It’s a late-season matchup with subplots galore.
The Rams’ sport towards the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium pits a number of of the NFL’s closest teaching buddies towards one another with playoff and draft positions, job safety and probably the most useful participant award on the road.
The Rams are 11-4 and coming off a crushing 38-37 extra time defeat by the Seattle Seahawks. The loss knocked the Rams out of the No. 1 seed within the NFC and dropped them to No. 6 with two video games left.
“It’s thrilling as a result of that is the chance for us to come back again and have a response,” star receiver Puka Nacua mentioned, including, “That is the chance to indicate that we’ve improved and we realized from that have.”
-
Share through
Gary Klein breaks down every part you should know heading into Monday night time’s matchup between the Rams and the Atlanta Falcons.
The Rams end the season subsequent Sunday towards the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.
“We’ve got two weeks left in it,” coach Sean McVay mentioned. “I really like the way in which everyone has maximized each single day. These scars will be your power should you use them appropriately.
“With this group I acquired a humorous feeling that that’s precisely the place we’re headed.”
The Rams shall be on the street for the playoffs as both the No. 5 or 6 seed after victories by the Seahawks (13-3) and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday eradicated them from rivalry for the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed.
The ultimate stretch begins with McVay, defensive coordinator Chris Shula and offensive coordinator Mike Lafleur dealing with off towards Falcons coach Raheem Morris, the previous Rams defensive coordinator who helped them win Tremendous Bowl LVI.
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson additionally coached below McVay.
McVay and Shula each have described Morris as one among their finest buddies and mentors.
“I’m fairly positive all our youngsters’ furnishings comes from his home as a result of we adopted them,” Shula mentioned final week.
Morris coached with the Rams from 2021 to 2023. He instructed Atlanta reporters final week that the Rams have “an all palms on deck” mentality and that he has tried to implement related methods.
“We’ve positively mimicked and mocked numerous issues that they do,” he mentioned.
The Rams, nonetheless, might make a troublesome season for Morris much more uncomfortable.
Sean McVay will attempt to lead the Rams to the No. 1 seed within the NFC.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
The Falcons have gained two video games in a row however are 6-9 and out of the playoffs. If the Rams beat them Monday, Morris’ future with the Falcons turns into extra unsure.
And the Rams have extra to achieve than only a potential No. 5 seed.
Throughout this yr’s draft, because the Rams contemplated how they may leverage the No. 26 choose, the Falcons gave the Rams their 2026 first-round choose so they might draft edge rusher James Pearce Jr. That primarily made the Rams the most important winner of the draft as a result of it gave them two 2026 first-round picks to probably store for an eventual alternative for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
On one stage, the deal labored out for each groups. The Rams chosen tight finish Terrance Ferguson within the second spherical, and Pearce has come on to document 8½ sacks. However every Falcons defeat strikes the Rams increased within the draft. Going into Monday, the Rams have the No. 11 choose and one other choose at No. 25 or decrease.
McVay acknowledged the Rams’ improved draft capital however mentioned it could don’t have any impact on how they method the sport.
“Means down the road for me to even take into consideration that stuff,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, Stafford just isn’t enjoying like a quarterback able to retire or get replaced. The Seventeenth-year professional, already among the many high 10 in a number of all-time passing classes, leads the NFL with 40 landing passes.
He’s a front-runner to win his first most useful participant award, and an excellent efficiency in a Monday night time showcase might seal it.
Will Stafford’s scenario affect McVay’s play-calling?
“Should you’re saying, ‘Am I going to decide that I believe wouldn’t be finest for our crew in that scenario?’ No, I’d by no means try this,” McVay mentioned, including, “The nice factor is he’s in that dialog as a result of he’s performed nice. That hasn’t affected any of the decision-making.
“When he’s doing his factor, that’s good for our soccer crew and that’s all he has to do is proceed to play like he’s able to. Normally, these issues have a approach of working themselves out in the event that they’re presupposed to.”
