The Atlanta Falcons secured a 27–24 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17, but the celebration came at a cost. The team lost its star defender, Brandon Dorlus, in a game that carried almost no weight. Scare information about the injury sparked concern about the player’s health, and then came news from the organization itself. Head coach Raheem Morris dropped a daunting update that only added to the unease about the defensive tackle’s injury.

“It didn’t look great. I feel for the young man,” he said via Falcons reporter Terrin Waack’s post on X.

According to Waack, Raheem Morris didn’t have a proper update on Dorlus, who exited the game early in the third quarter. It was only a few plays after he turned heads by sacking quarterback Matthew Stafford on the Rams’ first snap of the second half. At 12:53 of the quarter, Los Angeles ran a first-and-10 from the Falcons’ 15-yard line. Running back Kyren Williams gained two yards before the Falcons tackled him. But amid the tackle and pile of players, Dorlus hurt himself. 

The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium saw the 24-year-old clutching his knee in pain. In fact, he couldn’t even get up on his own and needed help from the staff. Moreover, he placed little weight on his left leg as he walked off the field. In no time, the Falcons ruled him out for the rest of the game. In his absence, Elijah Garcia stepped onto the field and finished the game with one tackle. 

Meanwhile, Dorlus has had an impressive run this year. He and edge rusher James Pearce Jr. lead the team in sacks with 8.5 each. It is the first time since 2004 that two players from Raheem Morris’ team have scored this high in the same campaign. The Oregon graduate has appeared in fourteen games this season and started in eight of them. He helped his team by contributing 26 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits. 

As for the matchup, it had two different sides. The Falcons entered the contest with nothing to lose, while the Rams were fighting for the standings in the NFC conference. Here’s how things have turned out after the defeat. 

After two straight drops, the Rams eye a wild-card spot

The Rams (11-5) suffered a Week 17 loss that was anything but normal. Head coach Sean McVay’s team was lagging by 21 points, but then the tables turned. They started filling the gap play-by-play and ultimately tied the score. Yet, Atlanta’s final drive set up Zane Gonzalez for the game-winning field goal. And just like that, the Rams walked away with a loss, marking their second straight loss. 

Both losses weigh heavily on the team, which was earlier in a powerful position to clinch the division title and even the No. 1 seed. However, the losses, along with external factors, took the opportunity away from them. And now, Stafford’s franchise is pushing through to prevent further complications. While the Week 17 loss hasn’t dramatically shaken up the NFC playoff picture, it does leave the Rams entering the last game and postseason with little zeal.

With no chance of matching the records of their powerful rivals, such as the 49ers (12-4) and Seahawks (13-3), the divisional crown is out of reach. Now, the only incentive remaining is a wild-card spot. Currently, the Rams sit at the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture. They can improve to fifth if they defeat the Arizona Cardinals and the 49ers lose to the Seahawks in Week 18.