The Atlanta Falcons have known for the better part of December that they won't be playing in the postseason for the eighth straight year. Atlanta (7-9) also will post an eighth consecutive losing record after a five-game midseason losing streak dug a hole too deep to emerge from -- even in the unimpressive NFC South.

The Los Angeles Rams' sluggish start to Monday's tussle in Atlanta, coming off 11 days' rest, led to a second consecutive loss and has Sean McVay's club staring at a more difficult postseason path.

On the very next play, Stafford tried to hit Puka Nacua near the sidelines, as Nacua appeared to make an outstanding, one-handed catch before falling out-of-bounds.