ATLANTA — Kicker Zane Gonzalez made a last-minute 51-yard field goal to solidify the Atlanta Falcons' Week 17 win Monday against the Los Angeles Rams inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Final score: 27-24
Why it's important: The Falcons have now won three games in a row for the first time this season, and none during that streak was bigger than the one Monday night. Coaches and players alike wanted to end this season on a high note regardless of playoff circumstances. This victory keeps those hopes alive with one game left.
Key takeaway: This is a massive win for the Falcons, as the Rams entered with an 11-4 record that already had them bound for the playoffs. Since Sean McVay became the Rams head coach in 2017, Los Angeles has made the playoffs in now seven of the nine seasons. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris worked for McVay from 2021-23 and explained in Week 17 how that experience set his standards in Atlanta. Morris admitted it'll take time to consistently reach those standards, but Monday's win shows positive strides are being made.
- More: The Falcons are good in prime time, improving their record to 4-1 this season with the nation watching.
Key moment: Falcons safety Xavier Watts' second-quarter interception set up the offense at Atlanta's own 7-yard line. From there, all it took was handing running back Bijan Robinson the ball. He ran it 93 yards to the end zone. The touchdown put the Falcons up 21-0 — a three-score lead they took into halftime. That cushion was important given the Rams' offense ranked first in scoring.
- More: It was the Falcons' largest point differential in a first half since 2017. It was the first time the Rams were held scoreless in any half this season.
Standout performance: Bijan Robinson. The third-year running back set the Falcons' single-season record for yards from scrimmage. His 229 yards against the Rams put him at 2,255 this season. The record was previously 2,176 yards from scrimmage, set by running back Williams Andrews in 1983. Robinson needed 151 yards to break it.
Number to know: 3. The number of interceptions Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw. Falcons veteran safety Jessie Bates III turned his into a pick six with a 34-yard return in the second quarter. Falcons rookie safety Xavier Watts made an interception in the second quarter and in the fourth quarter. It was the first time this season Stafford threw more than two interceptions.
Player milestones:
- Cornerback C.J. Henderson got his first start for the Falcons with Mike Hughes out for the second consecutive game with an ankle injury. Henderson was signed to the active roster off the practice squad on the Saturday of Week 16 and played the next day. In fact, Henderson had a late interception that solidified the Falcons’ win against the Arizona Cardinals.
- Running back Bijan Robinson scored on a 4-yard reception in the first quarter, giving him four receiving touchdowns this season, which ties his single-season high from 2023. It was also his 10th touchdown overall this season, making him one of six Falcons running backs all-time to score at least 10 scrimmage touchdowns in multiple seasons. He had 15 in 2024.
- Robinson's 93-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter marked the Falcons' longest rushing touchdown since 1991. It's also the longest run by any player this season, topping the Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylors' 83-yard run against the Falcons in Berlin.
- Robinson broke San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey's record for most yards from scrimmage under the age of 24 in NFL history. McCaffrey had 5,443. Robinson is at 5,605.
- Punter Bradley Pinion pinned three punts inside the 20-yard line, giving him 32 punts as such this season. That is a single-season franchise record.
- Safety Jessie Bates III scored on a 34-yard pick-six in the second quarter. He has returned one interception for a touchdown in each of his three seasons with the Falcons. He's the fourth Falcons player all-time to record at least three pick-sixes, joining Deion Jones, Kevin Mathis and Deion Sanders.
- Safety Xavier Watts caught his fourth and fifth career interceptions in the second and fourth quarters. He tied and then surpassed Kenny Johnson for the most interceptions by a rookie safety in team history. Johnson had four in 1980.
Injury updates:
- Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. was deemed questionable to return at halftime due to an ankle injury.
- Defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus had to be helped off the field by two athletic trainers in the third quarter and was later ruled out with a knee injury.
A quick tweet: Tori McElhaney, Will McFadden and Terrin Waack share their gut reactions to Monday's outcome in 280 characters or fewer.
- McElhaney: I swear this game had everything. Record-breaking runs, blocked field goals, interceptions, sacks, what more could you want on a Monday night?
- McFadden: This was going to be a post about how good Jessie Bates is, but Xavier Watts intercepted it.
- Waack: That game had multiple jaw-dropping moments.
Setting the storylines:
- Week 17: Inactives | Practice squad elevation
- Running back Bijan Robinson has been on pace to break the Falcons' single-season record for scrimmage yards. He was 151 yards away entering Monday's game.
- Robinson and right guard Chris Lindstrom were named to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games last week. It's Robinson's second consecutive trip, and Lindstrom's fourth.
- Raheem Morris spent three seasons with the Rams prior to becoming the Falcons' head coach. He's using lessons learned from Rams head coach Sean McVay to shape his vision in Atlanta.
- One of the NFL expert picks compiled each week predicted the Falcons would beat the Rams.
- Catch up on all the news that came out in the lead-up to Monday night's game here.
Looking forward: The Falcons close their 2025 regular season at home against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. The time and date were solidified last Sunday.
