Aaron Donald is back, and the timing couldn’t be much worse for the Denver Broncos. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year came out of retirement three weeks ago, and in his first game back, the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive front looked like its old self. Next up is a Sunday night trip to Denver to face Bo Nix.
The Rams posted a 66.7% pass-rush win rate in Monday’s 28-6 win over the New York Giants, their highest mark since Week 11 of the 2022 season, per the team’s website. They did it without Myles Garrett, who is on injured reserve. Donald finished with three tackles, including one for loss, and Denver’s staff isn’t downplaying his return. “He’s a game-changer,” Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb said of Donald this week.
Bo Nix has struggled under pressure
That’s a tough draw for a quarterback who has had a hard time when defenses get home. Through two weeks, Nix has been pressured on 41.5% of his dropbacks, the eighth-highest rate in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. His 25.9 grade under pressure ranks dead last among qualified quarterbacks. His minus-0.960 EPA per play under pressure ranks 31st, and he has four turnover-worthy plays on just 27 pressured dropbacks. It’s a small sample, but it’s exactly what the Rams’ coaches will study this weekend.
Part of Denver’s answer is putting more on Nix before the snap. The third-year quarterback has been given more freedom to kill and change plays at the line, and he works with center Luke Wattenberg to adjust protections. “It’s killing plays, changing where the line is sliding, and changing where we’re going to pick up pressures,” Wattenberg told The Gazette.
There’s a glimmer of hope, too. Nix went 5-of-6 for 110 yards and a touchdown outside the pocket against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a 158.3 passer rating on those throws. If he can escape Donald and company the same way, Denver’s passing game has a shot. If he can’t, it could be a long night at Empower Field at Mile High. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC.
