Postgame
The offense was solid, not spectacular for Atlanta, but their defense gets the gold star tonight. Next week they’ll head to Philadelphia for a compelling divisional round game in a challenging stadium, licking their chops, knowing that the Eagles don’t have their top man in the quarterback position.
As for LA, it’s a disappointing climax to an encouraging, even breakthrough season. They’re a well coached outfit with a ton of upside: they’ll be back.
And so will we, tomorrow, for more live coverage of this wild card round. Until then, wherever you are, good morning, afternoon and goodnight.
Falcons 26-13 Rams, final
The Rams offense fails to live up to its prolific regular season, while Atlanta buckle down and get a win on the road in a cozy, warm environment, which is very nice for a dome team.
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 1:08 4th quarter
Goff throws a knuckleball towards Woods who can’t make the play and Atlanta take over on downs.
As they say...and that’ll do it.
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 1:12 4th quarter
LA call their final timeout facing a 4th & 6.
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 1:28 4th quarter
LA nearly block the punt, and Cooper nearly muffs the catch. The Rams are at the 50.
Now they sputter through two plays and face a 3rd & 10.
Updated
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 1:53 4th quarter
NBC TV in the US show that Watkins was clearly held on that play, which means they shold have had more shots at the endszone, but alas.
The Rams are about to get the ball back with one timeout left.
Updated
Two minute warning
Freeman runs for three yards and we head to the warning. LA have three timeouts that will drag it this game on for a bit as Rams fans move from one parking lot to 110, which is another parking lot.
Updated
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 2:05 4th quarter
Goff throws to Watkins in the endzone, but it’s broken up! Deion Jones got his hand in and made the play! Falcons take over and put a bow on it.
Updated
NO TOUCHDOWN! Call reversed
So it’s 4th & goal on the five yard line.
TOUCHDOWN? Play under review
Tight end Tyler Higbee made the catch in the middle of the endzone...but it doesn’t look like he kept control!
Big decision from the officials - if it’s overturned it will be 4th & goal.
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 2:16 4th quarter
Goff looking for Woods on the left side of the endzone - incomplete!
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 2:22 4th quarter
Big third down coming up. Goff has a man but he’s short and they have to go for it.
Goff finds Woods who juggles for a bit before grabbing the ball and getting out of bounds.
It’s 2nd & goal...
Falcons 26-13 Rams, 4:17 4th quarter
On 2nd & 10, Goff is in the shotgun: then we have whistles, a false start on LA.
So now it’s 2nd & 15, and bad mistakes here for the Rams...
Now Goff finds Higbee, who makes a series of moves that equal a big gain and a first down...except there’s a blindside block that costs them 15 yards. It was Woods, who jumped offsides on the prior play.
So, that’s a pity for LA, because it’s all piling up for the upstarts...until Goff finds Watkins for a first down! Big play there for LA. They’re on the Falcons 37.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 26-13 Rams, 5:43 4th quarter
Ryan, throwing off his back foot, and nearly slipping, airs out a floater to Jones who makes the catch! Touchdown Atlanta, who are in a great spot to advance now!
Updated
Falcons 19-13 Rams, 6:15 4th quarter
Ryan, a screen to Sanu, who runs, and RUNS! Even though one Falcon misses a block Sanu goes 52 yards through open sapce and that is an enormous play in LA!
1st & goal from the Rams 10!
Falcons 19-13 Rams, 7:45 4th quarter
Ryan moves left, pumps and throws complete to Hooper. Big play! Time ticks! Flacons on their 41.
Falcons 19-13 Rams, 8:54 4th quarter
Ryan finds Jones again, and a little head fake earns the wideout a first down. Super classy from Jones there. That’s his eighth catch of the night.
Now Ryan is rolling right and finds Coleman, who falls down making the catch, gets up and gets a few more yards. The turf has obviously been an issue in LA.
Coleman on 2nd & 2 loses a yard trying to find space on the outside.
Big 3rd & 3 here.
FIELD GOAL! Falcons 19-13 Rams, 10:49 4th quarter
It’s good, and it’s a one score game again. So now LA needs to not let Atlanta hold onto the ball for a long possession, which has been the trend.
