Sunday night’s Rams-Broncos matchup looked like it might be over before the second half even began.
Los Angeles controlled the first two quarters, dictating the pace on both sides of the ball while Denver’s offense struggled to find any rhythm. The Broncos were nearly nonexistent before halftime, leaving plenty of questions about whether they could mount a comeback after the break.
Then everything changed.
Denver’s offense finally came alive in the second half, answering the Rams’ early dominance and turning what looked like a one-sided affair into a wild finish. The game took another dramatic turn when Talanoa Hufanga jumped a route for an interception and returned it for a pick-six.
From there, the fourth quarter became a back-and-forth thriller,
with the lead changing hands four times in the final five minutes. Every possession suddenly carried enormous weight, and neither team could afford a mistake.
So, after all that chaos, which team made the final play that mattered most? Here's who won last night:
Who won 'Sunday Night Football' game last night?
The Denver Broncos won the Week 3 "Sunday Night Football" game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Denver outlasted Los Angeles, 30-26, on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 3.
FINAL: The @Broncos erase a 16-point deficit with 30 2nd half points to win at home! pic.twitter.com/Zf4f2fw4nM
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2026
Rams vs Broncos takeaways
Analysis from USA TODAY Sports' James H. Williams:
- Talanoa Hufanga is a game changer. Hufanga will give quarterback Matthew Stafford nightmares on Sunday night. The Broncos safety helped turn the team’s luck around in the second half with a pair of touchdowns, including a pick-six against veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. Hufanga also had five tackles and a sack.
- Rams defense must be addressed. The Rams want their star duo of Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald on the field together, but that remains on pause. Donald is still getting his bearings and Garrett remains out for several weeks with an injury. The defense will have to address what went wrong in the second half on Sunday, as it was outscored 30-10.
- Matthew Stafford-Davante Adams connection is real. With the Rams playing two games this week, the chemistry between Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams keeps the team in games going forward. Adams has produced over 135+ yards in back-to-back games while star receiver Puka Nacua remains sidelined with injuries. Stafford completed 30 of his 55 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns but threw two interceptions.
Who plays tonight on Monday Night Football?
The Chicago Bears (1-1), host Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) to wrap up Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. The game will be played at Soldier Field with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Sunday Night Football schedule 2026
- Week 1: Giants 28, Cowboys 20
- Week 2: Chiefs 33, Colts 30 (OT)
- Week 3: Broncos 30, Rams 26
- Week 4: Lions at Panthers, Oct. 4, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 5: Ravens at Falcons, Oct. 11, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 6: Cowboys at Packers, Oct. 18, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 7: Chiefs at Seahawks, Oct. 25, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 8: Eagles at Commanders, Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 9: Buccaneers at Bears, Nov. 8, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 10: Steelers at Bengals, Nov. 15, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 11: Vikings vs. 49ers (Mexico City), Nov. 22, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 12: Patriots at Chargers, Nov. 29, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 13: Texans at Steelers, Dec. 6, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 14: Bills at Packers, Dec. 13, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 15: Lions at Vikings, Dec. 20, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 16: Jaguars at Cowboys, Dec. 27, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 17: Eagles at 49ers, Jan. 3, 2027, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Week 18: TBD, Jan. 10, 2027, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Rams beat Broncos? 'Sunday Night Football' winner, final score last night
