Los Angeles Rams Vs Denver Broncos Prediction, Odds, Preview 08/28/2021

Game Time: 9:05 pm ET, Saturday, August 28th, 2021

Venue: Empower Field at Mile High, Danver, Colorado

Where to Watch:  local markets, NFL Network

Rams:  0-2 (NFC West)
Broncos:  2-0 (AFC West)

Bet365:  Spread: Broncos -8.5; Over/Under 33.5 runs
BetMGM:  Spread: Broncos -8.5; Over/Under 33.5 runs

Broncos:  Mike Purcell DT Questionable, Noah Fant TE Questionable, KJ Hamler WR Questionable
Rams:  Johnny Hecker K (reserve Covid-19 list) Questionable, Cam Akers RB Out for season

Rams:

Matthew Stafford  QB
Darrell Henderson Jr.   RB
Robert Woods       WR
Cooper Kupp        WR
Van Jefferson       WR
Tyler Higbee        TE
Andrew Whitworth   LT
David Edwards     LG
Brian Allen          C
Austin Corbett    RG
Rob Havestein    RT

Broncos:

Teddy Bridgewater QB
Melvin Gordon III  RB
Courtland Sutton  WR
Jerry Jeudy      WR
KJ Hamler       WR
Noah Fant       TE
Garett Bolles     LT
Dalton Risner   LG
Lloyd Cushenberry  III  C
Graham Glasgow    RG
Bobby Massie     RT

Rams:

Passing Yards:  Jared Goff  3,952 yards.  Gone. (replaced by Matt Stafford)

Rushing Yards:  Cam Akers  625 yards.  Out for Season (team added Sony Michel) 

Receiving Yards:  Cooper Kupp 974 yards.  A favorite target of Jared Goff. Should have been traded.

Tackles:  Jon Johnson III  105.  Signed away by the Cleveland Browns.

It’s not the same team by far… but still the roster is exciting fans with the potential for deep postseason games.

Broncos:

Passing Yards:  Drew Lock  2,933 yards.  Still on team but job given to Teddy Bridgewater.

Rushing Yards:  Melvin Gordon III  986 yards.  Former San Diego Charger still playing strong.

Receiving Yards:  Jerry Jeudy  856 yards.  Rookie living up to hype from last year’s draft.

Tackles:  Alexander Johnson   124.  5th year guy, last season was a breakout year.

Rams:  Sean McVay.  The Boy Genius is now a grizzled veteran of NFL head coaching.  He is tasked with replacing multiple starters this season in hopes of finding a better way back to the Super Bowl.  A big problem Sean faces after every regular season is replacing all the assistant coaches that get hired away in the off-season.  Sean is a king maker as seven assistants left for better jobs including defensive coordinator Brandon Staley… now the head coach of the San Diego Chargers.

Broncos:  Vic Fangio is entering his third season as the Denver Broncos head coach… and he is still very confused.  The guy knows football with 34 years of NFL experience on his 42 years of football resume.  Maybe the problem is he spent 20 seasons as a defensive coordinator in college and the NFL before becoming the Broncos head coach.  I say problem… because he still seems to have no idea who his quarterback is or should be.   The world believes it will and should be veteran Teddy Bridgewater formerly of everywhere else… still a part of Vic wants to give young, hot shot, goofball, Drew Lock one more chance.  If only Drew’s head had as much potential as his strong arm.  Vic better decide soon… this is a good roster and only needs a great quarterback at the helm…. I wonder if someone else will be available next season?

The Rams finished last season 10-6.  With heartbreaking close losses to the Buffalo Bills 35-32 and the San Francisco 49ers (23-20)... but had two unforgivable losses to the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.  These close losses and stumbles against bad teams are why Jared Goff is gone and Matthew Stafford is in.  If it keeps happening Sean McVay will have to explain why.

Preseason games aside, the Broncos went 5-11 last season for last place in the AFC West.  They had a good roster everyone kept saying but always found themselves the underdog… even in home games.  They were 2-6-0 at home and 3-5-0 in road games.  2 of their wins last year came against the New York Jets (2-14) and Carolina Panthers (5-11).. So not quality wins.

These two teams have met each other 14 times since 1972.  The all time record has the Rams in the lead 9-5-0.  This preseason game won’t count for this list as those are games that count only… but still the Broncos should want it more.  (if just because McVay will play no one of any importance)

The Rams were 12th in the league in yards per game in 2020, but 23rd in points 372… 23.3 points per game.  That won’t get it done and that is why Goff is gone.  The Rams have great pieces on defense, they need someone to start punching home a touchdown or 2 every fourth quarter.

The Broncos were 24th in the league in yards per game in 2020, and tied for 23rd in points with the Rams.  372 points, 23.3 a game.  The Broncos defense wasn’t quite as good as the Rams.  The Broncos lost a lot more games with the same points on the scoreboard.

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The Rams Sean McVay lost his starting running back in practice… practice?...  We talkin about practice man?.  It won't happen again.  Not only did McVay invent not playing any starters in the preseason, he is moving towards barely playing backups.  No one gets hurt until it counts.

The Broncos are still looking at their quarterbacks because it is that important to Vic Fangio’s future employment prospects.  Plus if one of them gets knocked to the injured reserve list it’ll give him a nice excuse in interviews next off-season.  So Some Broncos will play against Rams scrubs.

Our MLB Pick for Saturday August 28th game is Broncos 17  Rams 10

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