Nate Atkins
@nateatkins.bsky.social
Senior Writer covering the Los Angeles Rams for The Athletic | Formerly of the Colts, Lions and Bears beats | Hebrews 11:1
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/nate-atkins/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/nate-atkins/
Pinned
New story:
Six years ago, Byron Young spent his nights closing down a Dollar General in Georgia.
Two years, no football.
Now one of the top pass rushers in the NFL.
How one of the sport’s craziest underdog stories became the engine of the Rams defense:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Six years ago, Byron Young spent his nights closing down a Dollar General in Georgia.
Two years, no football.
Now one of the top pass rushers in the NFL.
How one of the sport’s craziest underdog stories became the engine of the Rams defense:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Rams RB Kyren Williams’ ankle was “pretty good” today, per Sean McVay. Kyren said the scar tissue from previous injuries made it easier to deal with in-game yesterday.
No other real injury concerns out of yesterday’s game.
No other real injury concerns out of yesterday’s game.
December 1, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Rams RB Kyren Williams’ ankle was “pretty good” today, per Sean McVay. Kyren said the scar tissue from previous injuries made it easier to deal with in-game yesterday.
No other real injury concerns out of yesterday’s game.
No other real injury concerns out of yesterday’s game.
Matthew Stafford has the 7th-most votes of any player in the initial Pro Bowl ballot.
Somehow searching for just his third Pro Bowl nod.
Somehow searching for just his third Pro Bowl nod.
December 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Matthew Stafford has the 7th-most votes of any player in the initial Pro Bowl ballot.
Somehow searching for just his third Pro Bowl nod.
Somehow searching for just his third Pro Bowl nod.
Very random, but the Rams’ three losses are all to Alabama QBs:
- Week 3 vs. Jalen Hurts
- Week 5 vs. Mac Jones
- Week 13 vs. Bryce Young
(They did beat Jones in Week 10).
No more Bama QBs until the playoffs.
- Week 3 vs. Jalen Hurts
- Week 5 vs. Mac Jones
- Week 13 vs. Bryce Young
(They did beat Jones in Week 10).
No more Bama QBs until the playoffs.
December 1, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Very random, but the Rams’ three losses are all to Alabama QBs:
- Week 3 vs. Jalen Hurts
- Week 5 vs. Mac Jones
- Week 13 vs. Bryce Young
(They did beat Jones in Week 10).
No more Bama QBs until the playoffs.
- Week 3 vs. Jalen Hurts
- Week 5 vs. Mac Jones
- Week 13 vs. Bryce Young
(They did beat Jones in Week 10).
No more Bama QBs until the playoffs.
The Rams looked very talented yesterday in Carolina, but they lost the secret sauce that had made this run so dominant. And the setting had a lot to do with it.
Why getting the No. 1 seed is as important as ever for this squad: www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Why getting the No. 1 seed is as important as ever for this squad: www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Rams need another surge after humbling loss to Panthers: 'This is a wake-up call'
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The Rams looked very talented yesterday in Carolina, but they lost the secret sauce that had made this run so dominant. And the setting had a lot to do with it.
Why getting the No. 1 seed is as important as ever for this squad: www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Why getting the No. 1 seed is as important as ever for this squad: www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Rams snap counts from a loss to the Panthers:
- Blake Corum turned 17 snaps into a career-high 81 yards
- Mumpfield, Smith and Whittington split WR3 reps
- Colby Parkinson was TE1 with no Tyler Higbee
- Ahkello Witherspoon with 15 plays
- A pretty quiet 53 snaps for Jared Verse
- Blake Corum turned 17 snaps into a career-high 81 yards
- Mumpfield, Smith and Whittington split WR3 reps
- Colby Parkinson was TE1 with no Tyler Higbee
- Ahkello Witherspoon with 15 plays
- A pretty quiet 53 snaps for Jared Verse
December 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Rams snap counts from a loss to the Panthers:
- Blake Corum turned 17 snaps into a career-high 81 yards
- Mumpfield, Smith and Whittington split WR3 reps
- Colby Parkinson was TE1 with no Tyler Higbee
- Ahkello Witherspoon with 15 plays
- A pretty quiet 53 snaps for Jared Verse
- Blake Corum turned 17 snaps into a career-high 81 yards
- Mumpfield, Smith and Whittington split WR3 reps
- Colby Parkinson was TE1 with no Tyler Higbee
- Ahkello Witherspoon with 15 plays
- A pretty quiet 53 snaps for Jared Verse
New story:
The Rams were on as great of a roll as is possible at this level of the sport. But this is still the NFL, and they learned Sunday how quickly that humility can arrive.
