In the spotlight: Will Denver protect Bo Nix against Aaron Donald and company?<\/p>\n
Eliciting emotion out of Bo Nix in press conferences can be a tall task. Nix is generally reserved, offering the public only limited insight into his personality.<\/p>\n
But when a reporter asked the Broncos quarterback about Aaron Donald\u2019s return to football<\/a>, he perked up. The praise for the future hall-of-famer started to flow shortly after.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a guy like that who\u2019s played so much football at a dominant level, if anything, he could be better because he\u2019s got some good rest. It\u2019s exciting to play the greats, it always is,\u201d Nix said. \u201cI know he\u2019s a really good football player, and he\u2019s going to provide a challenge that we haven\u2019t necessarily faced before. He\u2019s literally one of the best at his position of all time, so you don\u2019t play those many Sundays.\u201d<\/p>\n Nix said it\u2019s hard to truly stop a player of Donald\u2019s prowess, but the Broncos will have to \u201climit the time he\u2019s dominant.\u201d<\/p>\n That would be a good place to start for Denver\u2019s offensive line. For a unit that considers itself one of the best in the NFL, Sunday night will be a difficult task. Denver\u2019s allowed only 21 pressures in the opening two weeks, the sixth-lowest mark in the NFL. On the other side, the Rams\u2019 pass rush has generated 30 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. Los Angeles will be without one of the league\u2019s premier players, Myles Garrett, who received arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss at least the first four games of the season.<\/p>\n The Rams replaced him with former sack-leader Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart and Wesley Bailey. On the interior, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner complement Donald as proven players in their own right.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re loaded up front,\u201d Nix said.<\/p>\n Could Los Angeles choose to send extra rushers to try and make up for the loss of Garrett? Defensive coordinator Chris Shula is usually hesitant too, although he changed the formula against the Giants. After the Rams blitzed on just 11.1% of opponents\u2019 dropbacks in Week 1, tied for the second-lowest rate among defenses in a game this season, they more than tripled that rate in Week 2.<\/p>\n If Los Angeles\u2019 defensive scheme looks familiar to Broncos\u2019 fans, it\u2019s because it derives from the Vic Fangio school of thought. Rush four, play good coverage and limit explosive plays.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the type of defense that has given Nix trouble. Against four-man rushes last year, Nix\u2019s 84.9 passer rating was the eighth-lowest in the NFL. This year, his rating has jumped nearly 26 points and his 86% completion rate leads the league.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s a shame an injury robbed viewers of Garett Bolles vs. Garrett, the trench play Sunday will still be appointment television.<\/p>\n When Broncos run: J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman were all limited at practice this week with lower body injuries, so the Broncos backfield will likely not be at full strength against the Rams. Dobbins and Harvey practiced fully towards the end of the week and are set to play Sunday, while Coleman is officially out<\/a> after missing multiple practices. Even when the running backs have been healthy, Denver\u2019s running game has been largely ineffective. The Broncos have struggled to open up holes for Dobbins, although Coleman found some success on the final drive against the Jaguars. The Rams\u2019 rushing defense is its weak link, but they just held the Giants to 52 rushing yards. Slight edge: Rams<\/p>\n When Broncos pass:\u00a0Payton was quick to point out Nix\u2019s second half against the Jaguars as the most important part of Nix\u2019s start to the year. That does not mean the previous three halves of football should be ignored, but Nix seemed to finally settle into a rhythm after halftime last Sunday. Los Angeles\u2019 defense will test him; the Rams are loaded with strong pass rushers and cornerbacks, and Donald is back. One big advantage for Denver: no Garrett for the Rams. Edge: Broncos<\/p>\n When Rams run:\u00a0It\u2019s early in the season, but the Broncos\u2019 rushing defense has shown some vulnerability. Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 5 yards per carry after Kenneth Walker III decimated Denver. Now, one of the most creative rushing offenses in football comes to Mile High with a talented backfield duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The Rams\u2019 142.5 rushing yards per game ranks sixth in the NFL, and without Jonathon Cooper to set the edge, their wide zone running scheme could have some success against the Broncos\u2019 edge defenders. Edge: Rams<\/p>\n When Rams pass:\u00a0The blockbuster matchup of the night features a gluttony of All-Pros. Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, Nik Bonnito, Zach Allen and Patrick Surtain are all among the best players at their respective positions in the NFL, so expect both the Broncos\u2019 defense and the Rams\u2019 passing game to trade blows. One name not mentioned is star wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is doubtful for Sunday. If Nacua isn\u2019t able to go, Vance Joseph will have one less weapon to worry about, which could be enough to tilt the advantage towards the Broncos. Edge: Broncos<\/p>\n Special Teams:\u00a0Denver\u2019s special teams have been solid so far this season. Will Lutz is reliable, Jeremy Crawshaw has pinned teams deep and Marvin Mims could return to his kick-return duties after missing Week 2 with a foot injury. Meanwhile, the Rams\u2019 special teams unit has been a notorious blemish under McVay. Edge: Broncos<\/p>\n![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26267240618528.jpg\")
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) runs during an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)<\/p>\n![\"J.K.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-JAGUARSAO1_0907x.jpg\")
J.K. Dobbins (27) of the Denver Broncos finds open field as Eric Murray (29) of the Jacksonville Jaguars dives for a tackle during the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, September 20, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nWho has the edge?<\/p>\n