Falcons 19-10 Rams, 10:54 4th quarter
After Goff is sacked, it’s 3rd & 14 and another key down here for LA.
Goff waits for the snap, but they give it to Malcom Brown, who runs on an interesting call - 11 yards, setting up a 32-yard field goal attempt.
Falcons 19-10 Rams, 12:53 4th quarter
We begin the 4th quarter, and on 2nd & 15, Goff misfires looking for Kupp.
Then, there’s life, and it’s Woods again, who has saved the Rams’ bacon on many occasion tonight. Goff kept steady in the pocket, found his man, and that’s a huge conversion on 3rd & long.
Now Gurley, with feeling! He bursts to his left, in between tackles for 14 yards, and...MORE GURLEY!
This time he runs left for 33 yards: huge swaths of space for the back to roam!
Rams at the 17!
Falcons 19-10 Rams, end of 3rd quarter
The Rams start out their second possession of this quarter, right after Cooper fumbled the kickoff again. Lucky for him the play was blown dead.
The quarter ends after Gurley makes a catch and is pushed back for five yards.
Is it right to say LA need to start making some plays? How is that for analysis!
FIELD GOAL! Falcons 19-10 Rams, 0:19 3rd quarter
Wow! It’s good! Three big points makes it a two score game.
Ryan is 4/4 on field goals tonight: that was his longest, and he has 13 of Atlanta’s 19 points tonight (you can check the math).
Updated
Falcons 16-10 Rams, 0:24 3rd quarter
Ryan, in the shotgun - throws, incomplete, broken up by Hill, looking for Sanu.
Ryan is on for a 54-yard attempt!
Falcons 16-10 Rams, 0:38 3rd quarter
Ryan, play-action, rolls right, throws and has a man. It’s Hardy for just three yards on a play that felt like a long journey.
It’s now a big 3rd & 6.
Falcons 16-10 Rams, 2:38 3rd quarter
Jones makes a catch over the middle and then wills himself for extra yards, dragging men with him. He’s up to 74 yards now, this catch is for 16, and Atlanta are on the move up to the Rams 40.
Falcons 16-10 Rams, 5:11 3rd quarter
On 3rd & long: Gurley drops a screen pass that ends the Ram drive.
That steam LA gathered towards the end of the first half has dissipated.
Hekker kicks it away and Atlanta start on their 19.
Falcons 16-10 Rams, 5:22 3rd quarter
Cooper manages to hang on to the kickoff return and LA start at their 26.
Goff looks for Kupp on the sideline, incomplete.
Now Goff is in the shotgun, and has boatloads of time, but still can’t find a receiver as he throws to no one over the middle.
It’s 3rd & 10. Shotgun again, Goff steps up in a busy pocket and somehow hits Woods on the sideline over the outstretched hands of Desmond Trufant. Fantastic play with zero margin for error.
That’s a huge play because it gives LA’s defense more time to rest.
Rams at the Falcons 46.
FIELD GOAL! Falcons 16-10 Rams, 6:45 3rd quarter
Bryant is good from 25, Atlanta extend their lead in a drive that kept LA’s diminished defense out there for some time.
Falcons 13-10 Rams, 6:48 3rd quarter
Play-action: Ryan fires to his left and has Jones but he is hit immediately by Countess! Great play.
It’s 3rd & goal.
Ryan, has time but throws off his back foot, incomplete towards the back of the endzone.
So 13 plays, 76 yards and 8:15 and no TD. Here’s comes Bryant.
Falcons 13-10 Rams, 7:54 3rd quarter
Coleman has a head of steam and a first down at LA’s nine-yard line.
Now Freeman tries to go wide on the near side but is pushed out of bounds for little gain.
Safety Lamarcus Joyner is banged up on the play, another key Rams player, this time in the secondary, is shaken up. Injury timeout.
Second and goal.
Falcons 13-10 Rams, 9:02 3rd quarter
Coleman has it, barrels forward, and is wrapped up! He’s short of a first down and Atlanta will go for it!
Ryan falls forward and converts, keeping the drive alive.
Good possession for Atlanta, they’re on nine plays so far.
