ATLANTA — The Rams already knew they were going to make the playoffs, which is a tall order for any team.
The trend is shaping up to be especially difficult for the Rams, who just a few weeks ago seemed like the class of the NFC, if not the NFL.
Not anymore.
The Rams looked like a team going nowhere for much of Monday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Or another interested in making it to the end of the regular season before making the playoffs.
They overcame a 21-point deficit to level the score, but Zane Gonzalez's 51-yard field goal. with 21 seconds left sent the Rams to defeat 27-24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It was the Rams' second straight loss, both coming on the road.
Heading into Sunday's regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals at Sophie Stadium, their record fell to 11-5.
The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers will play on Saturday for the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The Rams are seeded sixth in the NFC. If the Seahawks beat the 49ers and the Rams beat the Cardinals, the Rams could move up to fifth.
But that may not matter unless the Rams start playing better on the road.
Four of the five losses – to Philadelphia, Carolina, Seattle and Atlanta – came on the road.
Just a few weeks ago, the Rams were leading the NFC. They looked like the best team in the NFL.
But that was before they lost 38-37 in overtime in Seattle. The Rams lost back-to-back road games for the first time since the 2024 season, when they lost the opener in overtime in Detroit and then were swept in Arizona.
Rams cornerback Matthew Stafford tries to avoid a jumper from Atlanta Falcons linebacker Khalid Kareem during the second half of the Rams' 27-24 loss Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
(Brynn Anderson/Associated Press)
Rams quarterback Stafford passed Ben Roethlisberger for sixth place on the NFL's all-time passing list, but there was little to celebrate on what may have been an MVP-winning night.
Stafford completed 22 of 38 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, but three passes were intercepted, including one that was returned for a touchdown.
The first half was a nightmare for Stafford, who entered the game with a league-leading 40 touchdown passes and just five interceptions.
After the Falcons punted Kyren Williams on fourth-and-1 at the Falcons' 11-yard line in the first quarter, Jessie Bates III returned an interception for a touchdown in the second. Xavier Watts also passed the ball.
The Falcons sacked Stafford on the final play of the first half, and the Rams went into the locker room with a 21-0 lead.
On the first play of the second half, the Falcons sacked Stafford again.
But Harrison Mevis kicked a field goal early in the third quarter to bring the Rams within 14 points on Stafford's 27-yard pass to rookie Terrence Ferguson with five minutes left in the quarter.
Then, with less than a minute left in the quarter, Jared Wehrs blocked a field goal attempt and returned the ball 76 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 24-17.
The Rams' chances of a comeback appeared to be over when Watts intercepted another pass with just over nine minutes remaining.
But the Rams got the ball back and Stafford connected with Puka Nacua for an apparent 41-yard touchdown. But the game was tied up due to a holding penalty.
Rams coach Sean McVay talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford during the fourth quarter Monday against the Falcons.
(Kevin K. Cox/Getty Images)
Williams made several key plays to set up Stafford's 11-yard pass to Nacua that tied the game with 2:46 left.
Gonzalez's field goal put the Falcons ahead by three.
Stafford got the ball one last time, but missed Xavier Smith on the route, and Tutu Atwell and Nacua couldn't complete deep passes. With five seconds left, Stafford's pass to Nacua fell incomplete.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and also caught a pass for the Falcons (7-9).
