Hufanga seals Broncos comeback against Rams on day of close NFL finishes

The Denver Broncos recovered from a 16-point half-time deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 on Sunday, with safety Talanoa Hufanga making two decisive interceptions in the closing stages. BBC Sport reported that the game featured three lead changes in the final five minutes, ending when Hufanga stopped Matt Stafford's last attempt to win it.

Watch the highlights:

Los Angeles controlled the opening half and took a 16-0 advantage into the break. Denver erased that deficit in the third quarter, bringing together two teams that had lost last season's conference championship games. Both had also followed disappointing opening games this season with victories the previous week before meeting in Denver.

Hufanga's first late interception became a 66-yard touchdown return, putting the Broncos ahead and beginning the final sequence of lead changes. Stafford, last season's Most Valuable Player, answered quickly. In a little more than a minute, he moved the Rams downfield and connected with Konata Mumpfield for a 48-yard touchdown that restored the visitors' lead.

Bo Nix then finished Denver's next long drive by reaching the ball into the end zone, leaving Stafford 47 seconds to respond. The Rams quarterback again advanced his team into position. With two seconds remaining, Los Angeles had an opportunity from 19 yards out, but Hufanga intercepted the pass to secure Denver's victory rather than allow another late reversal.

The result capped a Sunday in which 12 of 14 games were settled by margins of eight points or fewer, matching the NFL record for one-score games in a day, according to BBC Sport. Among the other close results, Washington beat defending Super Bowl champions Seattle 33-31. Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes, while Kain Medrano's 50-yard interception return helped end the Seahawks' 12-game winning streak.

Baltimore also won a dramatic contest, beating Dallas 34-31 in the NFL's first game in Rio de Janeiro. After a Cowboys field goal tied the score with seven seconds left, Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to set up Tyler Loop's winning 56-yard kick as time expired. That result left all four AFC North teams with 2-1 records.