Los Angeles @ Atlanta preview
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jan 6, 2018 ) Atlanta 26, L.A. Rams 13
The Los Angeles Rams have dug themselves an early hole in the NFC West standings, and they need a road win over the struggling Atlanta Falcons on Sunday to avoid falling farther behind. The Rams hope a lineup bolstered by three trades this week will be able to send the Falcons to a fifth consecutive loss.
The Rams have lost three straight following a 3-0 start, as the defense was gashed in high-scoring losses to Tampa Bay and Seattle before the offense sputtered in a 20-7 setback against San Francisco last week. Los Angeles made three moves to try to address some weaknesses as it acquired star cornerback Jalen Ramsey from Jacksonville, center Austin Corbett from Cleveland and linebacker Kenny Young, who came over from Baltimore for cornerback Marcus Peters. Atlanta has dropped four straight, but two of the defeats were by fewer than four points - including a heartbreaking 34-33 loss at Arizona last week. The Falcons have won four straight meetings with the Rams, including a 42-14 rout in the most recent clash in 2016.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Rams -3. O/U: 54.5
ABOUT THE RAMS (3-3): Los Angeles is coming off a dismal offensive effort against the 49ers as it gained just 157 total yards, including 48 through the air. But the Rams still rank sixth in the league in passing and 10th in scoring, and Jared Goff should be able to get the offense back on track against an Atlanta defense that has struggled. The Rams’ defense has been decent but was burned through the air by Tampa Bay and gashed on the ground in Seattle.
ABOUT THE FALCONS (1-5): Atlanta’s passing game still is a force, as it ranks second in the NFL after Matt Ryan was 30-of-36 for 356 yards and four touchdowns last week. Julio Jones recorded his third 100-yard performance of the season last Sunday and tight end Austin Hooper has become one of Ryan’s favorite targets, but Atlanta’s ground attack has been non-existent. The defense has been equally bad, ranking 26th in total defense, 27th against the pass and 31st in scoring defense.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Ryan has joined Kurt Warner and Steve Young as the only players in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards in each of their team’s first six games of a season.
2. Rams WR Cooper Kupp has recorded at least nine receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in each of his last two road contests.
3. Hooper leads all NFL tight ends in receptions (42), ranks second in receiving yards (480) and is tied for second in touchdown catches (three).
PREDICTION: Rams 27, Falcons 24