Consider them warned.
“This is a wake-up call.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
The Rams were on as great of a roll as is possible at this level of the sport. But this is still the NFL, and they learned Sunday how quickly that humility can arrive.
Consider them warned.
“This is a wake-up call.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Rams need another surge after humbling loss to Panthers: 'This is a wake-up call'
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:44 PM
New story:
The Rams were on as great of a roll as is possible at this level of the sport. But this is still the NFL, and they learned Sunday how quickly that humility can arrive.
Consider them warned.
“This is a wake-up call.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
The Rams were on as great of a roll as is possible at this level of the sport. But this is still the NFL, and they learned Sunday how quickly that humility can arrive.
Consider them warned.
“This is a wake-up call.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Sean McVay said that Tutu Atwell wasn't activated from Injured Reserve yet because of conversations about the game-day roster. They had a lot of movement this week and wanted a certain lineup for special teams and depth at other spots.
So maybe he'll make his return next week.
So maybe he'll make his return next week.
November 30, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Sean McVay said that Tutu Atwell wasn't activated from Injured Reserve yet because of conversations about the game-day roster. They had a lot of movement this week and wanted a certain lineup for special teams and depth at other spots.
So maybe he'll make his return next week.
So maybe he'll make his return next week.
Some takeaways from the Rams' loss to the Panthers.
I didn't think we'd write this coming in, but it's true: Bryce Young outplayed Matthew Stafford:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
I didn't think we'd write this coming in, but it's true: Bryce Young outplayed Matthew Stafford:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
Rams-Panthers takeaways: Stafford’s fumble dooms L.A., Carolina pulls off upset
The Super Bowl favorites had their six-game winning streak snapped by a team that was 6-6 coming into Week 13.
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Some takeaways from the Rams' loss to the Panthers.
I didn't think we'd write this coming in, but it's true: Bryce Young outplayed Matthew Stafford:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
I didn't think we'd write this coming in, but it's true: Bryce Young outplayed Matthew Stafford:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
FINAL:
Panthers 31
Rams 28
The 6-game win streak is snapped, and the No. 1 seed is in a bit of jeopardy after a game the Rams really should not have let slip away against a beat-up, undermanned opponent. Two of their three losses have come like that.
9-3 now, at Arizona next.
Panthers 31
Rams 28
The 6-game win streak is snapped, and the No. 1 seed is in a bit of jeopardy after a game the Rams really should not have let slip away against a beat-up, undermanned opponent. Two of their three losses have come like that.
9-3 now, at Arizona next.
November 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
FINAL:
Panthers 31
Rams 28
The 6-game win streak is snapped, and the No. 1 seed is in a bit of jeopardy after a game the Rams really should not have let slip away against a beat-up, undermanned opponent. Two of their three losses have come like that.
9-3 now, at Arizona next.
Panthers 31
Rams 28
The 6-game win streak is snapped, and the No. 1 seed is in a bit of jeopardy after a game the Rams really should not have let slip away against a beat-up, undermanned opponent. Two of their three losses have come like that.
9-3 now, at Arizona next.
Football is a really simple game sometimes.
Lose the turnover battle 3-0 and you're usually going to lose, even as a much better team.
Lose the turnover battle 3-0 and you're usually going to lose, even as a much better team.
November 30, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Football is a really simple game sometimes.
Lose the turnover battle 3-0 and you're usually going to lose, even as a much better team.
Lose the turnover battle 3-0 and you're usually going to lose, even as a much better team.
Matthew Stafford gets strip-sacked. The Rams had to go with a deeper-developing pass play after an inexcusable delay of game when they had two timeouts to avoid it.
Just bad, bad mistakes on critical downs on both sides of the ball today.
Just bad, bad mistakes on critical downs on both sides of the ball today.
November 30, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Matthew Stafford gets strip-sacked. The Rams had to go with a deeper-developing pass play after an inexcusable delay of game when they had two timeouts to avoid it.
Just bad, bad mistakes on critical downs on both sides of the ball today.
Just bad, bad mistakes on critical downs on both sides of the ball today.
