Falcons... 31, Rams... 27
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ATLANTA — After a wild ending to their improbable regular season, the Atlanta Falcons are headed to a wild-card playoff game.
Jerious Norwood ran for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 45-yard run with 3:41 left, and Atlanta held off the St. Louis Rams, 31-27, to clinch the No. 5 seeding in the NFC.
The Falcons improved to 11-5, completing their improbable run to the playoffs after a 4-12 finish in 2007. But Atlanta’s hopes of winning the NFC South and getting a first-round bye in the playoffs ended with Carolina’s 33-31 win at New Orleans.
The Falcons had hoped for a home game but instead will travel to NFC West champion Arizona for a wild-card game next week.
Atlanta overcame three turnovers, including two in the fourth quarter, to give the Rams (2-14) their 10th consecutive loss.
Quoteworthy: “We came a long way. Whoever would have thought we’d be in the playoffs?” -- Jerious Norwood, Falcons running back
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