Sean McVay Declines 'Victim Card' After Late Penalty in Rams' 30-26 Loss to Broncos

The Los Angeles Rams fell to 1-2 following a 30-26 defeat to the Denver Broncos, marked by five penalties in the final two minutes.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 on Sunday after scoring a go-ahead touchdown with 47 seconds remaining. The decisive drive was aided by a defensive pass interference penalty against Rams cornerback Josh Wallace on a third-and-6 play from the Los Angeles 11-yard line. Although Wallace intercepted the pass from Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, the flag for contact against wide receiver Pat Bryant gave Denver first-and-goal at the 7.

Los Angeles was whistled for five penalties during the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, according to ESPN Research. This total ties the record for the most flags against a single team in the closing two minutes of an NFL game since 2000. Referee Bill Vinovich’s crew, which had previously thrown only one flag in the final two minutes during the entire 2024 season, oversaw the contest.

Coach Sean McVay stated Monday that the 1-2 Rams would not make excuses for the late call. Regarding roster health, cornerback Jaylen Watson is expected to miss the Week 4 game against the Philadelphia Eagles after dislocating his arm in the second quarter. Tight end Terrance Ferguson is also likely to sit out with a sprained ankle, while tight end Colby Parkinson’s status remains uncertain due to a sprained AC joint. McVay expressed optimism that wide receiver Puka Nacua could return Sunday after missing two games with groin soreness.