The Rams walked out of Sunday Night Football with a loss to the Broncos, but the game wasn’t nearly as lopsided as the final result might suggest. Los Angeles actually outgained Denver by 225 yards and still came up short, a reminder that this one turned on a handful of costly moments rather than a total breakdown.
Matthew Stafford was central to both sides of that story. The Rams had no shot at the finish without him, but his pick-six was the kind of swing play that changes everything.
Talanoa Hufanga made a strong play on the ball, yet Stafford simply can’t force that throw in that spot. He also left some plays on the field, including a few deep shots to Davante Adams and an open Terrance Ferguson on the opening drive that went unnoticed.
Kyren Williams gave the Rams plenty to work with. He wasn’t just productive as a runner; he also showed up as a receiver and became the first Rams running back since Todd Gurley in 2018 to post at least 70 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in the same game.
Even so, the second half was quieter for him, as he carried six times for just 18 yards after the break. Blake Corum never really got going either.
Adams kept rolling. For the second straight week, he topped 100 receiving yards, and he beat Patrick Surtain in the matchup while putting together back-to-back 100-yard games for the first time since 2024.
The Rams also got a long touchdown from Konata Mumpfield, but the wider issue was obvious: this offense is still missing a third wide receiver. Adams and Mumpfield were the only receivers targeted.
The tight ends had to carry more of the load with Puka Nacua out, and that plan changed again when Terrance Ferguson exited. Tyler Higbee still had a productive night, finishing with seven catches, his most since he had nine against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. But once Ferguson left and Colby Parkinson was dealing with an injury, the group faded in the second half and the offense lost some of its shape.
Up front, the Rams’ offensive line looked dominant early. Stafford had time to work, and the run game had room to breathe.
The tone shifted in the second half, though, especially after Kevin Dotson left for a play with an injury. The pass rush started to creep in, Stafford felt more heat, and the offense stalled more often in the third quarter.
On defense, the Rams only finished with one sack on Bo Nix, and that came from Omar Speights. Still, the pressure was there.
Byron Young logged seven pressures, and Kobie Turner put together one of his better games of the season. Turner also got a tipped pass that turned into Josh Wallace’s interception.
Aaron Donald didn’t have the impact he wanted, but he still looked like he belonged.
Linebacker play remains a concern. Nate Landman has not lived up to the contract extension he signed last year, and he gave up a touchdown in coverage against Denver. Speights continues to stand out against the run, but the Rams still need someone who can handle space in the middle of the field.
The secondary was better than it may have looked in real time. Bo Nix completed only 50 percent of his passes, and the Rams were close to intercepting him three times.
Wallace wasn’t at Watson’s level, but he had some good snaps. The group gave up a few explosive plays and couldn’t get a stop when it mattered, yet the overall performance was solid enough.
Special teams, though, remains a mess. Harrison Mevis deserves credit for going 4-for-4 after missing last week, but that was about the only clean part of the operation. The long punt return and Forbes’ penalty that put Denver at midfield played a major role in the comeback.
Sean McVay also lost control of the game in the second half. Stafford ended up throwing 55 passes despite the Rams never trailing until the fourth quarter, and Chris Shula is going to hear plenty after the defense allowed 23 points in the second half.
Once Watson left, the energy dipped. By the end, the Rams had been out-coached after halftime.
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Sean McVay Added To Rams Frustration After Brutal Collapse
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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 🡒]