12/01/2025
The Broncos are already scheduled to play the Rams in Denver in 2026. However, week 17 could be Broncos at Rams due to the interconference matchup for week 17. If the Rams and Broncos, both finish in first place this year, that would set week 17 at sofi. That would be crazy to play both LA teams twice in the same year. In other words the Broncos COULD have 4 games against LA next year.
✅ Why a double Broncos–Rams matchup IS possible in 2026
1. The 2026 rotation is already set: AFC West vs NFC West
That guarantees:
Rams @ Broncos in 2026
The home/away flip sends the Rams to Denver.
That’s locked in.
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2. The 17th-game rules do not prevent repeat opponents
The NFL’s 17th game:
Matches AFC West vs NFC West again, but
By standings from the previous year (2025)
And in 2026 the NFC hosts the 17th game
This means the Rams would host the AFC West team they get paired with.
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🎯 If the Broncos and Rams finish in the same divisional standing in 2025…
Then the 17th game becomes:
Broncos @ Rams — at SoFi Stadium
Even though they already played each other that same season.
The NFL has no rule preventing two interconference games between the same teams in the same year.
We’ve seen similar double-matchups before in the divisional context, but interconference duplicates are simply rare due to math — not prohibited.
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🧮 So the 2026 possibilities look like this:
✔ Guaranteed:
Rams @ Broncos (rotation game)
✔ Possible:
Broncos @ Rams (17th-game standings-based matchup)
For the second game to happen:
Team AFC West / NFC West Finish in 2025 Result
Broncos SAME finish as Rams (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) → 17th game vs each other
Rams SAME finish as Broncos → Game hosted by Rams at SoFi