Touchdown, Panthers. Bryce Young to Tetairoa McMillan from 43 yards out.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was surging, but that's the second long touchdown he's given up today.
Back and forth we go.
Panthers 31, Rams 28, 6:34 4Q.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was surging, but that's the second long touchdown he's given up today.
Back and forth we go.
Panthers 31, Rams 28, 6:34 4Q.
November 30, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Touchdown, Panthers. Bryce Young to Tetairoa McMillan from 43 yards out.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was surging, but that's the second long touchdown he's given up today.
Back and forth we go.
Panthers 31, Rams 28, 6:34 4Q.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was surging, but that's the second long touchdown he's given up today.
Back and forth we go.
Panthers 31, Rams 28, 6:34 4Q.
Touchdown, Kyren Williams.
What a crazy drive that was, between Jordan Whittington's obliterating run block and Puka Nacua's Inspector Gadget catch for 30 yards.
89 yards in 6 plays.
Rams 28, Panthers 24, 9:58 4Q.
Can the defense get a stop?
What a crazy drive that was, between Jordan Whittington's obliterating run block and Puka Nacua's Inspector Gadget catch for 30 yards.
89 yards in 6 plays.
Rams 28, Panthers 24, 9:58 4Q.
Can the defense get a stop?
November 30, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Touchdown, Kyren Williams.
What a crazy drive that was, between Jordan Whittington's obliterating run block and Puka Nacua's Inspector Gadget catch for 30 yards.
89 yards in 6 plays.
Rams 28, Panthers 24, 9:58 4Q.
Can the defense get a stop?
What a crazy drive that was, between Jordan Whittington's obliterating run block and Puka Nacua's Inspector Gadget catch for 30 yards.
89 yards in 6 plays.
Rams 28, Panthers 24, 9:58 4Q.
Can the defense get a stop?
Puka. Nacua. What the heck.
November 30, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Puka. Nacua. What the heck.
Jordan Whittington just murdered a man on the run block.
November 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Jordan Whittington just murdered a man on the run block.
That Panthers drive took approximately 98 minutes off the game clock, but the Rams defense stiffened to keep it a 3-point game.
Really big drive coming up for an offense that's been pretty cold this half.
Really big drive coming up for an offense that's been pretty cold this half.
November 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM
That Panthers drive took approximately 98 minutes off the game clock, but the Rams defense stiffened to keep it a 3-point game.
Really big drive coming up for an offense that's been pretty cold this half.
Really big drive coming up for an offense that's been pretty cold this half.
The Rams are just having a time getting the Panthers off the field today. Seems like they're always getting just the yardage they need in the run game anymore.
Just getting gashed at the moment.
Just getting gashed at the moment.
November 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The Rams are just having a time getting the Panthers off the field today. Seems like they're always getting just the yardage they need in the run game anymore.
Just getting gashed at the moment.
Just getting gashed at the moment.
Bryce Young is dicing up the Rams secondary:
9 of 13, 129 yards, 9.9 yards/attempt, 2 TDs, 0 turnovers, 140.7 rating.
L.A. throttled Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield the past two weeks but is a bit flat-footed so far today.
9 of 13, 129 yards, 9.9 yards/attempt, 2 TDs, 0 turnovers, 140.7 rating.
L.A. throttled Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield the past two weeks but is a bit flat-footed so far today.
November 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Bryce Young is dicing up the Rams secondary:
9 of 13, 129 yards, 9.9 yards/attempt, 2 TDs, 0 turnovers, 140.7 rating.
L.A. throttled Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield the past two weeks but is a bit flat-footed so far today.
9 of 13, 129 yards, 9.9 yards/attempt, 2 TDs, 0 turnovers, 140.7 rating.
L.A. throttled Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield the past two weeks but is a bit flat-footed so far today.
Touchdown, Panthers. Bryce Young to Jalen Coker from 33 yards out.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has been on a heater but got beat deep there.
We have a shootout on a chilly, drizzly day here in Carolina.
Panthers 24, Rams 21, 8:48 3Q.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has been on a heater but got beat deep there.
We have a shootout on a chilly, drizzly day here in Carolina.
Panthers 24, Rams 21, 8:48 3Q.
November 30, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Touchdown, Panthers. Bryce Young to Jalen Coker from 33 yards out.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has been on a heater but got beat deep there.
We have a shootout on a chilly, drizzly day here in Carolina.
