Preview for Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos
Two teams with Super Bowl aspirations face off in primetime as the Denver Broncos host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football.
Both the Broncos and Rams bounced back from Week 1 defeats with victories last week, the Broncos fighting back to see off the Jacksonville Jaguars while Los Angeles cruised to a win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
The Rams have won their last five meetings with the Broncos, their last defeat in this matchup coming in Denver back in 2002 when they were based in St. Louis.
But a trip to Empower Field at Mile High figures to offer a stern test of the Rams’ championship credentials, with the Broncos boasting a ferocious defense extremely capable of disrupting a Los Angeles offense that is again set to be without star receiver Puka Nacua due to a hip/groin issue.
Without Nacua, Davante Adams was the star man against the Giants, the veteran exploding for 195 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions.
Adams will draw a tough assignment on Sunday, as he will go up against cornerback Pat Surtain II, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
The former Green Bay Packers star is very familiar with Surtain, and caught a walk-off game-winning touchdown in overtime against him while playing against the Broncos for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.
But Adams is under no illusion as to the task he will face in getting separation against Surtain to make life easier for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“They have a lot of guys,” said Adams of the Denver defense.
“Obviously, Pat is probably one of the best defensive backs in the league. Before coming into this year and playing with Trent [McDuffie], I was saying he [Surtain] was the best. That’s my guy and I see him every day, and that’s no slight at Pat.
“I’ve had a chance to play against Pat quite a few times now and I love his game, respect it. He’s got some length, speed, and a lot of stuff you can’t teach at that position.
“We’ve had some battles in the past. Obviously, the game where we had the walk-off touchdown there. That was a good memory for me. Then came back the next time and I can probably say honestly that he probably played a little bit better of a game in Denver versus me than what I played against him, that opener in 2023. I have a lot of respect for a lot of guys, but he’s definitely up there as far as one of the ones I have the most respect for.”
Denver’s defense will hope for more support from an offense that has struggled through the opening two weeks. The Broncos are ranked 27th in Expected Points Added per play, while only 42.2 percent of their offensive plays have been successful, putting them 22nd in the league.
But the Broncos scored 17 unanswered points to overturn a 10-point third-quarter deficit against the Jaguars, with that turnaround one that should boost confidence in their attack ahead of a defense featuring three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald following his decision to come out of retirement.
“It’s exciting to play the greats; it always is,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said of facing Donald.
“I know he’s a really good football player, and he’s going to provide a challenge that we haven’t necessarily faced before. He’s literally one of the best at his position of all time, so you don’t play those many Sundays.
“We just have to limit the time he’s dominant.
“We just have to find ways to finish the drive, score in the red zone, convert on a few more third downs so we can get to the red zone. It’s just complete football.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
