You can blame the officiating for the latest Los Angeles Rams loss to the Denver Broncos, but I think that misses the point. The Rams had a 16-0 lead lost, retook the lead, late and had the Broncos deep in their own territory on a second and twenty after a holding call against the Broncos. The Rams allowed the Broncos to convert easily, keeping them in the game.
A great game is a story and a great story isn’t about one chapter, but the entire novel. One
play didn’t cost the Rams. A number of plays did. The officiating didn’t cost the Rams the game, the Rams put the game in the hands of the officials by not sealing the deal when they were up 16-0.
They let the Broncos back in the game, the Broncos won. That’s math.
You can find silver linings such as the Rams built the lead in the first place, they played without Puka Nacua, the defense at times looks so much better than last year with Trent McDuffie, the running back room is solid, the special teams didn’t miss a field goal Sunday Night, but the Rams lost. It should hurt for the team and for the fans who take this sport too seriously (like me).
This is supposed to be a fun game, but it’s hard to find any fun after that loss, and if you’re paying attention, some of the same problems from 2025 are showing up in 2026. The biggest issue, the failure to close out games while leading.
If teams didn’t know they were in a Rams game until the very final whistle, they do now.
Blame the refs, blame McVay, blame the pick-six by Matthew Stafford, blame me! I was there! But it doesn’t change the fact that THE RAMS lost. The Broncos won, and in the history books, that’s the part that’ll matters most in the NFL.
This season isn’t over, but it’s off to a rough start and this particular loss should sting. If the Rams don’t want to feel this way again, they need to play better. That’s math.
Broncos turn lopsided first half into wild back and forth finish vs. Rams (milehighreport)
“In the first half, the Los Angeles Rams were in such complete control of the game that it surely looked like a blowout was in full effect. At one point, the Rams were on pace to drop nearly 600 yards of offense. However, the Denver Broncos defense did one good thing and that was limiting them to field goals all through the second quarter.
Down 16-0, Bo Nix and the Broncos charged back in the third quarter with two touchdown drives and converting both two-point conversions to tie the game. Then an absolutely wild fourth quarter where both teams would make big plays before Nix and the Broncos drove down the field in the final four minutes to take the lead in the final minute.“
Rams clap back on narrative of Sean McVay ditching media after collapse vs Broncos (sports.yahoo0)
“This caused a stir amongst media members as the Rams head coach seemingly ditched the postgame press conference. Nate Atkins of The Athletic revealed how shocking the move by McVay was in a post on X.
“Sean McVay ducked out of his press conference before Rams media could get into it, only 10 minutes after the final whistle. Not sure I have ever seen that in this league before,” Atkins wrote.
Rams Vice President of Communications Artis Twyman quickly countered the senior NFL writer on X.
“Again Nathan, I will not let you get on here and not represent the truth. In the press box, they announce that media that want to attend the post game news conference, leave at the five-minute mark. You chose to stay until the end of the game, which made you late,” Twyman wrote.“
When will Garrett, Nacua return for Rams? (nbcsports)
“Mike Florio and Chris Simms assess the timeline for Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua to return from injury, and for the latter, how contract negotiations may affect it.”
Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga lead the Broncos past the Rams 30-26 in a Sunday night thriller (espn.com)
“Nix’s keeper from inches outside the goal line with 47 seconds left capped a wild final five minutes that included a 66-yard pick-6 by Hufanga, a quick touchdown response by Los Angeles and a game-sealing second picked-off pass by Denver’s do-everything safety.
“I actually had to have a pep talk with myself,” after dropping two interceptions earlier in the game, said Hufanga, who finished with a sack, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and three pass breakups to go with his pair of interceptions.“
Matt Stafford-Taylor Swift cameo, explained: Why Rams QB is appearing in star’s latest music video (sportingnews)
“Swift showcased her new music video while accepting the inaugural Artist Director Honors at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards show on Sunday.
While the Rams were busy taking on the Broncos, Stafford went viral for making a surprise cameo, wearing a tuxedo in the background. Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell joined Stafford among the notable faces in the video:“
From the Podium: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Josh Wallace recap Rams narrow loss to Broncos on Sunday Night Football (therams.com)
“DENVER — With three lead changes in the final five minutes of the game, Sunday Night Football between the Rams and Broncos went down to the final play. Unable to score on the final play of the game, Denver ultimately prevailed, 30-26.
Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and cornerback Josh Wallace gave their thoughts on the game from the podium.“
‘No panic but there’s frustration.’ Rams blow 16-point lead in stunning loss to Broncos (latimes.com)
“DENVER — Mile sigh.
A heavy one. The what-the-heck-just-happened kind.
That’s how the stunned Rams felt Sunday night.
Coach Sean McVay and his team came here aiming to put together a second consecutive impressive prime-time performance.
And through the first half against the Denver Broncos, it looked like the Rams would do just that.“
HIGHLIGHTS: Rams top plays in Week 3 vs. Broncos | Josh Wallace’s INT, Tyler Higbee’s TD & more (therams.com)
“Watch the Los Angeles Rams’ best plays from the Week 3 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.”
Broncos vs. Rams final score: Bo Nix caps second-half comeback with late TD as Denver stuns L.A. (cbssports)
“The Rams dominated the first half and showed no ill effects of being without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and a superstar wide receiver. The absences of Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua were a relative afterthought while Los Angeles constructed a 16-0 lead. They out-gained the Broncos 256 to 72 before the break, and they were in total control.
But then the Broncos flipped the game on its head. On the other side of the halftime break, Bo Nix connected with Pat Bryant II and Nate Adkins for back-to-back touchdowns and converted the two-point conversion on both of them to level the score before the third quarter had even expired. Denver’s defense also stepped up, as it held the Rams to a meager 19 yards in the frame.“
2026 NFL season, Week 3: What We Learned from Sunday’s games (nfl.com)
“Rams feel Puka’s absence. A week after Davante Adams turned back the clock and scorched the Giants for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns, he was stellar again. He racked up game-highs of 137 yards and seven receptions — his 332 yards over the last two weeks are the highest two-game total in his career. But the absence of Puka Nacua, one of the game’s best receivers, was surely felt. By game’s end, Stafford had 390 yards on 30-of-55 passing, but when the Rams offense lulled, it was apparent how beneficial having a second elite WR option would be. Konata Mumpfield had the game of his short career with four grabs for 93 yards and a 48-yard TD catch. But three of those catches and 78 yards came in the final stanza. Stafford did his best, and succeeded at times, getting Kyren Williams and his bevy of tight ends into the mix, before desperation led to Mumpfield’s contributions. Rounding out the WR stable and getting Nacua healthy is of the utmost importance for Sean McVay’s squad, which is suddenly 1-2.“
NFL Network: Case Keenum expected to start for Bears vs. Eagles (nfl.com)
“The Chicago Bears will roll with QB3 versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
Chicago is expected to start Case Keenum on Monday Night Football, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning.
The news had been trending that way after backup Tyson Bagent spent most of the week in concussion protocol. Starter Caleb Williams was already ruled out due to a hamstring injury.“
Comment of the Day:
“Blah blah blah . Show people that you learn from your losses instead of just singing platitudes and then repeating the same mistakes.
Not telling Shula to stop with the fking soft zone BS he calls defense
Not doing anything about ST especially Smith
Not putting foot on gas when you have the lead
Abandoning the run game every time it’s working
Finding a real WR3” -DudeBro
