The Rams don’t get much room for error on Sunday night.
After bouncing back in Week 2, Los Angeles heads into a tougher test against the Broncos, a team that also shook off an ugly Week 1 and now brings a far stiffer challenge on the road. If the Rams want to get to 2-1 and start stacking wins, the matchup details matter - especially the ones that could tilt the game in one direction fast.
The biggest one might be what happens if Puka Nacua sits again. In that case, Matthew Stafford’s passing game would lean hard on Davante Adams, and that’s where Patrick Surtain enters the picture.
Adams erupted against the Giants with eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns, but Denver’s top corner is a different problem entirely. NFL Pro says Adams caught seven of his eight downfield targets in Week 2, yet Surtain hasn’t given up a downfield reception on his last 213 coverage snaps and has allowed only three since 2025.
This will be the fifth time the two have gone head-to-head, and Adams has already done more damage against Surtain than any other pass catcher, with 13 catches on 22 targets for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Their last four meetings show the push-and-pull: 2022 Week 4, five catches for 54 yards and no score; 2022 Week 11, four catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns; 2023 Week 1, two catches for 16 yards; 2023 Week 18, three catches for 26 yards. If Surtain wins the night, Sean McVay may have to manufacture touches for Adams and look elsewhere for production, with Terrance Ferguson among the players who could be asked to step in.
The Rams’ defense has its own tricky assignment, and it starts with Jaylen Waddle. Denver’s offense lives off explosive plays, and Waddle is a major source of them.
He was nearly invisible in Week 1, finishing with one catch for three yards, then blew up against the Jaguars with eight receptions for 138 yards and a 49-yard grab. The Rams will need to put McDuffie on him and make Denver earn everything underneath.
McDuffie’s usage has already shifted from Week 1 to Week 2. He opened the season mostly in zone, then last week the Rams used him as a shutdown corner in man coverage.
He now has three pass breakups, tied for the most in the NFL, and his poise when the ball is in the air is a trait Los Angeles missed last season. If he can take Waddle out of the game, that gives the Rams’ pass rush more time to get to Bo Nix.
That combination - no explosives, more pressure - is exactly what Chris Shula’s defense needs.
On the other side, protecting Stafford could decide whether the Rams’ offense can function at all. Alaric Jackson is the focal point there, and speed rushers can give him trouble when he’s slow to get into his pass-blocking set.
Nik Bonitto brings the kind of burst that can wreck timing at the snap; he finished second in the NFL last season with 41 quick pressures. The Rams will likely try to chip him when they can, especially out of 13 personnel, but Bonitto still has the ability to blow up a plan before it starts.
That’s where the run game comes in. Los Angeles has to stay on schedule and avoid obvious passing downs, because third-and-long would let Bonitto hunt Stafford without worrying as much about the run. If the Rams can’t keep things manageable, Jackson’s night gets a lot harder.
In Other News...
Rams Suddenly Have A Puka Nacua Problem Heading Into Week 3
Puka Nacuas status has become a real storyline for the Rams heading into Week 3, even if Sean McVay is trying to keep the concern in perspective. The head coach said Nacua is dealing with a minor injury and may not be available this week, but he also framed it as something that should not linger, which at least gives Los Angeles some reason to stay calm for now.
Still, any uncertainty around Nacua lands differently for a Rams offense that has leaned on his presence as a central part of its identity. McVay did not paint this as a long-term issue, but the fact that availability is in question at all is enough to put a spotlight on the next few days of practice and the way the team manages its passing game if Nacua is limited or held out. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Have A Broncos Decision Fans Will Want To Watch
Ronnie Rivers calf injury has created an immediate special teams opening for the Rams heading into their game against the Broncos, and Sean McVay said the club will turn to either Dean Connors or Jordan Waters to handle the spot. Rivers is expected to land on injured reserve with a recovery timeline of four to six weeks, so this is more than a one-game shuffle, even if the first decision arrives before the Denver matchup.
The choice comes down to special teams value, and both Connors and Waters are chasing their first NFL appearances. For a Rams roster trying to keep the bottom of the depth chart steady while one of its core special teams pieces recovers, the next call at that spot could offer an early look at how the team wants to manage the position over the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Rams May Lose The Offensive Fix Sean McVay Just Found
The Rams found a useful wrinkle in their Week 2 win over the Giants, leaning more heavily on 13 personnel after Puka Nacua was out of the lineup. It gave Sean McVay another way to steady the offense and keep the structure of the passing game intact, with the tight end room helping bridge the gap as the receivers shuffled around the game plan.
Now the follow-up is whether that solution holds up for Week 3 against the Broncos. Colby Parkinson has missed practice this week because of a knee injury, leaving his status uncertain, while Terrance Ferguson was a full participant Thursday and is expected to play. If Parkinson cannot go, the Rams could be forced to keep adjusting on the fly just as they try to preserve the rhythm they found last Sunday. [Read more 🡒]