Falcons 13-10 Rams, 10:50 3rd quarter
Atlanta, perhaps because is Broackers out, are starting to punish on the ground. Freeman, 10 yards, then again for four. The Falcons are moving and it’s 3rd & 1 on the Rams 21.
Falcons 13-10 Rams, 12:22 3rd quarter
On 3rd & 9, Coleman has a screen pass from Ryan, then Alec Ogletree has an opportunity to shut down the play and misses the tackle! Coleman streaks ahead for a first down, and the Falcons drive is alive as they operate from their own 41.
Brockers meanwhile, is out of this game, and that’s a substantial loss.
We're back
The Falcons have the ball and start from their 17.
Some quick numbers:
Ryan, 11/16 for 86 yards, Goff 10/19 127 TD.
Freeman, 10 carries for 42 yards, Gurley, eight carries for 45.
Woods, five catches for 80, Jones, four catches for 44.
Rams, two turnovers, or they might be up in this game!
Travis Giblin writes:
“Hey David,
It looks like you’re in some serious need for companytonight.
Well, I’m here for you. Should we discuss our favourite Christmas present? Mine was a cigar from my mother in law.
Best Simpsons episode? Clearly it’s Homer the Great, also known as The Stonecutters. But we should probably discuss the feebleness of the Chiefs, shouldn’t we?...”
Oh Andy Reid. He deserves his own Simpsons episode, doesn’t he?
In case you missed it...
That’s Marcus Mariota throwing a block that helped his Titans ice their comeback victory over the Chiefs.
Not bad.
Marcus Mariota out here blocking for @KingHenry_2 😯 #TitanUp #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/jo46rHhQoo
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2018
Falcons 13-10 Rams, halftime
That’ll do it for a half that actually became interesting as the Rams found their feet, held onto the ball and rediscovered their offense.
That means we should have something to talk about when we resume, and that’s a good thing.
Stick with us.
FIELD GOAL! Falcons 13-10 Rams, 0:03 2nd quarter
So the kicker Ficken, who was apparently working at a brokerage firm a few weeks ago, at least according to NBC TV in the US, and I have no reason to not believe them, kicks the chip shot and the Rams are within three.
Falcons 13-7 Rams, 0:14 2nd quarter
So the pass to Gurley is ruled incomplete, which is actually good for LA. It pushes them to the seven but there’s 14 seconds on the clock now instead of five.
I know, I know.
So Goff rolls out and fires incomplete, but there’s offensive holding on the play. So now the Rams are probably going to kick a field goal and call it a half.
Play under review, again!
The play stands - it’s seven consecutive completions for the Rams QB, this one to Woods was for 38 yards. LA are operating from the Falcons seven.
Now Goff finds Gurley for a short gain but time is ticking. They stop the clock - there’s an offsides penalty on the defense.
But wait...was the Gurley catch actually a catch? Now they’re reviewing that play. This is really happening.
Oh boy. The NFL. Oh man.
There are five seconds left and if the play stands, the Rams are on the two.
Updated
Play under review
Goff looks downfield, way downfield and links up with Woods - it’s a tremendous diving catch by the receiver....but was it a catch? To me it looks clean but who knows these days.
Falcons 13-7 Rams, 0:43 2nd quarter
Goff is looking for the tight end Everett, incomplete - he wants a flag and he gets it!
That puts the Rams on their 45 but they have no timeouts!
Falcons 13-7 Rams, 0:48 2nd quarter
Offensive holding on the punt backs up the Rams to their 14.
Meanwhile Ryan has a cut on the back of his head - a thigh pad to the back of his helmet. He’s being evaluated and we will watch that very closely.
Back on the field: Goff has the Rams on their 31.
Falcons 13-7 Rams, 1:15 2nd quarter
Freeman is hit hard by linebacker Mark Barron on a four-yard gain, but then the Falcons go backwards.
Ryan slips on the turf: an ugly, awkward fall that could have ended much worse for Atlanta after taking a hit by Fox.
3rd & 16 and Ryan is on the run again - Fox, playing in place of Brockers has the second sack on this drive and that’s a huge shut down possession for the Rams defense.
And this is what we call a momentum swing.
