In Week 17 of the NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams finally lost to the Atlanta Falcons 27-24. The entire season has been filled with big leads, comebacks and all-out chaos, so it was fitting that when the Rams trailed 21-0 and then suddenly found themselves trailing 24-17 at the start of the fourth quarter, you couldn’t predict how this game was going to end.
Ultimately the Falcons found a way to win and the Rams found a way to lose.
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The game couldn’t have started better for the Falcons, with Kirk Cousins draining a field goal to take a 7-0 lead, then Matthew Stafford hitting a 6 to put Los Angeles down 14-0, and then ATL ended the game with a long score from Bijan Robinson to take a 21-0 halftime lead.
Stafford had a total of two picks in the first half and the team was outplayed by the Falcons in all three phases. However, to their credit, the Rams didn’t give up on Sean McVay.
It didn’t happen right away, but eventually the Rams scored on a field goal to make it 24-3, then they added Stafford’s score and Terrance Ferguson to make it 24-10, then the Los Angeles Special Teams and Jared Vissey were able to block Atlanta’s field goal to make it 24-17.
Then, when the Rams had a chance to tie the game, Stafford’s third interception of the game on fourth down (Los Angeles didn’t elect to field goal) gave the Falcons momentum, but the Los Angeles defense forced the ball back and the Rams had another chance.
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Stafford then found Pukanacua for a score, and after the extra point, Los Angeles tied the game at 24-24 with just over 2 minutes left in regulation, essentially the first time all night the Rams didn’t trail.
The Rams couldn’t stop Atlanta from getting into field goal range, and just like that, Los Angeles won 27-24, capping off an almost impressive comeback.
This is a Rams team capable of coming back from a 21-point deficit (although they did lose, they showed a lot of grit), and this is a team that has extended its lead to 16 and 19 points. Despite making some mistakes, they have won 11 games so far.
Whatever they are, whether they’re ready or not, they’re going to make the playoffs.