Bijan Robinson, Matthew Stafford among Falcons-Rams winners, losers
After an emotional overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week, the Los Angeles Rams performed like their minds were still in the Pacific Northwest.
The Rams were upset 27-24 by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.
A Jessie Bates pick-six got Atlanta out to a surprising 14-0 second-quarter lead. Then Bijan Robinson put his imprint on the game with a 93-yard touchdown run to break the game open.
Atlanta led 21-0 at halftime. However, the Rams rallied back in the second half.
Jared Verse had a block field goal touchdown return and Puka Nacua produced a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 24-24.
The Falcons got the football back with under three minutes in the fourth quarter and managed to put together a game-winning drive that was capped off by a 51-yard field goal by kicker Zane Gonzalez.
It’s Atlanta’s third straight win and the playoff-bound Rams have lost two in a row.
Winners
Bijan Robinson is a shining star
With the Falcons backed up near their own end zone, the Falcons called a run play to Robinson.
Robinson made a defender miss in the backfield, found a hole, sliced through the second level of the Rams’ defense, and raced down the field for a 93-yard touchdown.
It was the longest run of Robinson’s career and the longest touchdown run in Falcons franchise history. It also represented the fourth-longest touchdown run in ‘Monday Night Football’ history, per the ESPN broadcast.
Robinson leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage. He compiled 195 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. The Falcons’ versatile running back had five catches for 34 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.
Robinson produced 229 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the win. He was the best player on the field.
Falcons safeties Jessie Bates, rookie Xavier Watts
Matthew Stafford threw a high pass that was intended for WR Konata Mumpfield. The football hit Mumpfield’s outstretched hands and went right to Bates. Bates returned the football 34 yards to the house to give Atlanta a surprising 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Rams LB Jared Verse
The Rams’ Pro Bowl edge rusher got the team back into the game when he blocked Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal, picked up the football, and ran for a 76-yard touchdown. The score cut the Rams’ deficit to 24-17.
It was the first block field goal return for a touchdown for the Rams since 1986, per the ESPN broadcast.
Special teams have been a sore spot for the Rams all season. Sean McVay fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn and replaced him with Ben Kotwica earlier this month.
Losers
MVP candidate Matthew Stafford has an off night
Stafford is a leading candidate for NFL MVP, but Bijan Robinson performed like the MVP on Monday.
Stafford threw two interceptions in the first half. One interception came on a high pass and the other INT came on a deep pass that was a 50-50 ball.
The Rams quarterback tossed a third interception in the fourth quarter.
Stafford also missed a wide-open WR Xavier Smith on a play where Smith could’ve scored a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Smith would’ve at least put Los Angeles in position for a game-tying field goal.
Rams run defense
Remember when Saquon Barkley rushed for 460 yards and four touchdowns in two games versus the Rams, including the playoffs, last year? Bijan Robinson had a comparable performance. Robinson rushed for a 93-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He compiled 195 rushing yards and one rushing TD on 22 carries.
The Rams came into Week 17 allowing 105.7 rushing yards per game, ranking 12th in the NFL. Los Angeles gave up 219 rushing yards in the loss.
The Rams could face Barkley and the Eagles in the wild-card round. Or a Bears team that ranks third in the league in rushing.
Rams’ offense missed two linemen, Davante Adams
The Rams were without starting offensive linemen Alaric Jackson and Kevin Dotson and Adams at wide receiver due to injuries.
The Rams could’ve used Adams’ scoring prowess in the red zone. Adams leads the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions and Los Angeles went scoreless in the first half – going 1-3 in the red zone.
What loss means for Rams
The Rams are in sixth position in the NFC playoff race. They still have a slim chance to move up to the fifth seed. The Rams can still get the fifth seed if the San Francisco 49ers lose to the Seattle Seahawks.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
