Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga lead the
Broncos past the Rams 30-26 in a Sunday night thriller
[September 28, 2026]
By ARNIE STAPLETON
DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix didn't flinch from his slow start and Talanoa
Hufanga didn't lose faith after dropping two interceptions Sunday
night.
Both bounced back in a big way, rallying the Denver Broncos past
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 in the latest
come-from-behind thriller that's become so common in the Mile High
City.
Nix's keeper from inches outside the goal line with 47 seconds left
capped a wild final five minutes that included a 66-yard pick-6 by
Hufanga, a quick touchdown response by Los Angeles and a
game-sealing second picked-off pass by Denver's do-everything
safety.
“I actually had to have a pep talk with myself,” after dropping two
interceptions earlier in the game, said Hufanga, who finished with a
sack, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and three pass breakups
to go with his pair of interceptions.
The Broncos (2-1) trailed 16-0 at halftime and went three-and-out to
start the second half but rallied for a comeback, one-score win for
the second straight week.
“In the huddle we feel a lot of belief that we've been there before
and we have what it takes to go down against a really good defense
and score points,” said Nix, who put the Broncos in front by
reaching over the scrum with both hands squeezing the football.
Matthew Stafford, whose 17 comebacks in the last 2 minutes are the
most by any active quarterback, quickly drove the Rams to the Denver
14, where he spiked the ball with 2 seconds left.
After false start moved the ball back to the 19, the Rams (1-2) sent
out five receivers but Hufanga secured his second interception, this
one in the end zone.
“Obviously a gutsy win,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.
“I mean, it's a tough one,” Stafford said after the Rams, preseason
favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, suffered a second
loss in three weeks.
Hufanga's 66-yard pick-6 with 4:49 left gave Denver its first lead
at 23-19. He jumped in front of running back Kyren Williams, cradled
Stafford’s pass and weaved his way down the field, past the
hard-charging QB and into the end zone.
“To be honest, Matt Stafford is a lot faster than you think,”
Hufanga said. “I might be slow, but he's fast. I'll give him his
credit because I had to cut back on that play.”
“Hufanga did a really nice job of fighting through the Y (receiver)
and I left it a little bit back behind him,” Stafford lamented. "If
I just dirt it, or whatever, we come away with three points. I’ll
take myself trying to make those plays all day.”
Hufanga said he had told himself to stay patient for more
opportunities to come after dropping two earlier potential
interceptions of Stafford. “And man, two big plays.”
Just four plays later, however, Stafford hit Konata Mumpfield from
48 yards out when cornerback Riley Moss fell down, restoring the
Rams' lead at 26-23.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix reacts after a play against the
Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Nix then drove Denver 65 yards in 10 plays with the
aid of three defensive penalties and, with the ball nearly touching
the goal line, leaped over the pile for the go-ahead TD. Nix had
completions of 39 and 21 yards on that drive.
Cornerback Justin Wallace would have had his second interception of
the night on that drive, but he was whistled for defensive pass
interference on Pat Bryant on third-and-6 from the LA 11. That gave
Denver a new set of downs at the 7.
“You try to be physical as a DB,” Rams safety Quentin Lake said.
“Sometimes, you know, I think at the end of the day, as you know,
the rules are the rules. Can’t be too handsy. It’s unfortunate.”
The Rams led 16-0 at halftime but it was tied going into the fourth
after Nix threw a pair of touchdown passes and made two 2-point
conversion throws: “We knew it was just a two-score game,” said Nix.
Harrison Mevis' fourth field goal, which followed an interception by
Wallace, restored LA's lead at 19-16. He was also good from 36, 35
and 40 yards before halftime.
The Broncos cut their deficit in half on Nix's 5-yard strike to
Bryant and 2-point conversion pass to Jaylen Waddle on a throw
between the hands of Wallace midway through the third quarter. The
Broncos tied it on another touchdown and 2-pointer. Nate Adkins
caught an 8-yard throw from Nix, who found Bryant again to tie the
game.
Stafford finished 30 for 55 for 390 yards. He threw 32 passes in the
first half, the most of his career. With Puca Nacua out again with a
hip injury, Davante Adams had seven receptions for 137 yards, giving
him 15 catches for 332 yards over his last two games, the best such
stretch of his career.
Injuries
Rams: CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder) got hurt just before halftime
while guarding Courtland Sutton and was carted to the locker room
from the sideline. LA lost two tight ends on its first touchdown
drive, although Terrance Ferguson (ankle) returned on the Rams' next
series. Also injured on the drive was Colby Parkinson (shoulder).
Broncos: Denver was without its Game 2 hero, rookie RB Jonah
Coleman, who went on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain after
his TD run secured the Broncos' 20-13 win over Jacksonville.
Up next
Rams: At Philadelphia next Sunday.
Broncos: Visit San Francisco next Sunday.
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