For a few hours on Sunday afternoon, the most dominant defensive football team in Pittsburgh wasn’t roaming Heinz Field—they were kicking up astroturf in the Schenley Sportsplex. After a fumbled snap on the first play from scrimmage resulted in a safety, the RAMS shut out the FALCONS the rest of the way, earning themselves a decisive 33–2 victory.

FALCONS–RAMS was a collision between two stylistically opposite teams. Where the Rams’ offense generated home runs with speed and verticality, the Falcons took a more methodical approach, throwing short, quick-hitting passes to receivers dragging across the field. Defensively, the Falcons spent most of the contest opting not to send a rusher, and instead trying to obscure the Rams’ passing windows, while the Rams, much like their namesake, charged Falcons’ quarterbacks all afternoon, forcing them to make difficult throws under duress. 

For most of the day, the RAMS won the battle. Following the safety, the RAMS’ offense got rolling, taking a handoff from their own endzone down the sideline for a touchdown on the first play of their next drive. Their defense contributed two pick-sixes before halftime, and the FALCONS fell just a few yards shy of a touchdown as time expired.

A big halftime deficit forced the FALCONS to ratchet up the pressure in the second frame. FALCON defenders blitzed from every corner of the field, stifling the RAMS’ dynamic offense. The halftime respite also appeared to give the FALCONS’ offense time to process the RAMS’ attacking defense; the FALCONS strung together multiple long drives post-intermission, and the relief brought by completing a few short throws unlocked opportunities for deep bombs and breakout runs on handoffs. 

As the playoff race reaches a fever pitch, both the RAMS and FALCONS are now 2–1 and remain in pole position. Next week, the RAMS will look to finish in stride as they finish their season with a double-header against the RAIDERS and TITANS, both 1-2. The FALCONS, meanwhile, will look to get back to their winning ways in matchups against the 1-2 LIONS and the 2–1 CHIEFS