Sunday Night Football brings an intriguing interconference matchup in Week 3, with the Denver Broncos hosting the Los Angeles Rams in a primetime showdown at Empower Field at Mile High.
Denver will look to take advantage of its home-field edge against a talented Rams team led by Matthew Stafford. The Broncos have a tough defense that could make life difficult for Los Angeles, while Sean Payton will look to get his offense going against a Rams defense that has plenty of playmakers of its own.
Both teams enter this matchup with 1-1 records. The Rams bounced back from their season-opening loss with a 28-6 win over the Giants on Monday Night Football, while Denver defeated Jacksonville 20-13 in Week 2. Los Angeles will have to deal with a short turnaround and Denver’s challenging road environment, setting up an interesting battle between two teams looking to build momentum.
Keep reading to see the latest Rams vs. Broncos odds and some of my best bets and SNF predictions for Week 3.
Updated SNF Odds Comparison
All NFL odds referenced for these SNF Week 3 predictions are current as of Wednesday, Sep. 23, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
SNF Implied Scores & Team Totals
Rams 24, Broncos 21.5
Oddsmakers are expecting a competitive game, with Los Angeles holding a slight edge despite playing on the road. However, this line may be underestimating Denver’s home-field advantage, especially against a Rams team coming off a Monday Night Football win over the Giants.
The Broncos have a talented defense that should make life difficult for Matthew Stafford, while playing at altitude on a short week could add another challenge for Los Angeles. Denver also has the defensive front to generate pressure and prevent the Rams from consistently moving the ball downfield.
On the other side, Bo Nix will need to get Denver’s offense going after the Broncos managed just 20 points against Jacksonville in Week 2. Sean Payton has enough offensive talent to challenge the Rams, particularly if Denver can establish the running game and keep Stafford on the sidelines.
I think oddsmakers may be undervaluing Denver’s home-field advantage and the impact of Los Angeles playing on a short week. That gives the Broncos a better chance to control the game than the implied score suggests.
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Sunday Night Football Predictions
SNF Score Prediction: Rams 24, Broncos 21
The Rams bounced back in a big way with a 28-6 win over the Giants on Monday Night Football, and I’m expecting that momentum to carry over into Sunday night’s matchup against Denver.
Los Angeles looked much better on both sides of the ball in Week 2, with Matthew Stafford leading the offense while the defense held New York to just six points. The Rams now face a tougher challenge on the road against a talented Broncos defense, but they have enough offensive firepower to move the ball against Denver.
Stafford threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns against the Giants, while Davante Adams erupted for 195 receiving yards and two scores. That performance was particularly encouraging because the Rams were without Puka Nacua, who missed the game with a hip/groin injury.
Nacua could return against Denver, which would give Stafford another dangerous weapon in the passing game. His status remains uncertain, but the Rams have already shown they can move the ball without him. If Nacua is available, Los Angeles should be even more difficult to defend.
Denver has the defensive talent to keep this competitive, especially at home, but I’m more confident in the Rams’ ability to consistently move the ball. The Broncos managed just 20 points against Jacksonville in Week 2, and Bo Nix could have trouble keeping pace if Stafford continues to play at a high level.
I’ll take the Rams to build on their impressive win over the Giants and come away with a 24-21 road victory on Sunday Night Football.
Sunday Night Football Bet Tips
Keep these Sunday Night Football bet tips and trends in mind before making your Rams vs Broncos best bets.
- The Rams bounced back from their season-opening loss with a dominant 28-6 win over the Giants on Monday Night Football. Matthew Stafford threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, while Davante Adams finished with 195 receiving yards and two scores. Los Angeles will look to build on that performance against Denver.
- Puka Nacua could return for Sunday Night Football after missing Week 2 with a hip/groin injury. The Rams had no trouble moving the ball without him against New York, but getting their top receiver back would give Stafford another dangerous weapon against Denver’s talented secondary.
- Denver has a scheduling advantage, with Los Angeles traveling on a short week after playing Monday night. The Broncos are coming off a 20-13 home win over Jacksonville, and their defense could make things difficult for Stafford, especially with the Rams having less time to prepare and adjust to playing at altitude.
