Falcons edge Rams in wildly entertaining 'Monday Night Football' game

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ATLANTA — Weird stuff.

One team is headed to the NFC playoffs, led by a quarterback who might bag the first NFL MVP award of his career.

The other team was eliminated from the playoff race a couple of weeks ago, amid swirling speculation about the job security of key powerbrokers.

So, what good was that equation?

Well, when you add Falcons wonder back Bijan Robinson to the mix, anything can happen.

And it did.

Backed by Robinson’s 195-yard rushing showcase – which included a scintillating 93-yard touchdown run – the Atlanta Falcons stunned the Los Angeles Rams, 27-24, in a display of theatre that kept on giving.

The winning points came on a 51-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez with 21 seconds left. But even after that, the Rams had a chance to force overtime.

How crazy was it?

Matthew Stafford, the LA QB who might be MVP, threw three interceptions and still nearly won.

Oh, that tricky NFL. What a show.

There was a pick-6, as Falcons safety Jessie Bates III went 34 yards to the house. Rams linebacker Jared Verse one-upped that by blocking a Gonzalez field goal try late in the third quarter and returning it 76 yards for a touchdown.

There was an amazing catch by Puka Nacua (who else?) between two defenders for an apparent game-tying 41-yard TD in the fourth quarter ... except it was nullified.

Then Nacua’s apparent catch in the final seconds, which might have set up a try for a field goal, was, well, confirmed as incomplete by instant replay.

The Falcons (7-9) started off so hot, with Robinson setting the franchise's single-season record for yards from scrimmage (William Andrews) that stood for 43 years. They led 21-0. The festive crowd swagged and surfed. Then they still had to sweat the ending.

And that is just another example of these wild-swinging NFL games.

The Rams (11-5) can relate. In Week 16, they had a 30-14 lead in the fourth quarter at Seattle, then lost 38-37 in overtime. That, after the incredible Week 15 drama that involved the Falcons, who trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 28-14, in the fourth quarter. And won, 29-28.

Speaking of the Bucs, Monday night’s outcome weighed heavily on their chances to claim a fifth straight NFC South crown. Even if the Bucs knock off the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, there’s the prospect of a three-way tie for the division title.

And if the Bucs, Panthers and Falcons – who close against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday – the tiebreaker edge ... and division crown would go to the Panthers.

Go figure.

Of course, with Monday night providing a fresh example, crazy things never cease to happen in the NFL.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X @JarrettBell.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Falcons, Rams put on a show in final MNF game of 2025 NFL season

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