The Denver Broncos face a huge challenge in Week 3 when they host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football. Both teams sit at 1-1 in this early-season clash of Super Bowl contenders.
The Rams are coming off a 28-6 drubbing of the New York Giants on Monday night. But they were handily defeated in Week 1 by the San Francisco 49ers, and those who have jumped back on the Rams' bandwagon are easily overlooking that. But it was a one-sided affair, regardless of the Rams' poor travel plans, having to go to Australia.
One win over the Giants, who didn't even have their starting quarterback for nearly the entire game, doesn't turn this Rams team into a juggernaut overnight. The Broncos are being overlooked by many in this game and the Rams are currently
a 2.5-point favorite, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Rams had to travel across the country after playing the Giants on a short week and the Broncos haven't had to go anywhere. The Broncos can win this game and here are three key factors in them doing just that.
3 key factors to Broncos beating Rams in Week 3
1. Take away Davante Adams
Against the Giants, Davante Adams went off. He caught eight passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns with Puka Nacua out of the lineup. Nacua is doubtful for this game as well.
The Giants, however, don't have Pat Surtain II. It's likely that Adams and Matthew Stafford won't allow PS2 to intimidate them, but the Rams would be best served to look in other directions to throw the ball.
With Nacua out of the lineup, the Rams' options drop down a few tiers after Adams. Terrance Ferguson can make plays at the tight end position, but aside from him, the Rams have Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield and Colby Parkinson as options for Stafford to get the ball to.
You'd have to give the edge to the Broncos' secondary there.
So, similar to the Week 1 game plan against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos need to slow down the Rams' rushing attack and put the Rams in several third-and-long situations. It seems crazy to invite the reigning league MVP to throw on you, just as it did with Patrick Mahomes, but if Surtain can keep Adams in check, the Broncos can take advantage of these situations and get the Rams' offense off the field.
2. Control time of possession
Once the Broncos follow step one and get the Rams' offense on the sideline, it would be ideal to keep them there. That can be achieved with a healthy rushing attack. Jonah Coleman will miss this game (and at least three more) with an ankle injury, but both J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey are good to go.
The Broncos need a solid effort out of both of those running backs to go on long, time-consuming drives in this game while keeping Stafford and company spectating. If the Broncos do these two things, they will win this game. But... it wouldn't hurt to do one other thing.
3. Force at least one turnover
The Rams are a high-powered offense, capable of lighting up the scoreboard. The Broncos won't win a shootout against this team, so they need to try and steal at least one possession with a turnover, though multiple turnovers would be even better.
Stafford has thrown only eight interceptions in each of the last two seasons, but he already has two this season. The Broncos could look to be opportunistic and take a chance against him in this game, but forcing a fumble or creating a turnover on special teams would be just as good.
The Broncos need to turn the Rams over one time in this game and cash that turnover into points.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 3 keys to victory for the Broncos against the Rams
