Maybe we should just toss out Week 1.

The Rams were lost in the Pacific, somewhere between Australia and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos left their defense behind in their season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

It was a slow start for two teams that finished one victory away from the Super Bowl last season.

Then came Week 2.

Both teams looked a lot more like they were expected to look entering the season and now suddenly this matchup looks like the Sunday Night Football game we all thought we were getting.

The Rams head to Empower Field at Mile High for a primetime showdown between teams coming off convincing victories and beginning to resemble the championship contenders they were a year ago.

The Rams rediscovered their offense Monday night against the Giants. Matthew Stafford followed his 155-yard dud in Australia by throwing for 481 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-6 demolition of New York.

Los Angeles was without All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua, who was sidelined by a hip injury. That didn’t seem to affect the Rams offense, as Dacante Adams reminded everyone that the Rams have not one, but two All-Pro wide receivers in the room.

Adams caught eight passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson finally delivered the breakout performance his impressive training camp promised, and the running back duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum eclipsed 100 rushing yards combined.

Apparently all the reports of the NFL’s No. 1 offense last season’s demise were greatly exaggerated.

The Rams defense also found its footing, thanks in large part to the return of Aaron Donald who played his first game after more than two years away. The defense knocked Giants’ quarterback Jaxson Dart out of the game on the opening drive, and Chris Shula’s defense made sure Jameis Winston never became famous at SoFi Stadium.

Now they’ll have to stop Bo Nix, the Broncos quarterback that completed 22 of 31 passes for 288 yards in Denver’s 20-13 victory over Jacksonville. Nix already has a new favorite target in Jaylen Waddle, who torched the Jaguars for eight receptions and 138 yards after arriving from Miami in an offseason trade.

That means the Rams new cornerbacks, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, will earn their paychecks Sunday night.

But buried beneath Bo Nix and Waddle is the even larger problem that is Denver’s top tier defense.

All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II headlines a Broncos’ secondary capable of shrinking Stafford’s throwing windows. Zach Allen anchors a defense that sacked Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence twice last week, picked him off, and hit him seven times.

After Stafford carved up the injury-riddled Giants secondary on Monday night like a Thanksgiving turkey, the Broncos represent a considerably tougher test.

The Rams’ offensive line will be pressed to protect their 38-year-old MVP quarterback and give him enough time to dissect Denver’s coverage. If the pocket collapses, then Stafford and the Rams offense could be in big trouble.

These two franchises don’t meet often and never in the playoffs. Their history stretches back to the John Elway vs. Vince Ferragamo and Jim Everett days with the Rams holding a 10-5 advantage in 15 previous meetings.

Sunday is a measuring stick matchup between two teams that reached the AFC and NFC Championship Game. Both walked away heartbroken after close losses that could have easily had different outcomes.

Both teams entered 2026 believing the Super Bowl was the next logical destination, but both stumbled out of the gate. Week 2 restored some order, but Week 3 should tell us which of these two contenders has actually found itself.

Marquee Matchup

Rams WR Davante Adams vs. Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II

Go ahead, Sean McVay. Test him.

Adams just torched the Giants for eight catches, 195 yards and two touchdowns without Nacua alongside him, immediately reminding defenses what happens when too much attention is directed anywhere else.

But now, with Nacua likely still out, Adams draws Surtain II, one of the NFL’s premier cover corners.

Does Stafford test Surtain? Adams wins his matchups with releases, leverage, and elite route-running. But Surtain has the length, patience and technique to cover anyone receiver in this league.

Stafford isn’t afraid to go after elite cornerbacks. But Surtain isn’t afraid of covering the best receivers in the league.

This is NFL chess at its finest and something has to give.

Now he draws Surtain, one of the NFL’s premier cover corners.

This is chess played in shoulder pads. Adams wins with releases, leverage and the kind of route-running deception that makes defensive backs turn the wrong direction before realizing they’ve been conned. Surtain possesses the length, patience and technique to make those tricks considerably harder.

Stafford isn’t afraid of elite cornerbacks. Surtain isn’t afraid of elite receivers.

Something has to give.

M.D.’s Pick

Rams 24, Broncos 21

Denver’s defense is good enough to make Stafford look mortal again, and playing at altitude against a physical Broncos’ front line on a short week is not ideal for the Rams. But they showed on Monday night that Week 1 was more of an anomaly and that Donald’s return adds a new dimension to this Rams’ defense. Even without Nacua, we expect this to be a heavyweight fight that comes down to the final drive.

Four Downs

First Down: Protect the Golden Goose

Stafford threw for 481 yards Monday because he had enough time to let McVay’s offense breathe.

Denver intends to suffocate it.

The Broncos’ defensive front can wreck a game without forcing the secondary to compromise itself, making this perhaps the biggest test yet for the Rams’ offensive line. Stafford remains one of football’s best quarterbacks when he can manipulate coverage from a clean pocket, but pressure changes the equation.

The Rams cannot become one-dimensional, either. Williams and Corum combining for more than 100 rushing yards against the Giants mattered almost as much as Stafford’s fireworks.

Replicate that blueprint and Stafford can operate.

Let the Broncos pin their ears back and Mile High could become a very long night.

Second Down: No Puka, no party?

The Rams proved on Monday Night Football that they don’t need to have their best receiver to win. Even without Nacua in the lineup, Stafford threw for nearly 500 yards.

Adams was spectacular, but Surtain and a talented secondary can survive long enough in man coverage to allow the Broncos front to create pressure on Stafford. There’s no way Adams will be able to replicate what he did against New York.

That means if Nacua can play it will help the Rams offense mightily. If not, then Ferguson, Parkinson, Higbee, Allen, Williams and Corum must step up and shoulder the load.

Third Down: Bo knows…

After no sacks in 34 snaps against the 49ers in Australia, the Rams finally rediscovered their pass rush against the Giants.

Now they need to unleash it again against Bo Nix. Nix looked comfortable against the Jaguars, throwing for 288 yards, while Waddle’s speed was a problem for the Jaguars defense.

But Bo doesn’t know Aaron Donald.

Donald was already retired when Nix was drafted and has never had to face one of the greatest defensive linemen in the history of the NFL. With every snap and rep he takes, No. 99 should only get closer to the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner he was in his prime. Even at 35 years old and with Myles Garrett on injured reserve, he’s still dangerous.

The best way to slow down Waddle and this Broncos offense is to pressure Nix and not give him enough time to find Waddle and company.

Fourth Down: Waddle like a duck

Jaylen Waddle didn’t take long to ingratiate himself with the Denver fanbase.

Waddle was welcomed to Colorado with eight catches for 138 yards. His speed gives Nix another dimension that every quarterback covets: a receiver who can take a routine short-yardage completion and run it straight to the house.

That creates an intriguing early test of this rebuilt Rams secondary. McDuffie, Watson and company will need to keep Waddle in front of them, but not focus too much on him that other receivers are allowed to feast instead. 

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