When we think of rivalries, we tend to think of bitter division rivals. Those teams face one another multiple times per year, fostering bitterness and frustration along the way. While Broncos vs. Rams history might not be something we think about, there have been some very interesting results.
While there are only three games in the last 10 years of Rams vs. Broncos history, there are plenty of other games prior to that. So, for the purpose of this list, let’s take a look back at the last 10 games in Broncos vs. Rams history rather than just the last decade.
Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Rams Rivalry
These two teams were back and forth throughout much of the rivalry’s history. Playing once every few years, however, there wasn’t much animosity in Broncos vs. Rams history. Recently, however, the Rams have claimed control of this AFC-NFC matchup.
Rams 51, Broncos 14 (12/25/2022)
The 2022 season was an ugly one for both teams. The Russell Wilson era had begun sounding like a whoopie cushion rather than the anticipated fireworks show. The Rams weren’t good, either, but at least they could coast off the fact that they won the Super Bowl the year before.
This is one of the ugliest results in Broncos vs. Rams history. The Rams came out like a house of fire under new QB Baker Mayfield and never let up. At the end of one, it was 17-3 Rams. By half, the number jumped up to 31-6.
The Rams never let their foot off the pedal. A kick-six in the final five minutes put the Broncos out of their misery, leaving everyone wondering just how bad the Broncos really were. It was a vicious way to lose to finish out the year, the most points scored by either team in the entire Rams vs. Broncos history.
Rams smash the Broncos 51-14. Baker Mayfield had 230 yards and 2 TD’s. pic.twitter.com/GHR6I0pESD
— The Sporting Base – NFL (@base_nfl) December 26, 2022
Rams 23, Broncos 20 (10/14/2018)
At this point for both franchises, there was a distinct move in different directions. The Broncos found themselves still trying to find a replacement for the retired Peyton Manning who went out on top with a win in Super Bowl 50 in 2016. The Rams, meanwhile, were all-in on making a push for a Super Bowl of their own.
This game emphasized where both franchises were at the time. The Rams ground out a 13-3 lead at half and Todd Gurley’s second touchdown run gave them a commanding 20-3 lead. The Broncos made a late push thanks to a pair of Case Keenum touchdown passes. In the end, it wouldn’t be enough, the Rams walking out of Mile High Stadium with a 23-20 win.
The first matchup in four seasons had a similar result – Rams win – despite the rosters looking substantially different – and continued the Rams domination in the series (the fourth win in what would become five wins in a row and counting).
Rams 22, Broncos 7 (11/16/2014)
The 2014 season was nearing the end of the Peyton Manning era and the two teams were in distinctly different places. If you needed something to emphasize that point, Shaun Hill was the starting quarterback for the Rams at this point.
Despite the mismatch at quarterback, the result was the same. Manning threw a touchdown pass in the second quarter to pull the Broncos within six but that’s as close as it would get. Greg Zuerlein was the star of the show, hitting five field goals, including one from 53 yards.
Denver managed to move the ball – 397 yards of offense – but a pair of interceptions killed a few important drives. It wound up being a hiccup in an otherwise successful season for the Broncos, but a frustrating road loss that they would have loved to have back.
Rams 36, Broncos 33 (11/28/2010)
The second of what would become five victories in a row (and counting) happened on this day. It would up being an exciting game, complete with a frantic comeback. The first quarter was innocuous enough, but things really took off in the second quarter.
A pair of touchdown passes from Sam Bradford and field goals from Josh Brown gave the Rams a 26-13 at the break. It would get up to 36-13 with 10 minutes remaining in the game, everything seemingly decided. Only no one told the Broncos the game was over.
Kyle Orton led a frantic comeback, throwing three touchdown passes in the final 10 minutes, though the last came with just :06 left. The Rams held on for the three-point win, creating a memorable game between two teams that had rarely seen one another at that point.
Rams 18, Broncos 10 (9/10/2006)
The game that began the current winning streak for the Rams. Both teams were solid during the 2006 season and no one expected an epic battle between quarterbacks Jake Plummer and Marc Bulger. The result was definitely less than epic, especially for the Broncos.
Plummer was no doubt the biggest impact in this game but in the wrong way. He threw for just 138 yards but it was the three interceptions that wound up being a killer. The Broncos couldn’t really find a groove and really only managed a little momentum when Mike Bell ran it in from one yard out.
As was the case in 2014, this one came down to the Rams’ kicker. Jeff Wilkins hit six field goals, with one from 51 yards, to give the Rams one of the ugliest wins of the season and in Rams vs. Broncos history. It was not a shining afternoon for either team.
