Broncos vs. Rams Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
Two teams playing out the string on a disappointing season clash on Sunday, as the Los Angeles Rams in NFL Week 16 action. The defending Super Bowl champion Rams return home eliminated from playoff contention in the wake of a 24-12 defeat in Green Bay on Monday night that marked their seventh loss in eight games. The Broncos have also failed to live up to expectations, losing nine of 11 including three straight on the road, but are coming off a 24-15 win over the beleaguered Arizona Cardinals.
The Broncos have emerged as slim 2.5-point favourites on the NFL odds, and a -156 moneyline bet. The Rams lag as +130 underdogs, and the total is listed at just 36.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday afternoon’s matchup at SoFi Stadium marks the first meeting between these teams since 2018. The Rams enjoy a four-game straight up win streak in head-to-head action, capped by a 23-20 victory in Denver four years ago.
Los Angeles has also produced at the sportsbook, going 3-1 against the spread while holding the Broncos to 20 or fewer points three times over their past four.
Recent dates between these teams have been low-scoring affairs, with the UNDER going 4-1 over the past five, and the total topping 43 just once over that stretch.
Denver Broncos
No Russell Wilson, no problem for the Denver Broncos last weekend, as they rolled to a 24-15 comeback victory over the visiting Arizona Cardinals. Backup pivot Brett Rypien stepped up in relief of Wilson, who missed last week’s game due to a concussion. After falling behind 9-3 in the second half, Rypien guided the Broncos on three lengthy scoring drives to seal the win, and snap the team’s five-game losing streak.
Wilson is expected to resume starting duties on Sunday, and will be looking to duplicate his steady 247-yard, three-touchdown performance in Denver’s heartbreaking loss to Kansas City two weeks ago. Wilson must now find a way to spark an injury-plagued Broncos offence. He also needs better protection from a porous offensive line that allowed him to get sacked six times against the Chiefs, and Rypien to be sacked seven times last weekend.
Among the players limited or missing practice this week are receiver Courtland Sutton who has missed two games with a hamstring injury, and rusher Latavius Murray, who was limited by a foot injury after running for 130 yards and one score last weekend.
Los Angeles Rams
There were no last-minute heroics from Baker Mayfield when the Rams visited Lambeau Field on Monday night. Riding high after guiding LA to an entertaining 17-16 comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in his Rams debut on Thursday Night Football, Mayfield was unable to carry that momentum into Green Bay. Mayfield connected on just 12-of-21 pass attempts for 111 yards, one score, and one pick while leading the Rams to their sixth loss by a double-digit margin this season.
Injuries to quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp have decimated this offence. The Rams averaged just 18.2 points per game and used four different quarterbacks over five games since Kupp was sidelined. Faced with a ferocious Broncos defence that has not allowed scoring passes in two of the past three games, and just three total scoring runs over the past six games, reversing their ongoing offensive woes will be a difficult.
Things don’t look much better on defence. Star defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been battling through a nagging ankle injury, and did not receive medical clearance to practice early in the week.
DEN
LAR