ATLANTA – The Rams (11-5) fell to the Falcons 27-24 on Monday Night Football.

Tied 24-24 with 2:46 left in the fourth quarter after quarterback Matthew Stafford's 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Puka Nacua, the Rams still had all three of their timeouts left and needed a defensive stop after rallying from a 21-point deficit. The Falcons (7-9) reached the Rams' 33-yard line to attempt a 51-yard field goal, and kicker Zane Gonzalez converted to give the Falcons the lead 27-24 with 21 seconds left.

On the ensuing series, Stafford just missed wide receiver Xavier Smith on a completion that would've put L.A. in Atlanta territory, and nearly had a completion to Nacua that would've done the same, with Nacua making what appeared to be an improbable one-handed catch, but the initial ruling of an incomplete pass was upheld upon further review. Stafford tried to hit Nacua deep right on the final play of the game, but the pass was incomplete.

Stafford finished 22 for 38 passing for 269 yards and two touchdowns against three interceptions, passing Ben Roethlisberger for 8th on the NFL's all-time career passing touchdowns list and for sixth on the NFL's career passing yards list.

Here is the complete game recap:

After forcing the Falcons to open on the opening series, Smith returned it 31 yards to the Rams' 42, but the big play was negated by an illegal block in the back penalty against the Rams. Forced to start from their own 6 as a result, the Rams initially had a third-down conversion on a Stafford completion to wide receiver Konata Mumpfield, until officials determined the catch was made short of the line to gain. Thus, the two teams traded three-and-outs to start.

Atlanta found its footing on a methodical second drive that was capped by a four-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Robinson take a 7-0 lead with 6:11 left in the first quarter. Los Angeles' ensuing drive stalled at the Atlanta 11 after Kyren Williams was tackled for a loss of two yards on 4th and 1 from the Falcons' 11.

The ensuing offensive series dug the Rams into a deeper hole, as Stafford's overthrown third-down pass over the middle intended for Mumpfield was too high and landed in the arms of Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, who returned the interception 34 yards for a touchdown to push the Rams' deficit to 14 with 8:30 left in the second quarter.

With Atlanta pinned back deep in their own territory after wide receiver Jordan Whittington downed an Ethan Evans punt at the Falcons 1-yard line, the Rams' defense capitalized and forced them to go 3-and-out.

However, on the ensuing drive, Stafford was intercepted a second time, as his deep pass intended for Smith was intercepted by Falcons safety Xavier Watts. The next play, Robinson took off for a 93-yard touchdown run – almost untouched – to put Atlanta up 21-0 with 1:28 left in the first half.

The Rams used an explosive 38-yard return by Whittington on the opening kickoff of the second half, and a 36-yard completion from Stafford to Smith, to quickly move into Falcons territory, but after Stafford was sacked on third down, they were forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis, cutting their deficit to 18 early in the third quarter.

The Falcons answered with a 56-yard field goal to regain a 21-point lead with 7:46 left in the third quarter, but the Rams responded with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Terrance Ferguson to make it a two-possession game on the next series.

Then, Los Angeles blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by Gonzalez, and outside linebacker Jared Verse returned it 76 yards for a touchdown to cut L.A.'s deficit to 24-17 with 31 seconds left in the third quarter.

Getting the ball back with a chance to tie early in the fourth quarter, Stafford was intercepted for a third time – second by Watts – as the Rams went for it on 4th and 2 from the Falcons 27. Watts' ensuing 32 yard return brought Atlanta to the Los Angeles 42, but Atlanta had to start the next series at their 28 after it drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The Rams had another chance to tie the game on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Nacua, but the play was negated by a holding penalty on D.J. Humphries. A 22-yard run by Williams after a 16-yard pass from Stafford to tight end Colby Parkinson made up for it, putting the Rams at the Falcons 11. Then, Stafford fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to Nacua to tie the game 24-24 with 2:46 left in the fourth quarter.

After Gonzalez's 51-yard field goal attempt put Atlanta ahead 27-24 with 21 seconds left, L.A. was unable to move the ball into Atlanta territory for a potential game-tying field goal, sealing the loss.