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Broncos rally past Rams 30-26 in Sunday Night Football comeback

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 6 outlets across the spectrum.

14 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

The Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 in a Week 3 Sunday Night Football game, overcoming a 16-0 halftime deficit. Denver scored 30 second-half points, including three touchdowns from quarterback Bo Nix, to complete the comeback. Late in the fourth quarter, a pass interference penalty against Rams cornerback Josh Wallace erased what appeared to be a game-sealing interception, giving Denver another possession; the call drew criticism from some commentators, including NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a pick-six to Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga, who also sealed the win with an interception as time expired. The loss dropped the Rams to 1-2 on the season. A video later showed Stafford spitting in the Broncos’ tunnel after the game, drawing online attention.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. The Broncos defeated the Rams 30-26, overcoming a 16-0 halftime deficit.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. A pass interference call against Josh Wallace erased a late interception that would have sealed a Rams win.

    Reported byRight

  3. Talanoa Hufanga intercepted Matthew Stafford twice, including a pick-six and the game-ending interception.

    Reported byLeftRight

  4. Bo Nix accounted for three second-half touchdowns for Denver.

    Reported byRight

  5. The Rams are now 1-2 to start the season.

    Reported byRight

  6. A video showing Stafford spitting in the Broncos’ tunnel after the game went viral, with speculation about its meaning unconfirmed.

    Reported byRight

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Whether the pass interference penalty against Josh Wallace was correctly called.

    New York Post and Fox News describe the call as controversial or “phantom,” citing NBC analyst Terry McAulay’s disagreement with the ruling and suggesting it may have been offensive pass interference instead; other outlets in the sample do not address the call’s legitimacy.

  • What Matthew Stafford was spitting at in the postgame tunnel video.

    New York Post reports social media speculation that Stafford was spitting at Denver’s “5280” elevation sign, but notes this is unconfirmed since the video does not show where the spit landed.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    3 outlets

    Left-side coverage ranges from a pregame viewing guide focused on matchup storylines to a broader recap situating the Rams-Broncos finish within a historically wild Week 3 across the league.

    The dozen games that turned Week 3 into one of the wildest in NFL history
    NBC NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The center outlet frames the result as one item in a roundup of the week’s notable NFL outcomes, without dwelling on controversy.

    Broncos deny Rams and Seahawks lose - five things from NFL week three
    BBC NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    2 outlets

    Right-side headlines move from pregame previews to framing the loss around a controversial officiating call, Stafford’s turnovers, and an off-field spitting incident, with one opinion piece broadening the officiating criticism to the whole week.

    Matthew Stafford Loaded verb“caught spitting”The word “caught” implies wrongdoing or covert behavior rather than simply being recorded on video.More neutral: seen spittingDisagree with this highlight? in Broncos tunnel after controversial Rams loss
    New York PostRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center1

    shock for the defending Super Bowl champions

  • Right15

    gut-punch lossrun out of oxygenstunning second-half collapsecrushing loss

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    gut-punch lossMore neutral: narrow loss

    Adds emotional drama to the description of the loss beyond stating the facts.

    …instead ended with them staggering out of Empower Field at Mile High after a gut-punch loss 30-26.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    run out of oxygenMore neutral: falter

    Metaphorical phrase implying the team physically failed rather than simply being outplayed.

    Rams run out of oxygen at Mile High in stunning second-half collapse against Broncos

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    stunning second-half collapseMore neutral: second-half reversal

    Characterizes the Rams' loss with dramatic language beyond a neutral description of the score change.

    Rams run out of oxygen at Mile High in stunning second-half collapse against Broncos

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    crushing lossMore neutral: loss

    Describes the loss with dramatic intensifying language rather than a neutral term.

    Matthew Stafford makes unwanted NFL history at worst possible time in Rams’ crushing loss

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Show 12 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Vague attribution

    sparking outrage over the officiatingMore neutral: drawing criticism of the officiating

    Attributes strong reaction to unnamed people without specifying who was outraged.

    …Wallace’s late interception as the Rams fell 30-26 to the Broncos, sparking outrage over the officiating.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    setting social media ablazeMore neutral: generating significant online discussion

    Exaggerates the scale of reaction with dramatic imagery rather than describing it factually.

    …Rams’ stunning 30-26 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football, setting social media ablaze and even drawing disagreement from NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    brutal Broncos lossMore neutral: Rams’ 30-26 loss

    Adds dramatic judgment to the outcome beyond a neutral description of the score.

    ‘Rams got robbed’: Controversial call that may have changed everything in brutal Broncos loss

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    shock for the defending Super Bowl championsMore neutral: unexpected loss for the defending Super Bowl champions

    Uses 'shock' to characterize the result with drama rather than neutrally stating the outcome.

