A major expert has pivoted their Sunday Night Football pick, moving away from the Rams and onto the Broncos +2.5. Why the change of heart for Week 3? Turns out, the Mile High altitude and Denver’s stout defense are seen as too big an advantage for the underdog hosts in this prime-time battle.
The Broncos’ Rollercoaster Ride and a Rising Star
We’ve seen the Broncos play some real Jekyll and Hyde football through the first two weeks of 2026, even within the same game against the Jaguars last week. You just never know what you’re gonna get! But despite that inconsistency, this Denver team has a ‘high level’ and their defense is legit. Head Coach Sean Payton is definitely showing he can coach around his team’s weaknesses, and that’s huge.
Plus, let’s talk about Jaylen Waddle. The Broncos traded a FIRST-ROUND pick for him this offseason, and he was a ghost in Week 1. Seriously, shocking! But Week 2 was a whole different story; they reaped the benefits, and now Davis Webb and Payton are expected to get him heavily involved. My spidey sense tells me Waddle 6+ receptions at +127 on DraftKings is looking mighty tempting.
Rams on the Road in a Tough Spot
The Rams pulled a similar Jekyll and Hyde move themselves, going from a Week 1 loss against the 49ers to absolutely cruising past the Giants 28-6 on Monday night in Week 2. They’re coming into this as 1.5-point favorites on the road, which is wild considering how tough Mile High is, especially early in the year. Aaron Donald returned last week and got a decent number of snaps, but ramping up at altitude is no joke for even the best. The expert thinks it’s gonna be tough for him to really dominate this one.
Brace for a Defensive Battle
So, what’s this Week 3 showdown gonna look like? Forget the shootouts, we’re talking a low-scoring, competitive, and super close game. The total for points is down to 44.5, which tells you everything about the defensive expectations. The expert’s gut says the Broncos find a way to win late, but honestly, it could easily be a field goal walk-off situation for either team. That makes those +2.5 points for the Broncos incredibly valuable, because if it’s that tight, you want every half-point you can get. This is gonna be a grind, folks!
Get ready for a defensive slugfest under the lights, folks. This Sunday Night Football game looks like it’s going to be a nail-biter right down to the final whistle, with every point counting. Can the Broncos’ D truly turn the tide against a favored Rams squad and prove the expert’s pivot right? You know I’ll be glued to every single snap to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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