Denver Broncos: Studs and duds from 30-26 win vs. Rams on ‘SNF’ - Broncos Wire
On a stormy night at Empower Field at Mile High, the Denver Broncos overcame a rocky first half where they had less than 70 yards of total offense to pull off a stunning 30-26 victory against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football. It feels like the Broncos are gearing up for another roller-coaster ride of a 2026 season.
We take a look at the studs and duds of Sunday's thriller.
This is the Pat Bryant everyone hoped would come out of training camp. Bryant came up with some clutch catches, including the Broncos' first touchdown, and the tying two-point conversion. Without Bryant, the Broncos don't get back into the game. With Bryant, the comeback was on. Bryant finished with two catches for 44 yards, one touchdown and a two-point conversion.
The Broncos looked like they didn't even belong in a high school football game in the first half. The Rams offense moved at will against the Broncos' defense, using their tight ends and running backs out of the backfield to gash the middle of the field for big plays. The Broncos' offense looked just as lost on the field, putting up a goose egg and just more than 65 yards of offense. The NBC broadcast called for Davis Webb's job as a playcaller at halftime, imploring Sean Payton to take over. It was not a pretty scene.
Welcome back, 14! Sutton led all Broncos receivers with three catches on seven targets for 46 yards. Sutton looked every bit as reliable as Broncos fans have grown to know him to be, and Nix trusted Sutton. Sutton also tied Jaylen Waddle for the most targets with seven. If Waddle is going to be as dangerous as they want him to be, Nix has to utilize his other weapons. He did so tonight.
The corner duo had a rough night on the edges against the Rams defense. Surtain trailed Davante Adams, who had a monster game, pulling in seven catches for 137 yards, many of them with Surtain as the primary defender. Moss slipped on the Rams' go-ahead touchdown, leaving a wide-open Konata Mumpfield to waltz into the end zone. Moss also had one big penalty. These guys have to be better if the Broncos are going to be a championship-level team.
Hufanga saved the day for the Broncos, getting his first two interceptions as a Bronco at the perfect time. Hufanga also had two near-misses for interceptions early in the game. If he has now learned how to catch: watch out, NFL. Hufanga had a game-changing 66-yard interception return for a touchdown, which gave the Broncos their first lead of the night, and had the game-sealing pick to end it. Hufanga was the best player on defense on Sunday, and it couldn't have come at a better time against a better opponent.
Webb was fighting for his playcalling life on Sunday night after an abysmal first half. In the second half, Webb looked like he received a mandate to run the ball for Sean Payton, and it paid off in a big way. The Broncos used their rushing attack to slowly get the ball downfield and wear down the Rams defense. Then, on passing plays, in the second half, he schemed some plays wide open downfield, to where there weren't any Rams defenders within several yards of receivers. So long as this Jekyll and Hyde performance goes on, let's see the Broncos play a complete game on offense.
Nix accounted for all three Broncos scores in the second half, throwing for two touchdowns and leaping over the pile for the third. Nix looked comfortable in the second 30 minutes, standing in the pocket and delivering strikes. He certainly has the clutch gene. If he can put together some complete games, this Broncos team could find a way to not stop every heart in Denver late in the game.
The Broncos will go on the road to face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday. Hopefully they can work on all their negatives to put together their first complete performance of 2026.
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