The Atlanta Falcons secured a 27-24 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the final "Monday Night Football" game of 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, The Athletic reports. The home team reclaimed the lead late in the fourth quarter to withstand a furious rally by the visitors. Matthew Stafford generated one final opportunity, delivering a pass to Tutu Atwell that fell incomplete despite potential interference, leaving the Rams with a single desperation play.
Stafford attempted to locate an unguarded Xavier Smith to maneuver into field goal territory but missed the target. The Athletic noted that the connection might have resulted in a touchdown. The dramatic conclusion followed a clutch sequence where Zane Gonzalez converted a 51-yard field goal with just 21 seconds remaining on the clock, leaving Los Angeles with insufficient time to orchestrate a miracle response.
Prior to the winning kick, the Rams defense held firm, stopping three consecutive runs by Tyler Allgier to force the field goal attempt. The sequence was set up by Bijan Robinson, who stumbled for a short gain before taking a pitch 10 yards into scoring range. The drive heightened tension in Atlanta, with significant playoff and MVP implications at stake.
The Rams had earlier equalized the contest at 24-24 when Puka Nacua scored on a screen pass, capping a run of 21 unanswered points. The Athletic highlighted that the comeback occurred despite a holding penalty on DJ Humphries that nullified a previous touchdown pass to Nacua. Kyren Williams also contributed significantly, rushing for key gains to position the offense for the tying score.
Atlanta's defense, though fatigued, managed to secure the win. The Athletic observed that turnovers plagued Stafford throughout the evening, including an interception by Xavier Watts that was returned to the 43-yard line. Although a fumble by Stafford was negated by a defensive offside penalty on James Pearce Jr., the Rams struggled to overcome earlier mistakes, including a 21-0 halftime deficit.
Special teams played a volatile role in the contest. While Gonzalez hit the winner, an earlier 37-yard attempt was blocked by Jared Verse and returned 78 yards for a touchdown, breathing life into the Rams' efforts. The Athletic described the play as another failure for Raheem Morris' unit, though the Falcons ultimately survived the error.
Bijan Robinson delivered a historic performance, establishing a new franchise record for single-season rushing yards. His night included a spectacular 93-yard touchdown run in the second quarter where he evaded Jared Verse and outran the defense. The Athletic praised his ability to make even short gains look impressive, noting he was the engine of the Atlanta offense.
Stafford's MVP candidacy may have suffered damage during the sloppy first half, where he completed just 9 of 17 passes for 96 yards and two interceptions. One of those turnovers was a pick-six by Jessie Bates III, who returned a high throw 34 yards to establish a 14-0 lead. The Athletic noted that Stafford's attempts to force plays into double coverage backfired repeatedly.
Fan reaction to the rollercoaster game was mixed. Homer P stated, "I just don't want to see at any point Atlanta leading 28-3." Stacey R noted, "The Rams apparently can't win against the NFC South....geez, I'm having flashbacks with game against Carolina." Omar B added, "Bijan is so good." Patrick M commented, "Bad night for Stafford to throw away the MVP. Might as well play the second string and get ready for the playoffs." You can share your views via the "Discuss" tab.
Despite the loss, the Rams showed resilience by utilizing rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson for a 27-yard touchdown to break the shutout in the third quarter. However, the early deficit proved too steep. The Athletic reported that Atlanta defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich won the early strategic battle by utilizing three linebackers to confuse the Los Angeles protection schemes.
The game concluded with Bijan Robinson finding a rhythm on a screen pass to move the chains, according to the final update from the first quarter provided by The Athletic. The Falcons' ability to establish the run early and convert late ultimately decided the outcome.
