ATLANTA – In a matchup that lived up to its billing, the St. Louis Rams’ high-octane offense did just enough to outlast the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, coming away with a hard-fought 26–23 road victory at the Georgia Dome.
The defending NFC champions, led by Kurt Warner and the “Greatest Show on Turf”, faced stiff resistance from a Falcons squad eager to make a statement. For much of the afternoon, Atlanta went toe-to-toe with the Rams, trading scores until Warner and Isaac Bruce delivered a dagger as time expired.
Warner’s Precision vs. Falcons’ Punch
Warner, coming off another big week, was sharp again, spreading the ball around with quick timing routes and deep strikes. He threw for over 250 yards, connecting frequently with Isaac Bruce, who finished with more than 100 receiving yards and a spectacular 45-yard catch down the sideline in the second quarter that set up a Marshall Faulk touchdown plunge.
Faulk, the league’s reigning MVP, was his usual dual-threat self. He not only found the end zone on the ground but also caught several key passes out of the backfield, keeping the Falcons’ linebackers guessing all day.
Atlanta, though, wasn’t backing down. Jamal Anderson churned out tough yardage between the tackles, and quarterback Chris Chandler kept the Rams’ secondary on edge with timely completions to Terrance Mathis. Midway through the third quarter, Chandler hit Mathis on a 22-yard strike in the corner of the end zone, giving Atlanta a 17–10 lead and sending the Dome into a frenzy. Jeff Wilkins 41-yard field goal brought the Rams back to within 4 points making it 17-13.
A Wild Fourth Quarter
The Rams continued to chip away at the lead early in the fourth with a Jeff Wilkins 32-yard field goal to make it 17–16. But Atlanta’s kicking game was sharp too: Jay Feely drilled a 38-yarder, then added another from 36 yards to stretch the Falcons’ lead to 23–16 with just under two minutes left.
That left Warner with the ball — and the game in his hands. Starting from his own 25, he strung together completions to Torry Holt and Ricky Proehl, methodically moving the Rams across midfield. With the final seconds ticking away and Atlanta dropping deep to protect against the field goal, Warner pump-faked to Holt and found Bruce streaking on a skinny post. Bruce hauled it in at the 10, cut inside a diving defender, and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3 seconds left on the clock.
The Rams sideline erupted, Wilkins added the PAT, and St. Louis walked away with a 26–23 victory that felt like a playoff preview.
Scoring Summary
- First Quarter STL – Wilkins 32 FG (3–0) ATL – Anderson 4 run (Feely kick) (7–3)
- Second Quarter STL – Faulk 2 run (Wilkins kick) (10–7) ATL – Feely 41 FG (10–10)
- Third Quarter ATL – Mathis 22 pass from Chandler (Feely kick) (17–10) STL – Wilkins 44 FG (17–13)
- Fourth Quarter STL – Wilkins 41 FG (17–16) ATL – Feely 38 FG (20–16) ATL – Feely 36 FG (23–16) STL – Bruce 34 pass from Warner (Wilkins kick) (26–23)
Looking Ahead
With the win, the Rams improved to 4–0, cementing their place atop the NFC hierarchy and keeping their quest to repeat on track. The Falcons, now 3–1, proved they can hang with the league’s elite and will look to build on this gritty performance.
For one afternoon in Atlanta, the Greatest Show on Turf was pushed to the brink. But when it mattered most, Warner and Bruce provided the fireworks that reminded everyone why this Rams offense is feared across the NFL.
4th quarter, under 2 minutes, and somehow the Rams pull out a walk-off TD? Yeah, okay. Let’s talk about that convenient “defensive break” from Atlanta. Seriously, people, OPEN YOUR EYES. This game had “scripted TV drama” written all over it. Remember Super Bowl XXXIV? Refs helping this “Greatest Show on Turf” THEN, too. ALWAYS favoring the big offense for RATINGS. Just LOOK at the track record of the crew officiating today – they were there for that sketchy Thanksgiving game in ’99 as well!! Coincidence???? Ask yourself, WHO PROFITS from this “heroic” Warner-Bruce finish? Follow the money and WAKE UP SHEEPLE.
OMG, the Rams are literally video game on God mode. Kurt Warner’s arm is like a cheat code, and that final drive? Bruce doing his best Odell impression before there was Odell. Falcons def brought the A-game, but Warner and his squad were just like “nah, not today fam.” 🤣 Love how the Rams turned it into a nail-biter just for the drama. If Madden added 200-yard bombs, Warner would hit 3 every game, FACTS. Poor Falcons thought they had it, but the game just handed them an L. Rams are on a turbo boost; who’s stopping them? 👀
Wow, what a game! The Rams are really showing why they’re the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Not that I need more reasons to envy other teams’ quarterbacks when we’re still stuck with the turnover machine known as Vinny Testaverde. If only we had a slice of that Warner magic over here in Jets land. 🙄
There’s something poetic about a duel like this coming down to the wire, though, and as much as I’d rather not think about what happened the last time the Jets were in a nail-biter, let’s talk turkishly. Bruce’s last-second touchdown? Chef’s kiss. Just makes me wish we had someone cutting through defenses like him. But, hey, maybe if Curtis Martin rushed the passer, caught his own passes, and could somehow kick field goals, we’d have a chance!
A hearty congrats to the Rams fans enjoying their win streak, while we continue our valiant, endearing struggle against the forces of despair. At least we have Curtis Martin… how do you think he’d do at QB? 🤔