    The NFL produced another thrilling day of action with a shock for the defending Super Bowl champions and several tight finishes.

    Used byBBC News (Center)

  • Delegitimizing label

    A phantom pass interference call erased a game-sealing interceptionMore neutral: A disputed pass interference call erased a game-sealing interception

    Repeats the characterization of the call as fake rather than disputed.

    A phantom pass interference call erased a game-sealing interception for the Rams, handing the Broncos a chance to score the…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    left fans wondering what, exactly, NFL officials were watchingMore neutral: drew criticism of the officiating

    Uses rhetorical exaggeration to dramatize criticism of officiating rather than stating it plainly.

    Week 3 delivered another collection of calls that left fans wondering what, exactly, NFL officials were watching.

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Delegitimizing label

    phantom pass interferenceMore neutral: disputed pass interference call

    Labels a disputed officiating call as nonexistent or fabricated rather than describing it as contested.

    From phantom pass interference to ignored facemask calls, NFL officiating failures defined Week 3

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    ignored facemask callsMore neutral: uncalled facemask penalties

    Implies deliberate negligence by officials rather than describing missed penalties neutrally.

    From phantom pass interference to ignored facemask calls, NFL officiating failures defined Week 3

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    officiating failuresMore neutral: officiating decisions

    Presents a subjective assessment of the officiating as an established fact.

    From phantom pass interference to ignored facemask calls, NFL officiating failures defined Week 3

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Rams meltdownMore neutral: Rams loss

    Dramatizes the team’s second-half performance beyond a neutral description of the loss.

    Matthew Stafford sheds light on what went wrong on record-setting pick six in Rams meltdown

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Vague attribution

    raising eyebrowsMore neutral: drawing attention

    Implies a broad negative reaction without identifying who reacted or how.

    …Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford spitting in the Denver Broncos' tunnel is raising eyebrows.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    caught spittingMore neutral: seen spitting

    The word “caught” implies wrongdoing or covert behavior rather than simply being recorded on video.

    Matthew Stafford caught spitting in Broncos tunnel after controversial Rams loss

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Words quoted from someone else (2)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    Rams got robbedMore neutral: Controversial penalty overturns Rams interception

    Presents a contested officiating dispute as a definitive injustice, even though framed as a quotation.

    ‘Rams got robbed’: Controversial call that may have changed everything in brutal Broncos loss

    Quoted byNew York Post (Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    notoriousMore neutral: known for (describe)

    Judgement of reputation as fact.

    …LeBron James and James Harden, widely considered among the NBA's most notorious and frequent floppers.

    Quoted byABC News (Left)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

3 outlets

Leads with

  • pregame team narratives and viewing logistics
  • the game’s place within a record-setting slate of close finishes across the NFL

Leaves out

  • the controversial pass interference call on Josh Wallace
  • Stafford’s postgame spitting video

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 3 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • ABC NewsLeftAssociated Press report

    A late flag, a wiped out interception and Pat Bryant's blunt admission after Broncos-Rams thriller

    Pat Bryant's acting skills have drawn comparisons to famous sports "floppers."

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    The dozen games that turned Week 3 into one of the wildest in NFL history

    Two seconds remained in regulation in Denver.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The GuardianLeft

    NFL today: How to watch Rams v Broncos, TV channels & live stream

    How will the Rams and Broncos fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options The Rams may have just needed a change in continent. …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • the surprising nature of Denver’s comeback win
  • placement within a wider weekly recap

Leaves out

  • details of the disputed pass interference call
  • Stafford’s pick-six and postgame spitting incident

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • BBC NewsCenter

    Broncos deny Rams and Seahawks lose - five things from NFL week three

    The NFL produced another thrilling day of action with a Sensational language“shock for the defending Super Bowl champions”Uses 'shock' to characterize the result with drama rather than neutrally stating the outcome.More neutral: unexpected loss for the defending Super Bowl championsDisagree with this highlight? and several tight finishes.

    Read at BBC News (opens in a new tab)

From the right

2 outlets

Leads with

  • the disputed pass interference penalty
  • the Rams’ second-half collapse
  • Stafford’s turnovers and postgame conduct
See the 2 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    8 hr 19 min later

    Its first report, Sep 27, 4:00 PM EDT

  • Center

    18 hr 53 min later

    Its first report, Sep 28, 2:33 AM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Sep 27, 7:41 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightSep 27, 7:41 AM EDT
  2. The GuardianLeftSep 27, 4:00 PM EDT
  3. Fox NewsFar RightSep 28, 12:26 AM EDT
  4. BBC NewsCenterSep 28, 2:33 AM EDT
  5. NBC NewsLeftSep 28, 9:00 AM EDT
  6. ABC NewsLeftSep 29, 7:20 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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