Rams vs Falcons Live Game Thread

ATLANTA, GA -- The Los Angeles Rams will be on the road facing off against their previous defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, and his Atlanta Falcons. This will be the last time the Rams are on primetime this regular season, and there's a lot at stake.

For starters, the Rams own the first-round pick of the Falcons for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The Falcons have won three of their last five games, and that poses a threat to the Rams' having a top-ten pick in the draft. What do they have to look out for in order to secure the win?

What To Look Out For

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay smiles after a touchdown by wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half at State Farm Stadium on Dec 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This will be the second straight week of the Rams not having Davante Adams on the field, as his regular season is likely over. On top of him being doubtful for today's game, Alaric Jackson and Kevin Dotson won't be suiting up either.

A big storyline of this game will be how if Falcons' gamble in the draft will pay off. They traded their first-round pick to bolster their defensive line, but they've allowed the tenth most rushing yards in the NFL. However, they're second in the league when it comes to sacks.

Keep a close eye on James Pearce Jr., as he's looking to prove to the Falcons that the risk they took was worth it. With how depleted their offensive line is, Matthew Stafford will have to identify the pressure and get the ball out quickly if he doesn't want to get taken down for multiple sacks.

Another storyline to look out for will be the battle for the MVP. Drake Maye is Stafford's biggest competitor for the award, and he just had an ultra-efficient game where he tormented the New York Jets defense with five passing touchdowns.

Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Stafford needs to respond with a big game of his own, or he jeopardizes his chances of winning his first MVP award in his career. Puka Nacua had one of the best games from a wide receiver this season against the Seattle Seahawks, and he's looking to continue his stellar season against a secondary that has multiple starters on the IR.

Morris was just on Sean McVay's coaching staff last season, so it'll be interesting to see how these elite offensive/defensive minds battle it out on the field with adjustments. The Rams need a bounce-back win after missing out on the number one seed in the NFC. The Falcons are the perfect team to do that.

The game kicks off at 5:15 PM PST / 8:15 PM EST and can be watched on ESPN!

Be sure to follow along with our live game thread for updates throughout the contest.

START OF THE FIRST QUARTER:

PENALTY: Rams CB Roger McCreary commits an illegal block above the waist penalty on the Falcons punt

PENALTY: Falcons OL Chris Lindstrom's false start penalty sets them back 5 yards

BIG PLAY: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins hits Falcons WR David Sills V for a 20-yard completion

SCORING UPDATE NO. 1: Cousins floats a ball to Falcons RB Bijan Robinson for a 4-yard touchdown catch, Falcons lead early 7 - 0

PENALTY: Falcons LB Ronnie Harrison Jr.'s illegal use of hands penalty gives the Rams offense a new set of downs

TURNOVER: Rams RB Kyren Williams rushes the ball on 4th down, and the Falcons make a key stop in the red zone. They turn the ball over on downs

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Rams down 7 - 0

START OF THE SECOND QUARTER:

PENALTY: Falcons OL Elijah Wilkinson's false start penalty gives the Rams offense a new set of downs

SCORING UPDATE NO. 2: Falcons DB Jessie Bates III picks off Stafford and returns it for a 34-yard pick six, Falcons lead 14 - 0

BIG PLAY: Stafford finds Rams TE Terrance Ferguson for a 27-yard catch

PENALTY: Rams OL D.J. Humphries's illegal formation penalty erases a big catch from Rams WR Puka Nacua

INJURY: Rams RB Blake Corum is seen wincing on the sideline

PENALTY: Cousins' delay of the game penalty sets the Falcons offense back to the start of their goal line

INJURY UPDATE: Corum is headed to the locker room, questionable to return with an ankle injury

2 MINUTE WARNING

INTERCEPTION: Falcons DB Xavier Watts picks off Stafford for his second interception of the game, offensive pass interference penalty on Rams WR Xavier Smith is declined

SCORING UPDATE NO. 3: Robinson runs for a 93-yard touchdown run, Falcons lead 21 - 0

SACK: Falcons DT Ruke Orhorhoro gets the first sack of the game, taking Stafford down for a loss of 9 yards

HALFTIME: Rams down 21 - 0

START OF THE THIRD QUARTER:

SACK: Falcons DT Brandon Dorlus takes Stafford down for a 7-yard sack

BIG PLAY: The Rams go for it on 4th down, and this time they convert. A 36-yard play from Smith moves the chains

INJURY: Dorlus is down on the field

SACK: Falcons LB Leonard Floyd takes Stafford down for their defense's third sack of the game, a loss of 5 yards

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4: Rams K Harrison Mevis nails a 35-yard field goal to get the Rams on the board, Rams down 21 - 3

BIG PLAY: Robinson's first touch of the second-half results in a 31-yard rush

PENALTY: Wilkinson picks up another false start penalty to set the Falcons offense back 5 yards

SCORING UPDATE NO. 5: Falcons K Zane Gonzalez makes a 56-yard field goal to extend the Falcons lead, Rams down 24 - 3

SCORING UPDATE NO. 6: Ferguson catches the Rams' first touchdown of the game, a 27-yard strike from Stafford to cut into the Falcons lead, Rams down 24 - 10

BIG PLAY: Falcons WR Darnell Mooney gets wide open for a 22-yard catch, Rams DE Desjuan Johnson's roughing the passer penalty adds an additional 15 yards

SCORING UPDATE NO. 6: Rams DE Jared Verse blocks a field goal attempt and returns it for 76-yards and the defensive touchdown, Rams down 24 - 17

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Rams down 24 - 17

START OF THE FOURTH QUARTER:

BIG PLAY: Williams rushes for 21 yards, setting up the Rams with good field position

PENALTY: Falcons LB James Pearce Jr's defensive offside penalty erases a fumble recovery from the Falcons defense

INTERCEPTION: Watts picks off Stafford for the second time this game on a 4th down try, and returns it back 32 yards

PENALTY: Unsportsmanlike conduct on the Falcons bench pushes them back 15 yards

BIG PLAY: Stafford finds Williams, and he takes it in the open field for 21-yards

PENALTY: Humphries offensive holding erases another big play from Nacua, a touchdown reception is coming back

BIG PLAY: The Rams continue to lean on Williams, and he keeps giving them a reason to, a 22-yard rush gets them into the red zone

SCORING UPDATE NO. 7: Nacua catches another touchdown catch on the same drive, an 11-yard catch and run to tie the game 24 - 24

2 MINUTE WARNING

BIG PLAY: Robinson picks up 10 yards on a crucial third down conversion, putting them in field goal range

SCORING UPDATE NO. 8: Gonzalez nails a 51-yard field goal to give the Falcons the lead with 20 seconds left in the game, Rams down 27 - 24

TURNOVER: With the game on the line, Stafford throws a duck to Nacua, ending the game

END OF THE GAME

The Rams lose to the Falcons 27 - 24, dropping them down to 11 - 5.