The Rams head to the Georgia Dome in position to sweep this NFC West rivalry for the first time since 1996. In Week 3 at the TWA Dome, Rams QB Kurt Warner threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns and RB Marshall Faulk chipped in with 105 yards rushing and caught a 17-yard touchdown pass as Dick Vermeil's club snapped a four-game losing streak in this rivalry, 35-7.

While the Rams have nearly doubled Atlanta's win total in this series (40-23-2), the Falcons have excelled in this setting as of late, prevailing in 13 of the last 18 meetings dating back to the teams' second encounter in 1990 despite this season's earlier loss.

As for the Rams' last trip to Atlanta (Week 9 of '98), Falcons RB Jamal Anderson rushed for 172 yards and a pair of scores, plus caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from QB Chris Chandler as Dan Reeves' club jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead enroute to a 37-15 win.

The Rams are just 1-8 in their last nine trips to Atlanta dating back to 1990, including just 1-6 lifetime at the Georgia Dome dating back to '92.

Numbers: Rams QB Kurt Warner has thrown an NFL-best 14 touchdown passes and just three interceptions in four games in '99 (4-0). In '98, since-departed Rams QBs Tony Banks and Steve Bono combined to throw just 12 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions in 16 games in '98 (4-12). Warner has thrown three or more touchdown passes in four straight games. The Rams have scored 35 or more points in three straight games. They have scored 258 points in eight wins, 169 points in 12 losses dating back to '98. The Rams have limited the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in four straight games.

The Falcons own a minus-9 turnover differential (4-13) in five games in '99, this after leading the NFL with a plus-20 turnover differential (44-24) in 16 games in '98. Atlanta has not recovered an opponent's fumble in five games in '99, this after leading the NFL with 25 opponent's fumble recoveries in '98. The Falcons have been outscored a combined 75-20 in the first half in five games in '99. Including playoffs, the Falcons have scored 489 points in 17 wins (28.8 PPG), but just 83 points in 7 losses (11.9 PPG) dating back to '98. They have allowed 244 touchdown passes in their last 149 regular-season games (1990-99), two or more TD passes in 81 of those contests. Including playoffs, the Falcons are 22-11 with QB Chris Chandler as the starter while Falcons' backup quarterbacks are 2-5 dating back to '97. Atlanta's defense has totaled three or more sacks in 22 of their last 37 contests dating back to '97.

Things To Look For: Dick Vermeil's Rams were officially designated "for real" after their humbling of the albatross from San Francisco, but now QB Kurt Warner and company must avoid a letdown against a Falcons' squad that just doesn't have the weapons to keep pace. Still, Dan Reeves usually gets the most out of his club no matter who's playing, and certainly remembers this year's first encounter just three weeks ago.

Etc.: The Rams have won four straight games. They are just 17-47 vs. divisional competition since 1990, but 2-0 vs. NFC West rivals in 1999. Falcons PK Morten Andersen has scored at least one point in an NFL-record 243 straight games.