What a wild game that was.
In the first half, the Los Angeles Rams were in complete control of a game that certainly looked like a complete blowout. At one point, the Rams were on pace to drop nearly 600 yards of offense. However, the Denver Broncos defense did one good thing and that was limiting them to field goals throughout the second quarter.
Down 16-0, Bo Nix and the Broncos rallied in the third quarter with two touchdown drives and converted both two-point conversions to tie the game. Then it was an absolutely wild fourth quarter where both teams would make big plays before Nix and the Broncos drove down the field in the final four minutes to take the lead into the final minute.
Broncos vs. Rams last score
Team | 1 st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Finally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 7 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 26 |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 0 | 16 | 14 | 30 |
The first quarter started with hope for the Broncos defense with a big third down sack to end the Rams’ first drive.
But that’s when the good times ended in the first quarter. The Rams second drive would see them march down the field converting a fourth down on the way to set up the first touchdown, then the Broncos would answer with a drive that ended in a doinked field goal attempt from Wil Lutz.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams charged back down the field on their next drive and were again in field goal range before the end of the first quarter. The Broncos’ defense would hold on to that drive and give up just one field goal early in the second quarter.
Rams 7, Broncos 0. Full first quarter recap.
The Broncos’ defense would hold on to that drive and give up just one field goal early in the second quarter.
However, it was a tail of a predictable and ineffective offensive game plan that got their butts on every drive that the Broncos defense hung on by a thread giving up three field goals in the second quarter – but it was clear that the game slipped away from Denver.
The Rams outscored Denver in the first half running 46 plays for 273 yards to the Broncos’ 21 plays and 67 yards. The only good thing about the first half for Denver was that the defense held Los Angeles to field goals.
Rams 16, Broncos 0. Full second quarter recap.
Things looked a little bleak for Denver when they started this half point away, but that’s only because they wanted to play with our emotions.
Next up is the cardiac cat comeback kids. They’ll find a way to keep the drive alive and end with a touchdown and two-point conversion on a drive.
Then, after a terrible punt, marched down the field on the next drive with another touchdown and two-point conversion.
The comeback was so good and so quick I’m sure the Rams were a little shocked to be in a tie game after dominating the first thirty minutes of the game. Such is life. Such is the Bo Nix experience.
Broncos 16, Rams 16. Full third quarter recap.
After forcing a three-and-out on the Rams, Nix and the Broncos’ offense picked up right where they left off. Nix hit Courtland Sutton on a deep pass down the sideline for 27-yards in Rams territory.
Disaster struck two plays later, however, when Nix hit his arm as he threw and the injured ducked a throw straight into the arms of a Rams defender who returned it to the Broncos’ 36-yard line. Denver’s defense gave up a couple of first downs, but when they needed a play on third down and delivered it was Talanoa Hufanga coming off the sack.
That would force a field goal to put the Rams back on top 19-16. But holding them to a field goal is a win after a turnover. The Broncos had two good runs on first and second down, but on third and one they went into clear pass formation and the ball was fumbled down the line.
A spectacular punt by Jeremy Crawshaw pinned the Rams at their own six yards for their next drive. It didn’t matter because Vance Joseph decided to play the spot with Justin Strnad and other inside linebackers covering Davante Adams. The result was a 49 yard catch and run in Broncos territory. Denver’s defense immediately woke up after Hufanga made the game with a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown to put Denver up 23-19.
Like sharks with blood in the water, the Broncos defense came out with a sack on Stafford on the first play after the pick six. Of course, the joy was quickly dampened after Riley Moss bit hard on a double move to leave a wide receiver open for an easy touchdown to put the Rams back up 26-23.
With less than four minutes left, the game would come down to a Bo Nix comeback attempt.
A holding penalty on Garett Bolles seemed like a death blow, but of course, the cardiac cats found a way with Pat Bryant rushing up the middle of the field for a 40 yard catch and run followed by a quick pass to Troy Franklin in the red zone to bring the game to the two minute warning.
From the Rams 15 yards, Nix passed to JK Dobbins who gained a few yards. Nix would hit RJ Harvey for another two yards at the 10 yard line. On third-and-six, a defensive pass interference call gave the Broncos an automatic first down at the seven-yard line with a minute left.
They find themselves third and a goal from five. They would be stopped again, but an illegal hand to the face penalty would put them within five for another set of downs. Two plays later, Bo Nix from an empty set would run it in himself off a diving layup to give Denver the lead with 45 seconds left. After review, the touchdown was overturned. It’s all good because Nix is still going in on the next play.
The game came down to the final plays with the Rams streaking downfield and quickly found themselves at the Broncos’ 34-yard line with 21 seconds left. It would take 16 seconds after an incomplete pass to Adams. A big play at the Broncos 14-yard line with the clock stopped at 2 seconds.
On the next play after a false start penalty, Stafford was again intercepted by Hufanga for the game-clinching turnover.