Los Angeles Rams (5-10) – Denver Broncos (4-11): 51-14
Match between 2 teams whose season has already ended. The goal is to finish the season with honors. And in that game, it was the Rams of a very clean Baker Mayfield (24/28, 230 yards, 2 TDs) who raised their heads with this clear and flawless victory over the Broncos who did not really seem involved in the meeting.
Not helped either by the return of Russell Wilson (15/27, 214 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT) who put on his Santa Claus costume in the 1st quarter and a totally absent defense, Denver must turn to the next season. With the focus on a change of coach because after this match, we do not see how Nathaniel Hackett could save his place.
The Rams on the go
We play the 3rd offensive game of the match for Denver and on his 2nd attempted pass, Russell Wilson is intercepted by Cobie Durant. Denver does not know it yet but this first interception is only the beginning of a long ordeal that will last a whole half.
Indeed, after a touchdown from Tyler Higbee (9 REC, 94 yards, 2 TDs) on a pass from Baker Mayfield, running back Cam Akers (23 runs, 118 yards, 3 TDs) again sanctioned an interception from Russell Wilson by Bobby Wagner. If Russell Wilson has his faults, what about the defense? Unable to make any big play and blocked by a good Rams offensive line, the Broncos will allow 18 of 20 passes to the Rams quarterback. The ground game, embodied by Cam Akers’ best career game, does the rest, especially in the red zone.
In total, these are nearly 330 yards allowed by the defense of Denver in the first period. In this batch, doubles for touchdown of Tyler Higbee and Cam Akers are only the icing on the cake of one of the best periods of the season for the Rams, catastrophic on the contrary for Denver.
Endless nightmare for Denver
From the start of the 3rd quarter, we start on the same bases, with the way this time for Denver. Passing very close to a fumble from the 1st offensive game of the 2nd half, Denver will lose the ball in the end zone following the 3rd interception of Russell Wilson by Jalen Ramsey.
The Rams also shine in the field of sacks with an unexpected duo that made people forget Aaron Donald, Michael Hoecht and Larell Murchison, authors of 5 of 6 sacks in Los Angeles. The contrast is stark compared to a non-existent Denver pass rush, making dumb fouls, with Randy Gregory leading. The Denver defender will even go so far as to fight with a Rams player after the final whistle.
Cam Akers’ hat-trick for the Rams and the pick six of Cobie Durant on Brett Rypien will complete the Broncos in full nightmare. Earlier in the match, Rypien had been seen arguing with one of his team’s lineman on the bench… Greg Dulcich’s converted 2-point touchdown is only anecdotal in a match that sums up on its own Denver’s season.
Cam Akers gets his 3rd TD of the day!
📺: #DENvsLAR on CBS/NICK
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/xXDYpCJpC1 pic.twitter.com/nd4EKlithj— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2022
