Former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett had a rough night in his third NFL exhibition game Saturday. So rough that his best moment may have been when he made a tackle and forced a fumble after throwing an interception.
Bennett tossed two interceptions and completed just four of nine passes for 14 yards as his Rams lost to the Broncos 41-0 in Denver.
Bennett was picked off by Denver’s Drew Sanders and Essang Bassey. But Bennett did not give up while Sanders was returning his interception, made a tackle and forced a fumble. But the Broncos recovered.
The Rams (0-3) sat QB Matthew Stafford and several other starters the entire preseason. Bennett competed with Brett Rypien for the No. 2 QB job. Rypien was 7 of 13 for 67 yards with no TDs or interceptions Saturday.
Undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin scored his fourth touchdown of the preseason and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam caught seven passes for 109 yards and a TD for Denver.
Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham directed Denver to scores on its first five drives. Wearing white uniforms at home for the first time in 20 years, the Broncos built a 27-0 halftime lead after lighting up their mammoth new scoreboard, the gemstone of a $100 million offseason stadium upgrade.
Stidham was 17 of 28 for 236 yards, one TD and no interceptions or sacks in his half of play.
The game marked the Broncos’ first taste of success under coach Sean Payton, who grumbled over last-minute one-point exhibition losses at Arizona and San Francisco.
The Broncos (1-2) sat Russell Wilson and most of their starters most of the preseason, too.
The Rams open the regular season at Seattle on Sept. 10.
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