You've been warned
We’re at the two minute warning. It’s 1st & 10 at Atlanta’s 23 for the Falcons.
Brockers
The defensive tackle hurt his knee, which is better than his head for sure. But NBC TV here in the US say he’s got an ice pack on it, and his teammates are patting him on the back, which could mean anything. If he doesn’t return, that smarts for LA’s defense.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 13-7 Rams, 2:34 2nd quarter
Goff finds Kupp streaking to the corner of the endzone, has Goff’s offering and the Rams are on the board!
The Rams finally have some fluidity on offense: seven plays, 79 yards in 3:05 if you’re keeping score at home.
Game on.
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 2:56 2nd quarter
Brown powers ahead on second down, it’s for around three yards, and it sets up a huge 3rd & 5.
Updated
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 3:36 2nd quarter
Goff, steps back, makes coffee, reads the paper, watches a film and then finds Kupp over the middle for 15 down to the 19 of Atlanta. Here come the Rams!
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 4:36 2nd quarter
Gurley is away, he springs free down the near sideline! It’s a 26-yard gain, by fair his biggest of the night. And there’s gravy for LA: a personal foul by Kazee! All in it is a 41-yard haul and it puts LA on Atlanta 34!
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 5:39 2nd quarter
Ryan, from the shotgun, under pressure, in trouble, and on the turf! Donald is involved, so is Brockers.
LA holds.
Brockers is shaken up on the play - it looked like a head collision between two defenders. He walks off on his own power.
Bosher kicks, Cooper has it, buys some time, but can’t find the space to breakout and is down at the 21. Here comes Goff looking to make a bit of headway for the uncharacteristically offensively challenged Rams.
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 6:35 2nd quarter
Sanu has a quick reception on the near side for a first down as Atlanta’s offense continues to seek out that high gear we saw so much of last season.
A two yard run by Coleman. A catch over the middle by Cooper, and it’s 3rd & 3 from Atlanta’s 31.
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 8:34 2nd quarter
On 2nd & 10 Gurely is stuffed once more...and then on third down, Goff, from the shotgun, is blitzed by Campbell, who makes soup out of the Rams QB. Goff is forced to rush his incomplete pass and LA’s drive stalls.
Atlanta will start from their 13 after a fair catch call by McQuaide.
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 9:10 2nd quarter
It’s 3rd & 12. Goff is back, fires, and has Woods again! This time it’s for 15 yards and another Rams first down! They’re across midfield, somehow.
Falcons 13-0 Rams, 9:41 2nd quarter
Gurley, right up the middle with feeling, is quickly wrapped up for no gain.
Goff, in the shotgun has daylight! Robert Woods - a 17-yard reception on the far side, and that’s at least a little life for LA.
And then Gurley slips in the backfield for a loss of three.
And then Gurley drops a screen pass.
Oh boy.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 13-0 Rams, 11:34 2nd quarter
Freeman is pushing hard, along with his center, Alex Mack who helps him seal the deal and find the endzone! So that fumble means Atlanta have 10 points directly attributed to Pharoh Cooper, who has been a plague for LA thus far.
I’m here all night. Really.
Considering Goff is 1/5 for three yards, 13-0 feels like a lot more.
Falcons 6-0 Rams, 11:40 2nd quarter
The Rams want to talk it over, calling for time after LA’s head coach Sean McVay streaked down the sideline, rather aggressively to make sure everyone knew what he wanted.
Falcons 6-0 Rams, 11:59 2nd quarter
On second down, Coleman has a screen pass and runs for six yards setting up a 3rd & 4.
Now Ryan has the tight end Hooper over the middle for a first down! It’s 1st & goal at the Rams seven yard line.
Falcons 6-0 Rams, 13:51 2nd quarter
Ryan, quick pump, throw and completion to Sanu on the near side for a big first down!
Falcons approaching the red zone here.
Falcons 6-0 Rams, end of 1st quarter
Freemen ends the quarter with a power run to his left for seven yards, setting up a third and short for Atlanta when we return.
A little gut check time here for LA.
FUMBLE!
Cooper loses the ball on the kickoff return and now has his hands in two Rams turnovers! Kazee popped the pill away from the pro-bowler and now Atlanta will start from LA’s 32!
