The Atlanta Falcons entered Monday night at 6-9 with nothing to play for. They didn’t get that memo against the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams.

Atlanta jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and held off a second-half Rams rally for a thrilling 27-24 win. The Rams tied the game at 24-24 late in the fourth quarter. But the Falcons responded to set up a game-winning field-goal attempt by Zane Gonzalez. He was good from 51 yards to secure the win and stave off a Falcons collapse.

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Late no-call helps secure Falcons’ win

The Rams missed on three deep shots to get into field-goal range in the game’s final 21 seconds. On the second attempt to wide receiver Tutu Atwell, officials missed a potential pass interference call that would have set up the Rams in chip-shot FG range. Cornerback Dee Alford had a hold of Atwell’s left arm, but officials didn’t call pass interference, and the Falcons held on for the win.

Bad night for Stafford’s MVP case

The loss could help keep the playoff-bound Rams in the NFC’s No. 6 seed and block them from the No. 5 spot, which offers a tougher matchup in the wild-card round.

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The No. 5 seed will travel to face the NFC South winner, which will either be the the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The No. 6 seed projects to travel to face either the Philadelphia Eagles or Chicago Bears. Seeding won’t be finalized until the dust settles on Week 18.

Monday’s result also plays a significant factor in two late-season NFL storylines.

The Falcons intercepted Matthew Stafford three times, including a pick 6, delivering a blow to his MVP hopes in what’s largely seen as a two-man race with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. The pick 6 by Jessie Bates III spotted the Falcons a 14-0 lead in the first half.

When the night was over, Stafford completed 22 of 38 passes for 269 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. And it increased his season-long interception total from five to eight.

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One bad night, of course, isn’t going to tank Stafford’s MVP case. But on the heels of Maye’s five-touchdown effort in a blowout of the Jets on Sunday, the MVP race has gotten considerably tighter.

Bucs’ playoff hopes take a hit

The surprise Falcons win is also a threat to the playoff hopes of the Buccaneers. The Bucs play the Panthers on Saturday afternoon in a game that could determine the NFC South champion and the division’s only playoff berth.

But if the Falcons win next Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, Saturday’s Panthers-Bucs result won’t matter. The Panthers would secure the division in the event of a three-way tie with the Falcons and Bucs at 8-9 if Tampa Bay and Atlanta both win next week.

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Big night from Bijan Robinson

The Falcons built their big lead behind a huge first half from Robinson, who tallied 138 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns before the break.

Robinson finished the night with 22 carries for 195 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He added 5 catches for 34 yards and another score. He capped the first half with a 93-yard touchdown run that was set up by Stafford’s second interception and extended the Falcons’ lead to 21-0.

It appeared to put the Falcons in complete control.

Rams rally, but come up short

But the game swung in the second half when Jared Verse blocked a Gonzalez field-goal attempt, then scooped the ball up and returned it 78 yards for a Rams touchdown. Instead of a 27-10 Falcons lead late in the third quarter with a made field goal, the Rams cut their deficit to 24-17.

The Rams then tied the game at 24 on an 11-yard touchdown from Stafford to Puka Nacua with 2:46 remaining. They appeared to have the Falcons on the ropes.

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But the Falcons maintained their composure and responded with a nine-play, 32-yard drive that set Gonzalez up for the game-winning attempt. Gonzalez was pure from 51 yards with 21 seconds remaining, and the Falcons fended off Los Angeles’ last-gasp effort to get into field-goal range to hold on for the win.