The Rams host the Atlanta Falcons today at 5:30 p.m. at the Coliseum. Keep it here for live updates from the stadium as…
The Rams host the Atlanta Falcons today at 5:30 p.m. at the Coliseum. Keep it here for live updates from the stadium as the Rams go for their first playoff victory since 2005.
The main attraction was the deep-ball possibilities.
After the Rams traded for receiver Sammy Watkins during training camp, Rams coach Sean McVay raved about Watkins’ ability to “stretch the field vertically.”
Watkins occasionally has flashed that skill by blowing past defenders while running a near straight line, but he has been most effective working angles, particularly near the goal line.
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The legend of Sean McVay only grows at the Marist School, a sprawling campus of red-brick buildings tucked into the hilly suburbs just north of Atlanta.
It wasn’t so long ago that the 31-year-old Rams wunderkind — the likely NFL coach of the year — thrilled Marist students and fans, not with his headset wizardry but with his forehead-slapping, ankle-snapping moves as a high school quarterback.
McVay’s game video was like a video game. The bright-eyed kid with straight and shaggy blond hair (not spiked like now) was so good that he was named 2003 State Player of the Year in Georgia, edging future Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson in the process.
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The Rams finished the regular season with the NFL’s highest-scoring offense, averaging 29.9 points per game.
After sitting out last week’s defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, quarterback Jared Goff is looking to pick up where he left off — he passed for a game-winning touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. Goff is completing 62% of his passes, 28 for touchdowns with seven interceptions.
Coach Sean McVay’s decision to keep running back Todd Gurley out of harm’s way last week cost Gurley the NFL rushing title, but Gurley — who has rushed for 1,305 yards and scored an NFL-best 19 touchdowns — has said that he was fine with the decision because McVay has pushed the right buttons all season.
Receivers Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins and Cooper Kupp also sat out last week. The offensive line also should be fresh because left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan did not play against the 49ers in order to rest and heal. Atlanta is giving up 19.7 points per game, which ranks eighth in the NFL.
Falcons linebacker Deion Jones has a team-best 138 tackles and three interceptions. End Adrian Clayborn has 9 1/2 sacks and end Takkarist McKinley has six for a defense that has improved from last season.
The Falcons do not boast the same offense that led the NFL in scoring in 2016.
Former USC coach Steve Sarkisian replaced Kyle Shanahan as offensive coordinator for a unit that is averaging 22.1 points a game (tied for 14th best in the league). But nearly all the key players remain in place.
Quarterback Matt Ryan, the NFL’s 2016 most valuable player, has passed for 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
Running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman have combined to rush for nearly 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns. Coleman also has three touchdown catches, Freeman one. The running backs are two of seven players with 20 or more receptions.
Receiver Julio Jones has a team-best 88 catches for 1,444 yards and three touchdowns. Mohamed Sanu has 67 receptions, five for touchdowns. Tight end Austin Hooper has three touchdown catches.
Tackle Aaron Donald leads the Rams defense, and he and other starters should be rested and ready after sitting out against the 49ers. Donald has 11 sacks, and linebacker Robert Quinn 8 1/2. Linebacker Mark Barron was sidelined for most of the last three games but is expected to return from an Achilles injury. Cornerback Trumaine Johnson will probably match up against Jones.
Sam Ficken bounced back from a rough start in his Rams debut against Tennessee and kicked two field goals against the 49ers. The rookie said he was confident heading into the playoffs.
Johnny Hekker, averaging 47.9 yards per punt, could play a crucial role if he is able to pin the Falcons deep in their territory. Pro Bowl kick returner Pharoh Cooper suffered a shoulder injury last week but is expected to play.
Matt Bryant has made 34 of 39 field-goal attempts for the Falcons. Punter Matt Bosher averages 44.9 yards per kick.
Andre Roberts returns kickoffs and punts.
The Falcons dominated in the first half of last season’s Super Bowl and then suffered an epic second-half collapse. Still, they’ve been here before.
The Rams are in the playoffs for the first time since 2004, but if Gurley gets rolling…