Sunday Night Football Best Bets
SNF Over/Under Pick: Rams @ Broncos Under 45.5 Points (-110)
The biggest reason to like the Under is that both teams have talented defenses capable of making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
Denver has allowed just 26 points through its first two games, including a 20-13 win over Jacksonville in Week 2. The Broncos have the defensive front to pressure Matthew Stafford, while their talented secondary should make it difficult for the Rams to consistently generate explosive plays.
Los Angeles is also coming off an impressive defensive performance, holding the Giants to just six points on Monday Night Football. That unit should present a difficult challenge for Bo Nix and a Denver offense that has yet to find its rhythm.
The scheduling spot also favors a lower-scoring game. The Rams are traveling to Denver on a short week after playing Monday night, and adjusting to the altitude at Empower Field at Mile High could make things even more challenging against a well-rested Broncos defense.
I expect both teams to lean on their running games and take a more conservative approach against two strong defenses, which should shorten the game and limit scoring opportunities.
With Denver’s tough home environment and both defenses capable of controlling this matchup, give me the Under 45.5 as my NFL pick of the day.
SNF Pick Against the Spread: Rams -2.5 (-110) at Broncos
Denver’s offense still doesn’t look right through the first two weeks of the season, making it difficult to trust the Broncos against a talented Rams team that appears to be getting back on track.
The Broncos managed just 20 points against Jacksonville in Week 2, and Bo Nix has yet to find a consistent rhythm in Sean Payton’s offense. That could be a problem against a Los Angeles defense that just held the Giants to six points on Monday Night Football.
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Meanwhile, the Rams looked much better offensively in their 28-6 win over New York, with Matthew Stafford throwing for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Davante Adams was outstanding, and Los Angeles could get another boost if Puka Nacua returns to the lineup.
Denver’s defense should keep this game competitive, especially at home, but I have more confidence in Stafford and the Rams’ ability to move the ball than I do in Nix and the Broncos.
The Rams only need to win by a field goal to cover this number, and I expect their offense to make enough plays to get the job done. I’ll lay the points with Los Angeles at -2.5.
Sunday Night Football Prop Bet
SNF Prop Bet: Bo Nix Under 213.5 Passing Yards (-112)
Denver’s passing game has struggled to find its rhythm through the first two weeks, and I don’t expect things to get much easier against a talented Rams defense on Sunday night.
The Broncos managed just 20 points against Jacksonville in Week 2, and Nix has yet to establish a consistent connection with his receivers. That could be a problem against a Los Angeles defense that just held the Giants to six points on Monday Night Football.
Nix has averaged 209.5 passing yards through two games, although he did throw for 288 yards against Jacksonville last week. The Rams have upgraded their secondary with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, giving Los Angeles the personnel to limit explosive plays and force Nix to work underneath.
The game script also makes this Under appealing. Denver has a strong defense that should keep the game competitive, reducing the likelihood that Nix will have to throw 40-plus times to erase a large deficit. Sean Payton could instead lean on the running game, particularly if the Broncos can keep Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ offense on the sidelines.
With Nix facing a talented secondary and Denver unlikely to abandon its running game in what should be a close, low-scoring matchup, I’ll take the Under on 213.5 passing yards for Sunday Night Football.
Sunday Night Football Parlay
Best SNF Same-Game Parlay (+208)
- Rams ML (-135)
- Under 42.5 (-110)
I already like the Rams -2.5 as my spread pick, so using the moneyline here gives me some protection in case Los Angeles wins by only one or two points.
That feels worthwhile in a difficult road matchup against a talented Denver defense. The Broncos have allowed just 26 points through their first two games, and the Rams will be playing on a short week after their Monday Night Football win over the Giants.
The Under also fits with that game script. Denver’s offense has struggled to find its rhythm through the first two weeks, while the Rams are coming off a dominant defensive performance in which they held New York to just six points.
I expect both defenses to make life difficult for the opposing quarterbacks, creating a low-scoring game where every possession matters. Los Angeles has the more reliable passing attack with Matthew Stafford, giving the Rams an edge if this turns into a defensive battle.
Combining Rams ML with Under 42.5 lets me back Los Angeles to win without needing it to cover the spread. A 24-17 Rams victory would cash both legs, making this my favorite same-game parlay for Sunday Night Football.
