Why the Broncos Should Feel Confident Against Rams’ Myles Garrett in 2026
The NFL landscape shifted dramatically when the Los Angeles Rams acquired two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns.
Pairing Garrett with an already talented Rams roster immediately elevated Los Angeles into the conversation as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LXI. For the Denver Broncos, however, the blockbuster trade creates an intriguing challenge much earlier than February.
The Broncos will host the Rams on Sunday Night Football in Week 3 of the 2026 season, setting up Garrett’s sixth career matchup against Denver.
On paper, that sounds like a nightmare.
In reality, the Broncos have quietly put together a surprisingly effective track record against one of the most disruptive defenders of his generation.
Across five career games against Denver, Garrett has recorded just 13 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. Even more impressive, he has been held without a sack in four of those five meetings.
The disparity becomes even more notable when compared to Garrett’s overall body of work. Across 134 career games, Garrett has accumulated 125.5 sacks, an average of 0.94 sacks per game. Against the Broncos, that figure drops to just 0.30 sacks per contest.
Garrett’s numbers become even more surprising when looking beyond sacks. He has produced only four quarterback hits against Denver across those five contests, a modest total for a player who routinely wrecks opposing game plans.
The Broncos’ previous success against Garrett won't guarantee anything in 2026, but having a premier left tackle in Garett Bolles protecting Bo Nix’s blind side certainly gives Denver reason for optimism.
Bolles established himself as one of the best left tackles in the NFL last season, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection. Across more than 1,100 snaps, Bolles did not allow a single sack and finished the 2025 campaign with a 90.8 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest mark among all NFL offensive linemen.
Few offensive tackles are equipped to handle Garrett one-on-one for extended stretches. Bolles is one of them.
That doesn’t mean the challenge will be easy.
Garrett is entering one of the NFL’s most favorable situations for a pass rusher. While Los Angeles was forced to part ways with two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse to complete the trade, the Rams still boast an impressive collection of talent along their defensive front.
Pro Bowl edge rusher Byron Young has developed into a premier pass-rushing threat, while defensive tackle Kobie Turner has emerged as one of the NFL’s most disruptive defensive linemen. Veteran nose tackle Poona Ford adds another proven piece to a defensive line that should consistently create pressure.
The depth of talent surrounding Garrett could make him even more dangerous. Offensive lines won’t be able to focus exclusively on slowing him down without accounting for the other proven playmakers along Los Angeles’ defensive front.
Even so, the Broncos will enter this matchup with legitimate reasons for confidence.
Denver’s confidence is rooted in more than optimism. The Broncos have already demonstrated an ability to slow Garrett down over multiple meetings, and they’ll do so behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. With Bolles anchoring the left side and a unit that has developed into one of the league’s strengths, Denver is better equipped than most teams to withstand the challenge Garrett presents.
The Rams became a tougher opponent the moment they acquired one of football’s most dominant defenders.
But if history is any indication, the Broncos won’t be intimidated.
They've tamed Myles Garrett before.
And they’ll have an opportunity to do it again under the lights in Week 3.
