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Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons may not make it to the NFL playoffs, but they certainly won’t send him to finish the 2025 season.
A prime example of the effort the Falcons will need to make to close out the year can be summed up in a 93-yard touchdown run by the electric Robinson, whose big play helped Atlanta defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 27-24, on “Monday Night Football.”
The Falcons improved to 7-9 with just one game remaining in Week 18, but the Rams’ loss keeps them as the No. 6 seed in the NFC heading into January.
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Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
As a result, head coach Sean McVay may sit all of his starters next week against the Arizona Cardinals to ensure their health ahead of the Wild Card round against the No. 3 seed, which has yet to be determined.
This game saw an unusual offense from Matthew Stafford and the Rams early on, especially considering what they were able to do on the road against a tough Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 16.
But the Falcons group was up for the challenge, which included key turnovers in the first half.
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After Robinson scored on third-and-goal with a pass from Kirk Cousins to make the score 7-0, the Falcons had the Rams turn the ball over on downs, as Blake Corum was gobbled up on a fourth-and-one play in Atlanta territory.
Then, the next time the Rams had the ball, Stafford lofted an errant pass over Konata Mumpfield’s head and landed in the arms of veteran safety Jessie Bates III, who went the distance for Stafford’s third pick-six allowed since Week 13.
With a 14-0 lead, the Rams were desperately trying to score a few points before halftime, and Stafford decided to throw the ball to Xavier Smith down the field in the second quarter. Once again, the Falcons came up with the interception, this time Xavier Watts jumping the route for the pick.
The Falcons only needed one play at their own seven-yard line, as Robinson found the seam he needed and it was off to the races. A 21-0 halftime lead was the result of a shocking development at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but Los Angeles has proven all season that it’s never out of a game.
The tide turned after the Rams finally found the end zone, with Terrence Ferguson catching a 27-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to make it a 24-10 game.
The Falcons were hoping to get three more points on the board after driving on the ensuing possession, but Jared Verse changed everything when he not only blocked Zane Gonzalez’s field goal attempt, but scooped it up and ran 76 yards the other way.
Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Instead of a 27-10 lead for the Falcons, they were facing a 24-17 ball game heading into the fourth quarter.
The Rams completed the comeback after Puka Nacua, who would have had his typical production if not for a few flags negating some receptions, took a Stafford screen from 11 yards out to tie it at 24 apiece with 2:46 left.
There was more than enough time to rectify the lost lead, and Gonzalez had a chance from 51 yards out to seal the victory. This time, neither Verse nor any defender got through, as Gonzalez split the uprights to take a three-point lead.
The Rams still had a few seconds left to do something, and it almost looked like they were going to shoot after Nacua completed a one-handed pass and went out of bounds. But upon closer inspection, the ball moved as he tried to secure it, and it was already out of bounds.
The pass was ruled incomplete and the Rams were unable to get the points needed to earn the victory.
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In box scoring, Robinson’s day was great with 195 yards on 22 carries along with five catches for 34 yards and his two touchdowns. Cousins was just 13 of 20 for 126 yards with his touchdown to Robinson truly carrying the offense in the victory.
For the Rams, Stafford was 22 of 38 for 269 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while Smith led the team with 67 receiving yards. The Falcons defense held Nacua to just 47 yards on five catches despite having 10 targets.
