A botched call may have been the difference in Monday night’s matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons.
The Rams trailed the Falcons 27-24 with under 30 seconds remaining in the Week 17 showdown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Facing 2nd-and-10 at the Rams’ own territory, Matthew Stafford went deep to Tutu Atwell for a potentially game-changing play.
Falcons cornerback Dee Alford grabbed at Atwell’s arm multiple times while trying to get the stop. But referees kept their flags in their pockets, a decision that did not sit well with the ESPN broadcast.
Joe Buck and rules analyst Russell Yurk called out the refs missing pass interference against the Falcons on a Rams deep ball in the final seconds.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 30, 2025
"That's a missed call!"
"That's a pass interference."
The Falcons hang on to win, 27-24. 🏈🦓🎙️ #NFL #MNF pic.twitter.com/ghGDDgJInm
ESPN announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and rules analyst Russell Yurk all felt like pass interference should have been called against Alford.
The Rams failed to convert on their next two chances, which included a dazzling incompletion from Puka Nacua that some felt should have been considered a catch.
IMAGINE IF PUKA CAUGHT THIS 😱 pic.twitter.com/nk1KrKavOd
— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2025
The Rams fell just short in their wild comeback bid after trailing 21-0 at halftime. Los Angeles got back in the contest thanks to a rare blocked field goal touchdown return from Jared Verse in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 24-17.
The Rams came all the way back to tie the contest at 24 before Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez gave Atlanta the lead back with a field goal on the game’s penultimate possession.