FIELD GOAL! Falcons 6-0 Rams, 1:22 1st quarter
Bryant’s kick is good. The Falcons go 57 yards in nine plays over 4:12 to tack on another three points.
Falcons 3-0 Rams, 1:29 1st quarter
It’s 3rd & 6 - Ryan momentarily buys some time with a step to his right before firing incomplete.
It’ll be a 51-yard field goal attempt from Bryant.
Falcons 3-0 Rams, 1:39 1st quarter
Jones has it again, this time on an end around for 13 yards - a little razzle dazzle from Atlanta here who have opened it up on this drive.
Now they’re at LA’s 33-yard line!
Falcons 3-0 Rams, 2:53 1st quarter
Freeman jiggles and wiggles, mostly straight ahead for four yards.
Ryan hands off to Freeman again, ahead again, this time for three yards.
It’s 3rd & 3. Some life from the LA crowd. Ryan is in traffic, he jumps as he throws and threads the needle to Sanu who has it in the middle of the field for six yards and a first down.
Now there’s more! Julio Jones out on the near sideline, open, has a 27-yard gain!
Falcons 3-0 Rams, 5:41 1st quarter
It’s 3rd & 7, Goff has time, hangs in the pocket, looks for Kupp who is running a little post route over the middle and...fires incomplete.
LA have to kick it away, again, and they do to, all the way down to the Atlanta 10 where McQuaide is calling for a fair catch.
Ho hum. Anybody got any recipes?
Falcons 3-0 Rams, 5:47 1st quarter
A low block, personal foul by Kazee pushes the Rams up to their 32 to start their possession.
Then a neutral zone penalty on first down makes it first and five, before, low-and-behold, Gurley fires up the middle for vive yards and a FIRST DOWN!
Holy smokes!
FIELD GOAL! Falcons 3-0 Rams, 7:13 1st quarter
Matt Bryant, who must be 340 years old, is true on the 29-yard chip shot and the Rams turnover translates into three points, which tonight, feels like 73.
Falcons 0-0 Rams, 7:22 1st quarter
A short run by Coleman and an incomplete pass before Ryan is tackled after more Rams pressure on third down.
No first down, again, but here comes the field goal unit.
Atlanta have it!
LaRoy Reynolds made the recovery and now that it’s finally official, after a very very long and totally unnecessary review, the Falcons start from LA’s 17-yard line!
Will we see a first down?
Play under review!
The punt looks to have hit the foot of Blake Countess, and the Falcons have pounced on the pill after the ensuing mayhem. If the review holds up the Falcons will have great field possession in what would be a huge early break for Atlanta! Stand by.
Falcons 0-0 Rams, 8:56 1st quarter
Devonta Freeman is going backwards, a loss of three. Then Ryan can’t find anyone open and runs back to the line of scrimmage.
Third down, and Ryan is fighting for space in the pocket - he steps up and finds Freeman, who is hit immediately and crushed, ending another drive without a first down!
Here comes the kicking unit.
Updated
Falcons 0-0 Rams, 10:55 1st quarter
Todd Gurley bursts outside, streaking towards the far sideline and streaking for seven yards to start the Rams out here.
Then a play-action and Goff is looking for Cooper Kuff over the middle: it’s incomplete.
Then on 3rd & 2, Takk McKinley has LA’s QB in his grasp and throws him to the turf - it’s a five-yard sack for Atlanta!
We’re first-down-less thus far, but I have hope!
Atlanta start on their 10 after the punt.
Updated
Falcons 0-0 Rams, 12:26 1st quarter
All eyes on Aaron Donald, interior lineman who is heading to a fourth consecutive pro-bowl.
Ryan can only find Julio Jones for a six-yard gain on third down, and the Falcons also have themselves a rough first possession, three and out.
Matt Bosher kicks it away and LA will begin on their 46.
Falcons 0-0 Rams, 13:16 1st quarter
Todd Gurley pushes up the middle for four yards before Goff misfires to his running back on a play-action screen pass gone wrong. It’s 3rd & 6.
Blitz coming, Goff steps up, runs to his left and stumbles after losing a yard - a dud of a first possession for LA.