Panthers 24, Rams 21, 8:48 3Q.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has been on a heater but got beat deep there.
We have a shootout on a chilly, drizzly day here in Carolina.
Panthers 24, Rams 21, 8:48 3Q.
Kyren Williams is questionable with an ankle injury.
That would be a huge loss on a day when the rain is starting to fall and Matthew Stafford is getting a little loose with the ball.
That would be a huge loss on a day when the rain is starting to fall and Matthew Stafford is getting a little loose with the ball.
November 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Kyren Williams is questionable with an ankle injury.
That would be a huge loss on a day when the rain is starting to fall and Matthew Stafford is getting a little loose with the ball.
That would be a huge loss on a day when the rain is starting to fall and Matthew Stafford is getting a little loose with the ball.
The Rams miss Quentin Lake in run defense. Rather badly at the moment.
November 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The Rams miss Quentin Lake in run defense. Rather badly at the moment.
Touchdown, Blake Corum.
He powers it in from the 2 to cap off one of the better Rams drives of a season full of them. Matthew Stafford hit a 51-yard deep bomb to Xavier Smith. L.A. continues to thrive on the ground (80 yards on 12 carries).
Rams 21, Panthers 17, 1:55 to half.
He powers it in from the 2 to cap off one of the better Rams drives of a season full of them. Matthew Stafford hit a 51-yard deep bomb to Xavier Smith. L.A. continues to thrive on the ground (80 yards on 12 carries).
Rams 21, Panthers 17, 1:55 to half.
November 30, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Touchdown, Blake Corum.
He powers it in from the 2 to cap off one of the better Rams drives of a season full of them. Matthew Stafford hit a 51-yard deep bomb to Xavier Smith. L.A. continues to thrive on the ground (80 yards on 12 carries).
Rams 21, Panthers 17, 1:55 to half.
He powers it in from the 2 to cap off one of the better Rams drives of a season full of them. Matthew Stafford hit a 51-yard deep bomb to Xavier Smith. L.A. continues to thrive on the ground (80 yards on 12 carries).
Rams 21, Panthers 17, 1:55 to half.
Touchdown, Davante Adams. Drink. And then hydrate.
Matthew Stafford had all day and then some to wait until his go-to red-zone target opened in the back of the end zone. A big bounce-back drive after the two picks.
They're moving at will today.
Rams 14, Panthers 14, 12:46 2Q.
Matthew Stafford had all day and then some to wait until his go-to red-zone target opened in the back of the end zone. A big bounce-back drive after the two picks.
They're moving at will today.
Rams 14, Panthers 14, 12:46 2Q.
November 30, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Touchdown, Davante Adams. Drink. And then hydrate.
Matthew Stafford had all day and then some to wait until his go-to red-zone target opened in the back of the end zone. A big bounce-back drive after the two picks.
They're moving at will today.
Rams 14, Panthers 14, 12:46 2Q.
Matthew Stafford had all day and then some to wait until his go-to red-zone target opened in the back of the end zone. A big bounce-back drive after the two picks.
They're moving at will today.
Rams 14, Panthers 14, 12:46 2Q.
That was a chaotic first quarter.
Still feels like the Rams can get this done if they balance the offense a little better. They're currently on pace to run for 200 yards on just 24 carries.
Still feels like the Rams can get this done if they balance the offense a little better. They're currently on pace to run for 200 yards on just 24 carries.
November 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
That was a chaotic first quarter.
Still feels like the Rams can get this done if they balance the offense a little better. They're currently on pace to run for 200 yards on just 24 carries.
Still feels like the Rams can get this done if they balance the offense a little better. They're currently on pace to run for 200 yards on just 24 carries.
Matthew Stafford has a new streak going today -- two straight drives with an interception. This time a pick-6 from Mike Jackson, who jumped a route by Puka Nacua that was never open.
Panthers 14, Rams 7, 1:10 1Q.
Trap game is fully underway.
Panthers 14, Rams 7, 1:10 1Q.
Trap game is fully underway.
November 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Matthew Stafford has a new streak going today -- two straight drives with an interception. This time a pick-6 from Mike Jackson, who jumped a route by Puka Nacua that was never open.
Panthers 14, Rams 7, 1:10 1Q.
Trap game is fully underway.
Panthers 14, Rams 7, 1:10 1Q.
Trap game is fully underway.