Rams at Falcons
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TV: ESPN, CBS Atlanta
Line: Rams by 7½
Outlook: The Falcons finish the season with their last two games at home, and they’ll want to establish some momentum heading into the offseason, coming off two straight wins. They could finish the season tied for first in the division, but they don’t hold the tiebreaker.
Pregame reading:
- 5 things to know ahead of the Falcons’ Monday night matchup vs. Rams
- Injury report: Mike Hughes to miss second consecutive game
- Report: Falcons considering Matt Ryan for front-office role
- With two games to play, Falcons need six sacks to break franchise record
- Falcons are hoping to follow Rams’ model to sustained winning
- X-factor: How can the Falcons stop Rams WR Puka Nacua?
- Falcons hoping Michael Penix Jr. can develop into next Matthew Stafford
The Falcons defense had to hold on in the final minute, with a couple of plays that could have made the finish more interesting.
That included what looked to be a catch by Puka Nacua that would have put the Rams in field-goal range, but the ball moved and it was ruled incomplete.
It's a redemption after the Rams' rally, and the defense was the difference in the game.
Check out the Take 5 takeaways
The Falcons got a couple of nice plays on their final drive of regulation, and took a 27-24 lead on a 51-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez with 21 seconds left.
The Rams have rallied in the second half, turning a 21-0 deficit at halftime into a tie game.
Puka Nacua's 11-yard touchdown pass play from Matthew Stafford with 2:52 remaining has knotted the game and the Falcons will have to mount an answer to this run.
Xavier Watts had his second interception of the game, as the Rams were moving into scoring range and knocking on the Falcons' red zone.
He stepped in front of a Matthew Stafford pass and almost returned it for a touchdown, but he stepped out of bounds.
Another Falcons defensive play looks to stem the Rams' momentum, at least for the moment.
The Falcons were attempting a 37-yard field goal to try to push the lead to 27-10.
Not so fast.
The Rams' Jared Verse blocked the field goal, scooped it up and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown, turning the tables on the game, trimming the Falcons' lead to 24-17 near the end of the third quarter.
The Rams finally looked like themselves, putting together a touchdown drive after the Falcons' field goal.
Matthew Stafford found Terrance Ferguson for a 27-yard touchdown pass, getting the Rams within 24-10 with 4:59 left in the third quarter.
The game's not over, and if the Rams continue the way they've done on their first two drives of the second half, there could be more fireworks to come.
The Falcons answered the Rams field goal with a 56-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez. The big play of the drive was a 31-yard run by Bijan Robinson, getting to the Rams' 37.
The Rams opened the third quarter with a drive into Falcons territory, getting to the 12-yard line. But the Falcons got a sack on third down and the Rams were forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal to trim the Falcons' lead to 21-3.
Longest touchdowns in Falcons history:
1. Bijan Robinson 93 yards, tonight
2. Warrick Dunn (90 vs. Giants on Oct. 15, 2006.)
3. Michael Turner (81 vs. Tampa on Jan. 1, 2012.)
4. Robinson (81, vs. Bills on Oct. 13, 2025.)
5. Jerious Norwood (78 vs. Cardinals on Oct. 1, 2006.)
6. Devonta Freeman (75, vs. Saints on Jan. 1, 2017.)
For safety Jessie Bates III, that was this third pick-six with the Falcons. He also had one as rookie with the Bengals. He has four career pick-sixes.
The Falcons PR staff said that all three have occurred when the team was wearing their throwback red helmets.
This story was updated to reflect that the Rams are not in contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
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