The Los Angeles Rams picked up their first win of the 2026 season this and will look to advance to 2-1 during their trip to Denver to face the Broncos. The matchup, which will be on Sunday Night Football, will contain two emerging offenses and two defenses that are finding their rhythm.
The Broncos got a head start on their film study after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-13, on Sunday. Here are three lessons from that contest that the Rams will be considering as they design their game plan for this week.
Waddle is finding his footing
Jaylen Waddle came alive last week. The former Alabama speedster recording eight receptions for 138 yards in his home debut for Denver. Waddle was electric and opened up the rest of the field for his teammates to exploit. With another
home contest against the Rams on the horizon, he'll be looking to show off in prime time.
The Rams have to manage Waddle, along with a variety of other top pass catchers, including Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, and Evan Engram. This game should be a barometer for how strong the team's secondary really is.
The Rams can win this game by winning in the red zone
First-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb is working through some of the growing pains that come with being a new playcaller. Denver has yet to put a consistent effort together; they've struggled to score, especially when the field shrinks. In Week 1, they only scored 10 points, and in Week 2, the Broncos went 2-for-5 in the red zone, walking away with two touchdowns, two field goals, and one interception.
Bo Nix can be baited into throwing a bad ball in the red zone. As long as the Rams score touchdowns and force difficult throws from Nix in that area of the field, Los Angeles should be in control of this one.
Denver will attack the outside with speed
The Broncos have speed at every offensive skill position, and they will hurt the Rams if Los Angeles plays 7 yards off the line of scrimmage. Waddle is already a problem, especially as he can hit the quick out with ease. If R.J. Harvey is healthy, he'll play into that.
Expect everything from Denver. QB designed runs, outside runs, screens, reverses, trick plays, the works. The Broncos will test the Rams' corners to see if they want to play close to the line of scrimmage and if they're willing to make tackles.
If they're successful, Denver will use various faints to the outside, regardless of level, to attack inside. To put it simply, Denver's top offensive asset is speed, and the only way they can use it effectively is to get the ball away from Aaron Donald as quickly as possible.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 3 lessons Rams can learn from Broncos' Week 2 win vs. Jaguars