The good news? Johnny Hekker’s punt pins down Atlanta who begin on their six-yard line.
Kickoff!
And away we go - a touchback gets us going as LA begin form their own 25-yard line.
LA back in the NFL playoffs fold
They must be pumped up out there in La La Land, getting set for their first post-season match-up since inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1994. Except that you could reportedly get tickets for below face value today, and as of yesterday, there were over 3000 tickets were available for about $78 a head.
Now that’s a town starving for NFL football.
That lack of enthusiasm however shouldn’t detract from what is truly a great NFL story - an afterthought of a team that flipped a 4-12 record a season ago into 11 wins and the franchises first postseason visit since 2004. Their face is Jared Goff, a big time draft bust of an NFL quarterback, until he wasn’t, until he emerged from a bag of well seasoned marinade and broght a rich winning flavor to LA, throwing 28 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.
They are young, hungry, and seemingly going a different direction to the Falcons, sufferers of a sensational Super Bowl stumble at the hands of the Patriots a season ago. They haven’t been quite right since, and at the moment, are quite a contrast to their competition.
Rams host Falcons tonight in first NFL playoff game played in LA since Jan. 9, 1994, when Raiders hosted Broncos at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Rams had largest scoring increase in NFL from last season (+15.9 PPG) while Falcons had largest decrease (-11.7 PPG).
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2018
Those are some telling numbers, which will mean zero if the Rams shrink in the spotlight as Atlanta recapture their lost magic in the coming hours.
We’re about to find out together. The Olympic flame has been lit at the old yard, and we’re about to kickoff.
Earlier
Wow: Andy Reid has done it again!
Or he hasn’t done it again, as in advancing his team in the NFL playoffs.
In spectacular fashion, the Chiefs melted down inside their freezing Arrowhead Stadium, where some 76,000 of their fans watched their men blow a 21-3 lead to the Titans.
Travis Kelce caught a touchdown pass from Alex Smith as the first half wound down, a play that brought them six points but cost them their ace tight end, lost for the game with a concussion.
From there, the unraveling that led KC to their fifth consecutive home playoff defeat came to fruition with help from Marcus Mariota, who threw two TD passes, sandwiched by a 35-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry.
Mariota, asked by ESPN TV after the game, what changed at halftime in the locker room, the QB replied: nothing, that’s what’s so impressive about this team. And perhaps that’s right because they’ve ripped away what looked like a sure thing from the Chiefs.
Now the Titans will travel to face the “united” Patriots, providing the Jaguars beat the Bills. Otherwise they’ll get the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
So that’s a thriller to start us off on Wild Card Saturday, what will LA and Atlanta have for us? Kickoff is approaching.
Hola!
Welcome to our coverage of the Atlanta Falcons’ visit to the historic environs of Los Angeles Coliseum, home of the upstart Rams.
If you love football, this is the crown jewel of your NFL season: eight high stakes playoff encounters in two weeks as we whittle through the remaining 12-pack of contenders.
The goal?
A trip to the cozy US Bank Stadium in frigid Minneapolis and Super Bowl LII, which my handy Roman numeral translator says will be the 52nd edition of the big game.
Here’s another goal for these next few weeks: for the NFL to somehow start to salvage the spectacular disaster that has been their 2017-18 season.
A sizzling series of post-season games won’t make people forget the mess: the next level of CTE controversies, to kneel or not to kneel, a pile on by the president, the commissioners would-be private jet for life, Papa John, and ratings that dropped to the lowest levels since 2008, just to name a few of the issues.
But it could help.
A solid playoffs and a feel good sendoff to the NFL’s annus horribilis, and maybe, just maybe, the league will start to feel a little bit like Jimmy Garoppolo’s San Francisco 49ers, whose sinking season flipped dramatically in its final weeks.
What happens over the next 30 days could indeed help set the tone for a league in bad need of a bounce-back. Up second - and we’ll have more on what came first during this wild card weekend in a moment - are the Falcons and Rams who will kick off shortly.
Until then feel free to make any and all predictions about this game, and really about anything you like. Tweet it out to @lengeldavid or email email me to your hearts content.
Until then, please stand by.
Updated
David will be here shortly.
