The Los Angeles Rams saw a late penalty against Josh Wallace erase his interception against the Denver Broncos. The ruling kept Denver’s final scoring drive alive, and the NFL later informed Los Angeles that the flag should not have been thrown.
Matthew Stafford addressed the controversial officiating after the Rams’ 30-26 loss while acknowledging errors that contributed to the defeat.
Matthew Stafford responds to Rams’ controversial loss
The Los Angeles Rams controlled the opening two quarters against Denver and carried a 16-0 advantage into halftime. Stafford attempted 32 passes before the break, the highest total before halftime in his 16-year NFL career. He finished 30-of-55 for 390 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jul 27, 2026; Westchester, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The game changed after halftime as the Broncos scored 30 points to complete a 30-26 comeback victory. One of Stafford’s interceptions was returned 66 yards for a touchdown by Talanoa Hufanga. Denver’s final scoring drive proved decisive.
With 1:15 remaining, Bo Nix threw to Pat Bryant near the Rams’ 11-yard line. Rams cornerback Josh Wallace intercepted the pass, but officials called defensive pass interference on Wallace, wiping out the interception and allowing Denver to keep possession.
The Rams then committed another costly penalty when safety Quentin Lake was called for illegal hands to the face. Kobie Turner was also flagged, moving Denver closer to the goal line. With 47 seconds left, Nix scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Broncos a 30-26 lead.
The penalty against Wallace quickly became a major talking point after the game. The NFL’s officiating department later told the Rams that pass interference should not have been assessed on Wallace, acknowledging the ruling was incorrect.
The Broncos receiver Pat Bryant also discussed the play. He said there was some contact with Wallace and acknowledged that he tried to sell the contact in an attempt to draw a penalty. That added to the discussion surrounding the call after the game.
Still, Stafford did not put the loss entirely on the officials. While answering a question from Jim Gray, Stafford said, “I didn’t obviously, in-game, know what that looked like. Also didn’t know at the early part of that question where we were going, Jim, but I love it… But, no, I—you know, some tough ones, obviously. Everybody’s trying to do their job and do it as good as they can and fight hard out there…”
Matthew Stafford acknowledged that some of the calls affected field position and clock management. He also said the team had to look at what it could have done differently rather than use the officiating as the explanation for the loss. In particular, he pointed to the first half and the Rams’ inability to build a larger lead.
The Los Angeles Rams finished the game with 13 penalties for 91 yards, giving Denver extra chances to extend drives. Despite the second-half collapse, Stafford credited his teammates for continuing to compete and creating another late opportunity.
After Nix’s touchdown, Stafford quickly moved the Rams down the field and reached Denver’s 19-yard line. He then took one final shot toward the end zone, but Hufanga intercepted the pass to end the Rams’ final possession.
Several moments shaped the outcome, including the disputed pass interference call, the Rams’ penalties and Stafford’s late drive. Los Angeles had entered halftime with a 16-0 advantage but could not hold on. Stafford’s comments, however, also pointed to the opportunities the Rams had earlier in the game and the mistakes that left the result vulnerable to a late call.
Rams prepare for Eagles with key changes
The Los Angeles Rams will travel to Philadelphia for their Week 4 matchup against the Eagles on October 4 at 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.
Los Angeles will get Puka Nacua back after he missed the previous two games because of hip and groin issues. Nacua practiced throughout the week and carries no injury designation for Sunday. He caught five passes for 74 yards in the season opener against the 49ers.
The Rams will be without Aaron Donald, who was ruled out with a back injury. Donald played in the Rams’ last two games after returning from retirement but did not practice during the week. Sean McVay said Donald wanted to play, but the team did not want to risk putting him back on the field while he was dealing with the injury.
Terrance Ferguson is also ruled out with an ankle injury, while cornerback Jaylen Watson will miss the game with a shoulder injury. Kamren Kinchens, Nate Landman and Josh Wallace were listed with injuries but remained available heading into the matchup. Colby Parkinson was also dealing with knee and shoulder issues.
Nacua’s return gives Matthew Stafford another major target alongside Davante Adams. Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, while he has 74 receiving yards in his only appearance this season.
McVay also made it clear that the Rams are not dwelling on their 1-2 start. “I’m excited to swing and compete again with this group. This story is not yet written. There are people who feel otherwise, but we’ve got a lot of ball ahead of us,” McVay said.
The Eagles are also dealing with injuries heading into the matchup. Philadelphia has several players on its injury report, including Zack Baun, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and Jordan Davis. The Los Angeles Rams now turn their attention to the Philadelphia Eagles, aiming to bounce back after surrendering a late lead against Denver.
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