Sunday night at Empower Field at Mile High should be loud, and the Denver Broncos are going to need every bit of that noise. Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams come to town as 2.5-point favorites, and while Bo Nix and the Broncos found a way to rally past Jacksonville last week, there’s plenty about this matchup that has us nervous.
That doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. Here are the four biggest concerns heading into the prime-time showdown, along with two reasons Denver fans can feel good about their chances.
Causes for concern for Broncos vs. Rams
Aaron Donald against a pressured Nix
Start with the obvious one. Aaron Donald is back from retirement, and the Rams posted a 66.7% pass-rush win rate against the Giants in his first game back. That’s a scary sight for a quarterback who has struggled when the pocket breaks down. Nix has been pressured on 41.5% of his dropbacks, and his PFF grade under pressure ranks last among qualified quarterbacks. He’s also logged four turnover-worthy plays on 27 pressured dropbacks, which makes Donald’s return to the Rams a real problem.
Denver keeps starting slow on offense
The Broncos went into halftime 0-for-2 in the red zone against the Jaguars and needed a second-half surge to bail them out. Head coach Sean Payton knows that won’t fly against a team like the Rams.
“We talk about finishing. One of the things especially at home is playing better early,” Payton said, per the team’s official website.
A run defense that keeps leaking
Denver is allowing 5.1 yards per carry, third-worst in the NFL, and the Rams just ran all over the Giants. Kyren Williams finished with 85 rushing yards and Blake Corum added 75. Los Angeles also leans on 13 personnel, with three tight ends on the field, which forces defenses to stay big against the run while still covering on passing downs. If the Broncos can’t win on early downs, Stafford will be working with short third downs all night.
Stafford and Adams hunting explosive plays
Stafford leads the NFL in passing yards (5,189) and passer rating (108.6) since the start of the 2025 season, and Davante Adams just torched New York for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph didn’t sugarcoat what his group is up against.
“It’s been three weeks of explosive offenses, very well-coached offenses, quarterbacks that are playing good football,” Joseph said, via the Broncos’ official site. The one break for Denver is that Puka Nacua is listed as doubtful.
Signs of encouragement for Broncos vs. Rams
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nix is dangerous outside the pocket
Now for the good news. Nix has been at his best off script. After escaping the pocket against Jacksonville, he completed 5 of 6 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, good for a 158.3 passer rating on those throws. That playmaking fueled a comeback in which the Broncos erased a 10-point third-quarter deficit and scored 17 unanswered points to win 20-13. If Donald and the Rams collapse the pocket, Nix’s ability to extend plays could be the difference.
The backfield is finally getting healthy
J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey were both full practice participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Dobbins leads the team with 18 carries for 72 yards despite leaving the Jacksonville game early, while Harvey missed Week 2 entirely with a hamstring injury after posting 41 scrimmage yards in the opener. Rookie Jonah Coleman is still dealing with an ankle sprain, but Denver has enough bodies to lean on the ground game and keep Stafford on the sideline.
If the Broncos protect Nix and avoid another slow start, this is a game they can win in front of a prime-time crowd.
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