Unfortunately, or fortunately for the Denver Broncos, Myles Garrett is on IR. But bringing back one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history to a defense is obviously huge.
That’s one of the reasons the Los Angeles Rams were heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl heading into the season and still are the favorites. Offensively, LA has the reigning MVP and an explosive offense. So what does the return of Donald mean?
To get a feel for the Rams and how big it was to get their first win against the New York Giants, we go “behind enemy lines” with Evan Craig from [Turf Show Times](https://www.turfshowtimes.com/).
**Evan**: The win was extremely important and exactly what the doctor ordered. Los Angeles looked all out of sorts in Week 1, and the 49ers took full advantage. New York really didn’t stand a chance, even if Jaxson Dart had never gotten injured. The Rams poured too many resources into improving this offseason, and they weren’t about to let the Giants ruin that by dropping them to 0-2. I will say, there are things to clean up, especially as LA was only up 11 at halftime. It should’ve been much worse, but back-to-back turnovers on a Matthew Stafford pick and a signature Kyren Williams fumble momentarily gave the G-Men hope.
Still, it was a night-and-day difference. It helped that the Rams, as Sean McVay eloquently put it, didn’t have a “dumbass” travel plan ahead of the game. Much of their awful showing in Australia was due to the fact that they arrived a day before the game. Several new pieces needed to gel together, but it was mainly due to the travel plan
**Evan**: Aaron Donald’s return means a great deal to this team, and Monday night was a huge reminder of why.
During the win over the Giants, AD didn’t put together much of a stat line, yet his presence was felt on every one of his 33 snaps. It was also as if he had never left, with his power and burst on full display. That was impressive to see in someone who was two years removed from the game. I guess that fitness regimen he was on during retirement certainly paid off. If he gets better as the season progresses, and it’s very likely he does, that should scare all opposing offensive coordinators. Now, imagine what will happen once Myles Garrett returns. Did anyone else get chills?
At first, Donald’s return seemed like nothing more than a gimmick and an unnecessary distraction for a team aiming for another Super Bowl run. Gimmick might not be the correct word, as he seemed genuine about returning, even if a large percentage of the NFL world was doubting it. Clearly, Rams fans can see he’s committed to helping the team secure a ring. Maybe you can go home after all.
**Evan**: LA will get the win if they take a page out of the Chiefs’ Week 1 playbook. Kansas City rushed for 220 yards and ran the ball down the Broncos’ throats in the opener. Against the Giants, the Rams’ two-headed attack of Williams and Blake Corum combined for 164 rushing yards. They have a strong enough attack on the ground to keep Denver on its toes all game. Also, the Rams must have better pass distribution. Davante Adams and Terrance Ferguson combined for 19 targets when no other pass catcher had more than two targets. Spreading the ball out will help take the pressure off Adams, especially if Puka Nacua’s out. The Rams have a diverse array of playmakers to make this happen.
Defensively, the Rams must make the Broncos one-dimensional. Denver doesn’t have the strongest running game, but if LA can take away that run game and put a ton of pressure on Bo Nix, they can secure the win. Nix is a very capable quarterback, yet assuming the Rams follow KC’s playbook, they can limit his effectiveness by taking away his new favorite target in Jaylen Waddle and security blankets Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin.
**Evan**: I think 2.5 points is a fair spread, but I don’t like LA as the favorite. Denver is a really tough place to play, and the Broncos deserve more credit as a team, even if they haven’t had the smoothest start to begin the season. Yes, I believe the Rams are a better team on paper when they’re at full strength, yet they’re without Garrett and possibly Puka for this one. That, to me, feels like the sportsbooks are disrespecting Denver, at least this week, which wouldn’t be the first time for them.
My best bet is Matthew Stafford under 200 passing yards. The Broncos have a far superior secondary than the Giants, meaning they won’t allow Davante Adams to run wild on them if, again, Nacua is out again this week.
**Evan**: This is a tough game to predict, since the Rams are typically slow starters to begin the season. Last season was their best start in years, and it was only with a 3-2 record. The Broncos were in the same boat in 2025 because they began the year 1-2 before winning 13 of their next 14 games to finish the season and clinch the top seed. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams drop this one, which would certainly spell trouble among the fan base right before they travel to Philly. I also expect this to be a low-scoring game due to the strength of both defenses. The first one to 20 should win this one, and I expect it to be Denver.
See More:
* [Denver Broncos Game Information](/denver-broncos-game-information)