4 initial takeaways from Rams' Week 3 loss vs. Broncos

The Los Angeles Rams needed a win in Denver to capitalize on the Seattle Seahawks' Week 3 stumble, their first loss of the season, and keep pace with the 3-0 San Francisco 49ers atop the NFC West. The team had regrouped after a rough Week 1. Even the typically reserved Andrew Whitworth broke character to predict a Rams win streak.

A 30-point Broncos outburst in the second half, fueled by Matthew Stafford's pick-six, hard-halted that train in its tracks after the Rams led 16-0 at halftime. The loss drops them to 1-2 on the season.

This was not a get right game; that was last week against the Giants. This was a get hot game. While fighting through injuries, by Week 5 the Rams will have faced four projected playoff teams, with the Eagles and Bills still to come. They can't afford to give games away.

Unfortunately, LA failed to hold the momentum in Denver after a dominant first half, squandering a generous lead.

4 takeaways from Rams' crushing loss to Broncos

Konata Mumpfield made the most of his chances

The Rams tried hard to get the football to the young receiver. Prior to Week 3, Mumpfield had caught two of six passes. Well, fortune smiled on him in this game. Mumpfield finished with four catches on seven targets for 93 yards and a vital fourth-quarter touchdown. Another target became a positive play due to pass interference.

LA's offense could not lean exclusively on veteran Davante Adams. If Mumpfield's game is a sign of things to come, they may no longer need to.

Rams secondary burned by Jaylen Watson's injury

By the end of the first quarter, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was only 3-of-7 for 21 yards. At first, that seemed strange. Strange until realizing that Rams cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson faced Nix twice a season when playing for the Chiefs in AFC West along with Denver. That makes more sense.

Well, until Watson left the game due to a right shoulder injury. After that Nix got hot, throwing for two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions. As the game wore on, the Rams secondary began letting receivers get wide open.

Kyren Williams was an early one-man wrecking crew

Williams put up 76 of LA's first 143 yards of offense and over 100 yards in the first half. Unfortunately, the Rams forgot about him in the second half and the Broncos rallied. Williams ended with 158 yards of offense, including 88 rushing yards on 15 carries.

Rams fans are left to wonder whether a win was within reach had the team committed to running more of the offense through Williams.

Matthew Stafford's interception troubles continue

Sure, when Stafford is on, he is impossible to defend. But in contrast to an efficient 2025, he has already thrown six touchdowns to four interceptions. His first interception was a pick-six that gave the Broncos the lead and the momentum, while digging the Rams a hole they couldn't recover from.

On the last play of the game, with a chance to win it from Denver's 19-yard-line, Stafford threw another interception in the end zone - again to Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga.

Stafford finished 30-of-55 for 390 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks. It was a game the Rams should have won, but in the end they couldn't keep up with the Broncos' second-half outpouring.

As always, thanks for reading.

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