It was an all-too-familiar feeling for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, losing a heartbreaker to the Denver Broncos. After losing so many close games last season, this one hurt particularly badly for the Rams, who are now 1-2 and heading to Philadelphia in Week 4.
For the most part, the Rams played really well. They put up 482 yards against a great Broncos defense and went 8-for-17 on third down, doing just about everything necessary to win the game. But a pick-six by Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter and a costly (and controversial) pass interference penalty proved pivotal.
Here's a look at who played well and who didn't in the 30-26 loss.
Stud: Kyren Williams
Williams has really improved as a receiver this season, but he's also much more explosive as a runner.
He was the better of the Rams' two backs on Sunday night, getting the bulk of the carries over Blake Corum. He rushed for 88 yards and also caught six passes for 70 yards, including a terrific toe-tapping grab for 18 yards along the sideline. The Rams rode the hot hand following last week's impressive performance.
Stud: Davante Adams
Adams had the very difficult task of getting open against Pat Surtain II, who followed him all over the field no matter where he lined up. Adams caught seven passes for 137 yards, running sharp routes and creating separation against the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year consistently. After putting up 195 yards last week, this was a terrific encore, even in a losing effort.
Stud: Trent McDuffie
McDuffie essentially shadowed Jaylen Waddle in this one, forcing Bo Nix to go elsewhere with the ball. And that plan worked to near-perfection, because McDuffie all but erased Waddle from the passing game. McDuffie broke up a pass on a slant over the middle and was always in Waddle's hip pocket, giving Nix no room to fit a pass into his top receiver.
Stud: Tyler Higbee
If there was ever a time the Rams needed Higbee to step up, it was Sunday night. With Terrance Ferguson out for most of the game due to an ankle injury and Colby Parkinson also banged up earlier in the game, Higbee came through with some clutch plays. He caught the opening touchdown and finished with eight receptions for 62 yards, contributing more than any of the Rams' other tight ends.
Stud: Harrison Mevis
As poor as the Rams' special teams unit was on Sunday, it wasn't the fault of Mevis. He was terrific, making all four of his field goal attempts from 36, 35, 40 and 48 yards, as well as both PATs. After missing a 43-yarder last week, he was much better this time around and helped keep the Rams in it.
Stud: Josh Wallace
With the Rams thin in the secondary, Wallace came through. He had the timely interception after Kobie Turner applied pressure on Bo Nix, giving the Rams great field position after a 26-yard return. That led to Mevis' go-ahead field goal, and then on the very next drive, he thwarted the Broncos' drive with a pass breakup on third-and-1 to prevent a conversion.
He was called for pass interference late in the fourth quarter, which led to the Broncos' touchdown, but that was a controversial flag that shouldn't have been thrown.
Dud: Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Jaylen Watson went down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and was unable to return, thrusting Forbes into a bigger role. The results were not good. He allowed a touchdown catch to Pat Bryant after being called for defensive pass interference earlier in the game. In the third quarter, his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on punt coverage flipped the field 39 yards for the Broncos, giving them excellent field position. Denver turned that into a game-tying touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Dud: Xavier Smith
Smith has become a non-factor on offense, and he's also struggling on special teams, too. He fielded a punt at the goal line and only returned it 10 yards, giving Los Angeles terrible field position – which turned into a three-and-out. He has not been reliable as a returner this season and that continued on Sunday night.
Dud: Blake Corum
Corum had been playing really well for the Rams, but he hit a wall on Sunday night. He rushed for just 15 yards on six carries, which is only 2 more yards than Stafford had on the ground. He caught two passes that went for a combined 0 yards, also dropping one other throw in the flat.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Studs and duds from Rams' 30-26 loss to Broncos
