Studs and Duds from the Falcons' Monday night win over the Rams

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The Atlanta Falcons seem to have turned a corner in recent weeks. With nothing to play for, the Falcons showed their worth by defeating the Los Angeles Rams in a colossal upset on Monday Night Football.

If not for the Rams returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the second half, Monday's game might have been a blowout. Instead, Atlanta had to settle for a 27-24 victory, the team's third straight win.

Before we look ahead to next week's season finale against the New Orleans Saints, here are the studs and duds from the Falcons' prime-time win over the Rams.

Stud: RB Bijan Robinson

Bijan showed once again how important he is to not just the offense, but to the team as a whole. Robinson carried the football for 195 yards and a touchdown. He also added another touchdown and 34 more yards to his total as a receiver. Robinson has now surpassed future Hall of Fame running back Christian McCaffrey in total yards from scrimmage before the age of 25.

Stud: Safety Jessie Bates III

Bates' early pick-six changed the dynamic of the game and showed the Falcons weren't going to lay down even though they had nothing to play for. He also added seven tackles on the game. While Bates isn't having his best season, he was locked in on Monday night and is still one of best playmakers in the NFL.

Stud: Safety Xavier Watts

Safety Xavier Watts was a ball hawk all night, intercepting Matthew Stafford twice and nearly returning his second pick for a touchdown. Stafford entered the game having thrown just five interceptions all season, but he left Monday night with three more added to his total.

Stud: EDGE Khalid Kareem

Elevated off the practice squad just a few hours before the game, edge rusher Khalid Kareem had an impact. The veteran stuffed a fourth-down rushing attempt in the red zone in the first quarter. This was an important stop as the Falcons opened the game with a touchdown and the Rams were threatening to tie it up at seven. Instead, Atlanta went on a 21-0 run. Kareem's big hit set the tone for the Falcons' big game.

Stud: LB Divine Deablo

Linebacker Divine Deablo was all over the field, finishing with a game-high 10 tackles in Week 17. Deablo has been reliable when he's on the field. Plus, his versatility has allowed Jeff Ulbrich to mix up his looks. The Falcons have made a ton of progress on defense and Deablo been one of the team's best offseason additions.

Dud: Falcons' slow start to 2025 season

Monday's win was a frustrating reminder of what could have been if the Falcons had played better earlier in the season. This team gave away so many close games that it's bittersweet to see them upset a playoff-bound Rams team.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons defeat Rams: Studs and duds from NFL Week 17 win

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