A late flag turned a Rams takeaway into a Broncos lifeline on Sunday night, and the call helped flip the entire feel of a game that had already gone off the rails in the second half.
Denver had clawed back from a 16-point hole against Los Angeles, and after the teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter - including a pick-six of Matthew Stafford - the Broncos were suddenly in position to either tie the game or take the lead. Then Josh Wallace appeared to slam the door with what looked like his second interception of Bo Nix.
It didn’t stick.
Officials flagged Wallace for defensive pass interference on a play that immediately drew heat from the Rams sideline and plenty of debate everywhere else. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay saw it as nothing more than hand-fighting between Wallace and Broncos receiver Pat Bryant, while some fans argued Bryant was the one who got into Wallace. Replay showed Wallace seemed to secure what would have been a clean interception, but instead Denver kept the ball and got a fresh set of downs at the 7-yard line.
Even without the interception, a breakup there likely would have sent the Broncos to a field goal attempt.
The sequence brought back memories of the infamous non-call on Nickell Robey-Coleman during the 2018 NFC championship game, with Sean Payton and Sean McVay once again connected to a controversial moment. This time, Payton came out on the right side of it.
Denver finished the drive with a touchdown after an illegal use of hands penalty against the Rams helped keep the momentum moving, and the Broncos hung on for a 30-26 win. The victory pushed Denver over .500 for the first time this season.
In Other News...
Rams Loss Sparked An Officiating Outrage Fans Will Want To See
A late officiating decision turned a tight Rams-Broncos game into a postgame argument as much as a loss. Los Angeles fell 30-26 to Denver in a 2026 NFL matchup, and the most talked-about moment came on a controversial pass interference call against Josh Wallace that drew immediate criticism from former players, analysts and even a rules expert.
The flag helped set up the Broncos decisive touchdown, leaving the Rams with another frustrating result to sort through before heading home. Their next test comes against the Philadelphia Eagles, and given the way this one ended, the conversation around the officiating figures to linger well into the week. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Got The Myles Garrett Update They Were Dreading
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Week 9 is the rough target for a possible return, but even that comes with the usual caution that follows a knee rehab. The Rams are taking a careful route with Garrett, which makes sense given how much they need him once he is back. For now, the focus is less on rushing him into the lineup and more on making sure the injury does not become a bigger issue later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Sean McVay Added To Rams Frustration After Brutal Collapse
The Rams spent Sunday trying to explain away a collapse that felt all too familiar, a 16-point halftime lead against the Broncos slipping into a loss that pushed Los Angeles to 1-2. It was the kind of defeat that leaves more questions than answers, especially for a team trying to establish a rhythm early in the season and avoid letting a strong first half get buried by everything that follows.
Sean McVay only added to the frustration afterward with a notably short postgame press conference, a move that did not sit well with the team's beat writers and left the mood around the team even sharper. He is expected to address it more fully at the next media session before the Rams turn their attention to the Eagles, where the pressure to reset quickly will only grow. [Read more 🡒]