Broncos 23, Rams 16 (9/8/2002)
The last time the Broncos beat the Rams, the Greatest Show on Turf was in its dying days. Led by names like Clinton Portis, Brian Griese, and Rod Smith, the Broncos were not at their best – and certainly a far cry from the back-to-back Super Bowl teams of a few years earlier – but managed to get the job done.
Jason Elam wound up being the difference-maker, hitting all three field goals. Griese added a pair of touchdown passes, giving the Broncos a late 23-13 win. Despite a late push from Kurt Warner and the Rams, the Broncos defense managed to hold strong.
This felt like the end of an era for the Rams. For the Broncos, the franchise remained solid under Griese, contending for the division, though they fell short at 9-7. This is an underrated gem for Broncos fans in what is an underrated rivalry on the whole.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Michael Hoecht (97) tackles Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Rams 41, Broncos 36 (9/4/2000)
Despite John Elway riding off into the sunset two years prior, the Broncos remained contenders. A Wild Card loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens did not deter the Broncos from coming back and contending again during the 2000 season.
The Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf was running high, having won the Super Bowl in 1999 and possessing one of the best offenses in league history. In this game, the offenses both went nuts, creating what may have been the best game in Broncos vs. Rams history.
Brian Griese and Kurt Warner combined for 748 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Even three interceptions from Warner couldn’t stifle the Rams, who pulled ahead on a Robert Holcombe touchdown run with less than three minutes to go.
Broncos 35, Rams 14 (9/14/1997)
The season when the Broncos were on a mission to “win one for John.” The aging franchise quarterback had not managed to win a title and this felt like the best shot to do so. Though we know how things ultimately played out but this was early in the run for a Super Bowl title.
The Broncos were one of the most complete teams that year while the Rams were simply treading water until the miracle that is Warner became their franchise quarterback. The Rams kept things competitive for a half, but that is as long as it remained that way.
Darrien Gordon returned a punt 94 yards to start the second half, and a pair of touchdown passes from Elway (he had four on the day) wound up blowing the doors open. It just underscores the season the Broncos had, including the epic conclusion.
Rams 27, Broncos 21 (11/6/1994)
When the two teams ran into each other in 1994 – the seventh meeting between the two and the rubber match as both had won three games against one another – things weren’t exactly going well. Both teams were under .500 and looking to find answers to turn their seasons around.
The Rams defense and running game – Jerome Bettis had a touchdown run – put them up 17-3 going into the locker room at half time. Chris Chandler found Willie Anderson for a 30-yard touchdown pass to start the third quarter and that wound up being all they needed.
Elway threw a pair of touchdown passes to cut the lead to six with just over five minutes to go. The Rams managed to clamp things down to walk away with the 27-21 win. The underrated Chandler matched the legendary Elway, throwing a pair of touchdowns to match the former MVP.
Broncos 35, Rams 24 (11/27/1988)
The sixth matchup in the history of these two franchises might not have stuck in the minds of many. After all, both teams were flirting with .500, a major disappointment for the Broncos given their run to multiple Super Bowls during the 1980s (little did we know at the time, but they would make their third Super Bowl in four years in just a few months’ time).
Elway had himself a day after a solid start to the first half. Leading the Rams 14-10 coming out for the second half, Elway and the Broncos went off. Elway would throw a pair of touchdown passes and Sammy Winder would catch a third touchdown, this one from the legendary Tony Dorsett.
The Rams attempted a comeback, getting a touchdown pass from Jim Everett and a one-yard touchdown run from Greg Bell. That said, the 35-10 deficit near the end of the third quarter was far too much to overcome. The Broncos had found their other gear, a key component to making a drive to the Super Bowl yet again under Elway.
The Best Game in Rams vs. Broncos History
It is hard to look back at the history between these two franchises and find many games that stand out. Because they play in separate conferences, there are no playoff games to reference. For that reason, we look to the biggest shootout in the series between the two that happened in front of 65,956 at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis on September 4, 2000.
The Rams had won the Super Bowl some eight months prior, sporting one of the greatest offenses in football history. With Kurt Warner at quarterback, Marshall Faulk at running back, and the two-headed monster of Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce at receiver, it seem as though no one could stop them. On this day, that proved to be true.
That said, the Broncos definitely weren’t a pushover. Despite the retirement of Elway after their second consecutive win in 1999. Brian Griese doesn’t quite get the love he deserves, but he had himself a day here. Despite being sacked four times, he threw for 307 and a pair of touchdowns on the day.
The star of the game was no doubt Warner. Despite throwing three interceptions, which is partially why the Broncos held the game so close, Warner had one of his classic dominant days. He was 25-for-35, throwing for 441 yards and three touchdowns.
Faulk was also dynamic, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown while catching four passes for a whopping 100 yards. Everything about the day underscored why the Rams were so dominant for a few years at the end of the millennium and why their vaunted offense was so feared.
