Rams vs. Broncos SNF Preview: Odds, Prediction, Best Bet

Sunday Night Football heads to altitude in Week 3, with the Los Angeles Rams (0-1) traveling to Empower Field at Mile High to face the Denver Broncos (1-1) at 8:20 PM ET on NBC. Both teams enter this one having to answer real questions after uneven starts, but the storyline dominating the buildup has nothing to do with either team’s record: Rams star defensive end Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the centerpiece of this offseason’s biggest trade, is already out for the next month following knee surgery. That’s a massive break for a Denver offensive line that was already going to have its hands full.

Why the Line Has Denver as Home Underdogs

Oddsmakers still have the Rams as road favorites, with the line sitting at roughly Rams -2.5 to -3 and the total set at 45.5. Los Angeles carries a moneyline around -135, meaning the market still trusts the Rams’ overall roster and coaching more than a 27-7 Week 1 loss to the 49ers would suggest on its own.

That said, the number has been soft for a road favorite. Garrett’s absence is almost certainly part of why this line hasn’t moved further in the Rams’ direction — losing a game-wrecking edge rusher for at least four games removes one of the few things that could’ve made Denver’s offense genuinely uncomfortable on early downs.

Total-wise, 45.5 reflects two offenses capable of scoring in bunches but also two defenses that have shown vulnerability. Neither side has looked buttoned-up defensively through two weeks, and that tends to push totals higher rather than lower once bettors start piling in.

Kickoff at Empower Field at Mile High also adds a wrinkle bettors shouldn’t ignore. Denver’s altitude has a long history of affecting visiting offenses and defensive lines that aren’t used to it, and a Rams front already thin on the edge could feel that fatigue creep in by the fourth quarter. It’s not a reason to flip the game on its head, but it’s one more small factor tilting toward Denver covering a manageable number at home.

Form, Injuries, and the Matchup Everyone’s Watching

Anyone tracking the NFL odds board this week has already noticed the market moving in response to the injury news. The Rams opened their season with a 27-7 loss to San Francisco, a game in which Garrett — playing on a knee that wasn’t fully healthy — logged just 40 of 65 snaps and, for only the fourth time in his career, failed to record a single tackle. Two days later, the Rams placed him on injured reserve for arthroscopic knee surgery, ruling him out for a minimum of four games. That stretch includes this Broncos matchup, meaning Denver won’t have to deal with the pass rusher the Rams gave up Jared Verse and three draft picks, including a 2027 first-rounder, to acquire. There’s also a chance Aaron Donald, who unretired at 35 to rejoin the Rams, sees only limited snaps in this one as Los Angeles continues to manage his workload — another reason Denver’s line could get more breathing room than expected.

Denver, meanwhile, is trending the opposite direction. After getting run off the field 31-10 at Kansas City in Week 1, the Broncos steadied themselves with a 20-13 comeback win over Jacksonville in Week 2. Quarterback Bo Nix, playing his first season back after a fractured ankle ended his 2025 campaign, looked sharp doing it — 22-of-31 for 288 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and a 97.2 passer rating. That’s the kind of performance that should give Broncos fans real confidence heading into a favorable matchup up front.

With Garrett sidelined, the pressure shifts to whoever steps up for Los Angeles off the edge, and that’s a tall order against a Denver line that should now have an easier night creating throwing lanes for Nix. If the Rams can’t generate consistent pressure without their prized offseason addition, this offense could be without a spotlight-catching new star on both sides of the ball.

For casual fans tuning in mostly for the names, this game still delivers plenty of intrigue even with Garrett out. Nix returning from a serious ankle injury to post a near-100 passer rating in Week 2 is the kind of feel-good storyline that makes primetime football fun, and watching whether he can build on it against a Rams defense missing its best player adds real stakes. On the other side, seeing how Los Angeles adapts on the fly — leaning on its other pass rushers and figuring out exactly how much Aaron Donald has left in the tank at 35 — gives the broadcast plenty to track beyond just the final score.

Prediction and Best Bet

Denver’s home crowd, a suddenly favorable pass-rush matchup, and a quarterback finding his rhythm all point toward a tighter game than the spread suggests. The Rams still have more overall talent, but losing Garrett for this stretch closes the gap significantly.

• Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 24, Denver Broncos 23
• Best Bet: Broncos +2.5 against the spread

Take the points with Denver — a rejuvenated Bo Nix and a defense that no longer has to worry about Myles Garrett off the edge give the Broncos every reason to keep this one within a field goal or better at home.