Falcons opponent: A quick look at Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams

FLOWERY BRANCH — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is looking forward to his return to Georgia.

“I am excited to go back to Georgia, play in Atlanta,” Stafford said on the “Let’s Go” podcast Monday. “It’s been a while. I think 2020 was the last time I was there playing. Won in a nail-biter. It’s always fun to go back. A lot of fans. A lot of Georgia fans out there still, showing support and showing love for me.”

Some of them will be in the building when the Falcons (6-9) host the Rams (11-4) at 8:15 p.m. Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Big football game for us,” Stafford said. “They (are coming) off a win in Arizona this past weekend. They are riding high. We got our work cut out for us.”

Stafford, who guided the Rams to a Super Bowl title in 2022, played at Georgia from 2006 to 2008 before he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Lions in 2009.

“Also, I’ve got (backup quarterback) Stetson (Bennett) on my sideline. so that’s a good thing for us,” Stafford said. “A bunch of Dog fans still love him. It will be a lot of fun.”

The Rams have clinched a playoff berth, but are playing still for seeding in the NFC. The Falcons have been eliminated from the playoffs are playing the spoiler role.

Stafford, a two-time Pro Bowler, is having another great season; the Rams have the No. 1-ranked offense in the NFL. He has completed 341 of 519 passes (65.7%) for 4,179 yards, 40 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has a passer rating of 112.1.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris was the Rams defensive coordinator 2021-23. His defense went against Stafford in practice.

“‘Weapon X’ is a problem,” Morris said. “He’s a problem every single day. He can hit every spot on the football field. He’s fun to compete against because you’re left in awe a lot. He’s a great human. He’s a great man. He’s a great leader. He’s a great competitor.”

The Falcons defense ranks 14th in the NFL (25th against the run and eight against the pass).

Stafford’s top target is wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is having a spectacular season. He’s caught 114 passes for 1,592 yards and eight touchdowns.

Wide receiver Davante Adams has 60 catches for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns, but missed the last game with a knee and hamstring injury.

“He’s got people around him that are all built in the same cloth, whether you’re talking about Puka, now Davante, (running back) Kyren Williams,” Morris said.

Rams coach Sean McVay, who played at Marist, said Adams “most likely” will not play against the Falcons.

“I think we really just take it a little bit at a time,” McVay told the media in the Los Angeles area Friday. “This guy’s a great competitor. He wants to be out there. I say ‘most likely’ with Atlanta, (but) Davante’s going to do everything he can to push to be available for that.

“Then it’s our job to be able to kind of figure out what is best collectively with him. He’s a player that deserves to be involved in those types of conversations because of the respect, the experience, but that’s something that we’ve discussed at this point.”

Rams linebacker Nate Landman, who’s started all 15 games, leads the team in tackles with 123. Landman played for the Falcons in 2022-24 and left after the Falcons declined to make a restricted-free-agent tender.

The Rams signed Landman to veteran minimum $1.1 million deal in March. He was awarded a three-year, $22.5 million contract extension in November.

After losing 38-37 to the Seahawks on Thursday, the Rams fired special-teams coordinator Chase Blackburn and replaced him with former Falcons special-teams coordinator Ben Kotwica. The Rams allowed a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown and special-teams miscues were factors in two other losses.

The loss to the Seahawks moved the Rams from No. 1 seed to the No. 5 seed in the NFC standings.

Kotwica was with the Falcons in 2019 and 2020.