enough juice to squeeze out a win here in what could be the first of two epic Walmart Bowls this season.
