Rams' final Week 3 injury report and game predictions vs Broncos

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay didn't deliver good news, per se, but he didn't drop any new bad news either during Friday's media-session injury update. The team will likely be without receiver Puka Nacua once again this week on the road against the Denver Broncos. Safety Kam Kinchens is also doubtful with the hamstring injury that kept him out on Monday.

We learned earlier in the week that running back Ronnie Rivers has been placed on injured reserve with a calf injury (but welcome to the big leagues, Dean Connors!). 

Otherwise, the updates leaned positive. Despite DNPing in practice all week, tight end Colby Parkinson is only questionable and "trending in the right direction," per McVay, after injuring his knee against the Giants. Receiver Jordan Whittington will be back, as will linebacker Nate Landman. 

With that bit of housekeeping out of the way, let's get to some actual game predictions.

Rams-Broncos SNF clash bogs down in defense-first affair

In a hostile road environment, the Rams struggle to establish an early rhythm through the air, but ride the run game and Matthew Stafford finds key completions late. 

Alas, Davante Adams probably isn't going for 195 receiving yards again, especially against a corner like the Broncos' Pat Surtain II. While he gets off to a much slower start in this one, the defense can't bottle him up forever. Good luck with that. Stafford finds him late in the end zone for a critical second-half touchdown. 

The rushing attack led by Kyren Williams and Blake Corum continues to be effective, which McVay leans on early. Later on, that frees up the middle of the field for tight ends, and the offense starts stacking first downs. 

LA's defense shows up for a second straight week.

Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will be locked in against their former AFC West rivals. Receiver Jaylen Waddle adds a new element of explosion to the Denver offense, but his counterpart Courtland Sutton and head coach Sean Payton's playcalling are both familiar to the ex-Chiefs cornerbacks. 

Anyway, McDuffie in particular has been lights out. That helps the Rams defense limit Denver's aerial attack, while the pass rush keeps Bo Nix running around. Frankly, especially with rookie Jonah Coleman ruled out, the Broncos' J.K. Dobbins-led ground game isn't anything to lose sleep over. They're averaging 3.8 yards per carry.

It'll be a grind against an LA run defense led by nose tackle Poona Ford. 

The game goes down to the wire.

Neither offense cooks in this one, but ultimately the Rams neutralize Denver's rushing attack, limit explosives through the air, and string together enough quality drives to put points on the board. Oh, and Harrison Mevis makes his first field goal.

Final: Rams 17, Broncos 13. Horns up.

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