Broncos hang on to beat the Rams, who blow multiple leads and are a disappointing 1-2 to start this season

Perhaps the Los Angeles Rams will end up being as good as everyone thought this offseason, and their issues early this season will be a fun part of their "America's Game" episode after they win a Super Bowl. But this isn't the start the Rams envisioned. The Rams blew a 16-0 halftime lead and a 26-23 advantage late in the fourth quarter as the Denver Broncos rallied and beat L.A. The Broncos had a clutch drive after giving up the lead on a long pass by Matthew Stafford with 3:38 left. They moved downfield and Bo Nix scored on a jump over the pile for a 1-yard touchdown with 47 seconds left. The Rams rallied and were able to spike the ball with two seconds left at the 14-yard line. After a false start, Stafford threw an interception on the final play of the game and the Broncos held on to a 30-26 win. Hufanga's 2nd INT of the night sealed it 🙌 pic.twitter.com/orLUIr7m2Q— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2026 The Rams, who played Sunday without injured receiver Puka Nacua and defensive end Myles Garrett, are 1-2 to start the season after being hailed as Super Bowl favorites. The Broncos got some help on their game-winning drive. Rams cornerback Josh Wallace had an interception but a pass interference penalty was called, although it looked on the replay like Wallace didn't commit a foul and Broncos receiver Pat Bryant embellished the contact to draw a flag. The Broncos got another reprieve when an illegal hands to the face penalty kept a drive going after a third-down incompletion. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay did not believe Rams CB Josh Wallace should have been flagged for pass interference, in what may have otherwise been an interception. The Broncos went on to score what would serve as the game-winning TD. pic.twitter.com/A0YDJ8ZmZl— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 28, 2026 The Rams will complain about that phantom call on Wallace, which would have practically sealed the win. But Los Angeles had plenty of chances to put away the game before that. The Broncos hung around until their offense got going, and they pulled out a dramatic win. The Rams were supposed to be above losses like this, or the one they were dealt in the season opener in Australia against the 49ers. It's taking them longer than expected to look like the dominant team everyone expected to see. Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had a hot second half against the Rams. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)AP Photo/Jack DempseyBroncos' start slowDenver's offense was lifeless through the first half. Head coach Sean Payton stressed balance in the offense during a halftime interview, but the run game hadn't been effective enough to sustain drives or for offensive coordinator Davis Webb to call more run plays. Bo Nix wasn't sharp in the passing game against a tough Rams defense, and it led to a first-half shutout. At that point the Broncos had played 10 quarters this season and eight of them on offense had been poor. Denver had a good second half in Week 2 against the Jaguars, and that saved Denver from being 0-2 to start the season. The Broncos finally woke up during their second drive of the third quarter. Nix found Pat Bryant for a touchdown and then had a perfectly placed pass to Jaylen Waddle in the end zone for the 2-point conversion. The Broncos had cut the Rams' lead to 16-8 and for the first time it seemed like there could be a competitive game Sunday night. The Rams had a strong lead in the first half but kept the Broncos in the game. They settled for three field goals in the first half and none were longer than 40 yards. Those missed opportunities were a problem as the Broncos started to gain momentum. Back and forth after halftimeThe Broncos put together another good drive and tied the game. Nix hit Nate Adkins for an 8-yard touchdown and Bryant grabbed the 2-point conversion over a Rams defender to tie the game. The Rams had dominated the first half, and before the third quarter was done their 16-0 lead was gone. The roles had flipped; the Rams suddenly could not move the ball at all. Finally the Rams caught a break. Nix's pass was deflected as it left his hand and Wallace had an easy interception. He returned it to Denver's 37-yard line. A third-down blitz led to a Stafford sack that stalled the drive, but the Rams got a field goal and a 19-16 lead. The Rams batted down a third-and-1 pass after that and the Broncos elected to punt. Davante Adams immediately burned them with a 49-yard gain. It looked at that point like the Rams could start to put the game away. But Stafford threw a pick 6, as he misread the coverage and threw an interception straight to safety Talanoa Hufanga, who returned it 66 yards for a score. The Broncos led 23-19 with 4:49 to go. That was the 33rd pick 6 of Stafford's career, breaking a tie he had for the NFL record with Brett Favre. Stafford has played a lot of football and he wasn't fazed. He hit Konata Mumpfield for three straight completions, gains of 21, 9 and then a 48-yard touchdown to take back the lead. Mumpfield beat cornerback Riley Moss and was wide open downfield for Stafford's pass. The Rams led 26-23. That just meant it was the Broncos' turn to answer. Nix hit Bryant for 39 yards and Troy Franklin for 21, putting Denver in position to at least tie the game with a field goal. Two penalties, including a questionable one on Wallace, kept the drive alive. That led to the Nix touchdown, and the Rams couldn't answer despite getting inside the red zone at the end. The Broncos are happy to be 2-1 after a rough Week 1 loss at Kansas City. The Rams aren't quite as pleased with their start to the season.