Broncos Rally Past Rams 30-26 in Week 3 Sunday Night Football
The short version
- Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 at home in Week 3 Sunday Night Football.
- Denver trailed by 16 and scored all 30 of its points after halftime; the lead changed four times in the final five minutes.
- Talanoa Hufanga intercepted Matthew Stafford for a touchdown and finished with two TDs, five tackles and a sack.
- Stafford went 30-of-55 for 390 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions; Davante Adams topped 135 yards for a second straight game.
- Week 3 ends Monday: the Bears (1-1) host the Eagles (2-0) at Soldier Field at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Denver scored 30 second-half points to overturn a 16-point deficit and beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season.
The Denver Broncos came back from 16 points down to beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 at home on Sunday Night Football, wrapping up the Week 3 Sunday slate of the 2026 NFL season. Denver scored all 30 of its points after halftime, flipping a game Los Angeles had controlled through two quarters.
The Rams held command on both sides of the ball during the first half, while the Broncos generated almost nothing on offense before the break. Denver's first-half struggles left open the question of whether a comeback was realistic.
The answer arrived quickly. Denver's offense woke up after intermission and cut into the Rams' advantage, and safety Talanoa Hufanga delivered the pivotal swing when he read a pass, intercepted Matthew Stafford and took it back for a touchdown. James H. Williams, analyzing the game for USA TODAY Sports, noted that Hufanga finished with two touchdowns, five tackles and a sack.
The fourth quarter seesawed from there, the lead flipping four times in the closing five minutes. Each late possession took on outsized importance, and one mistake threatened to decide an outcome that had looked settled long before the final period.
Stafford still posted big passing numbers in defeat, going 30 of 55 for 390 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Wide receiver Davante Adams cleared 135 receiving yards for the second consecutive game, a connection that has helped carry the offense while Puka Nacua remains out with injuries, and one Los Angeles may need again while playing twice this week.
The Rams' second-half defense is now a pressing issue after Denver outscored them 30-10 over the final two quarters. Los Angeles also continues to wait on its star defensive duo, as Aaron Donald works his way into form and Myles Garrett is expected to miss several more weeks with an injury.
Week 3 concludes Monday night when the Chicago Bears (1-1) host Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) at Soldier Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Sunday night results earlier this season: a 28-20 New York Giants win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 and a 33-30 Kansas City Chiefs overtime decision against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.
Sunday Night Football returns Oct. 4 with the Detroit Lions visiting the Carolina Panthers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens at the Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 11), the Cowboys at the Green Bay Packers (Oct. 18), the Kansas City Chiefs at the Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 25) and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Washington Commanders (Nov. 1). All of those games kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The prime-time window runs through Week 18 on Jan. 10, 2027, with a Minnesota Vikings-San Francisco 49ers matchup in Mexico City on Nov. 22 and the Buffalo Bills at Green Bay on Dec. 13 among the remaining dates.
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