Falcons Enter Playoffs With Win

Norwood runs for 2 TDs; Falcons edge Rams 31-27

    ATLANTA (AP) - 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 the Atlanta Falcons held off the
St. Louis Rams 31-27 on Sunday to clinch the No. 5 seed 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 a first-round bye in the playoffs ended
with Carolina’s 33-31 win at New Orleans.
    The Falcons hoped for a home game but will 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 straight loss.