DENVER — Bo Nix crossed the goal line with 47 seconds left to complete a stunning rally as the Denver Broncos erased a 16-0 halftime deficit to beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 in Denver. The quarterback's close-range keeper capped a chaotic final five minutes and sealed a comeback win for the home side, moving Denver to 2-1 while Los Angeles fell to 1-2.
Nix leapt over the pile with both hands on the ball for the go-ahead touchdown after driving Denver 65 yards in 10 plays, aided by three defensive penalties and completions of 39 and 21 yards. The lead had changed hands twice in the previous minutes. Safety Talanoa Hufanga gave Denver its first lead at 23-19 with a 66-yard pick-6 with 4:49 remaining, jumping in front of running back Kyren Williams and weaving to the end zone. Four plays later Matthew Stafford answered with a 48-yard touchdown to Konata Mumpfield after cornerback Riley Moss fell down to put the Rams back ahead 26-23. Stafford then drove the Rams to the Denver 14 and spiked the ball with 2 seconds left, but a false start moved the ball to the 19 and Hufanga secured his second interception of the night in the end zone to end it.
The Rams controlled the first half but led only 16-0 at the break. Stafford hit tight end Tyler Higbee for a 5-yard touchdown on the Rams' second possession, with the rest of the half producing field goals despite total dominance. Los Angeles outgained Denver by more than 200 yards before halftime, with 17 first downs to five, 87 rushing yards to 21 and 186 passing yards to 46.
Denver went three-and-out to start the second half before finding rhythm. Nix cut the deficit in half midway through the third quarter with a 5-yard strike to Bryant and a 2-point conversion pass to Jaylen Waddle between the hands of Wallace. The Broncos tied the game heading into the final period when Nix found Nate Adkins for an 8-yard touchdown and again connected with Bryant for the 2-pointer.
Nix finished 17 completions for 186 yards and two touchdowns with a first-half interception, adding the decisive rushing score. Stafford finished 30 for 55 for 390 yards, throwing 32 passes in the first half, the most of his career. With Puka Nacua out again with a hip injury, Davante Adams had seven receptions for 137 yards, giving him 15 catches for 332 yards over his last two games, the best such stretch of his career.