In anticipation of the official schedule release date in mid-April, theRams.com will be taking an early look at each of the club's opponents for next season.
Atlanta Falcons
The Rams will return to the heart of the South for a road test against the Atlanta Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Patriots topped head coach Sean McVay's group in Super Bowl LIII.
The matchup will also mark the Rams' first shot at the Falcons since they were bounced from the Wild Card round by the birds in black and red back in 2017.
Here's an early look at the Falcons:
2018
The Falcons wound up short of the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, finishing tied at the No. 2 spot in the NFC South in 2018.
The 2018 campaign was a tale of two sides of the football in Atlanta. Quarterback Matt Ryan's offense finished No. 6 in yards and No. 10 in points in 2018 — the Atlanta defense at No. 25 and No. 28 in points and yards allowed, respectively.
Matchup History
Former divisional opponents, the Rams and Falcons have faced off 79 times in their history, dating back to 1966. The Rams lead the all-time series 47-30-2 against the Falcons, but will look to end a losing spell next season, having dropped the past five.
In the 2017 Divisional round against the Falcons, quarterback Jared Goff completed 24 of his 45 passing attempts for 259 yards and a touchdown. Running back Todd Gurley picked up 111 all-purpose yards, and wide receiver Robert Woods grabbed nine receptions for 142 yards in the losing effort.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
On offense, running back Tevin Coleman left Atlanta and will join the 49ers running backs room headed into 2019. The club also let wide receiver Marvin Hall walk in free agency.
The Falcons added an expected run-blocking tight end in Luke Stocker from Tampa Bay, in addition to a third running back in Kenjon Barner. On the offensive line, the Falcons brought on veteran guards in former Ram Jamon Brown and former New York Jet James Carpenter.
Notable defensive departures include defensive end Bruce Irvin and backup cornerbacks Brian Poole and Justin Bethel.
Head Coach
The Falcons are headed for a fifth season under head coach Dan Quinn, who is 36-28 steering the ship in Atlanta.
Quinn's Falcons have been to the postseason twice, advancing to the Divisional round in 2017, and Super Bowl LI in 2016. Quinn and McVay will meet in 2019 with something in common — a Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots. The Patriots topped the Falcons in for the Lombardi after mounting one of the most remarkable comebacks in Super Bowl history, overcoming a 28-3 deficit.
What to Watch For
A 2019 win against the Falcons might be double sweet for the Rams and their supporters. The matchup will certainly be regarded as a revenge game of sorts for several members of the Rams who were bounced from the postseason by the Falcons a few seasons back, putting an end to the club's strong first season under McVay.
A win would also create a new memory in the state-of-the-art stadium in downtown Atlanta.
