Former Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell delivered one of the most dominant defensive performances of the NFL season, locking down one of the league’s hottest receivers and sealing the Atlanta Falcons’ 27–24 win over the Los Angeles Rams in primetime.
Shutdown Coverage on a Red-Hot Target
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua entered the night on an historic tear, averaging 191 receiving yards over his previous three games. Against Terrell, that production vanished.
In 10 coverage matchups, Terrell was targeted five times and allowed just two catches for 17 yards. He also forced seven tight-window targets — tied for the most by any defender in a single game this season — repeatedly shrinking throwing lanes and disrupting timing routes.
Closing Time
Terrell’s impact peaked when the game hung in the balance.
On the Rams’ final drive, he broke up two passes — one on third down and another on fourth down as time expired — both aimed at Nacua by quarterback Matthew Stafford. The final breakup ended the game, preventing what would have been a potential game-tying opportunity.
Earlier in the drive, Terrell also denied Nacua on a contested third-down throw that initially appeared destined for a highlight-reel one-handed catch.
An Anchor in Atlanta’s Secondary
Now in his sixth NFL season, Terrell has cemented himself as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s defense. A 2021 All-Pro selection, he has started all 92 games of his career, recording six interceptions and 61 passes defended.
Despite missing time this season with a hamstring injury, Terrell leads the Falcons with 12 pass breakups, adding 64 tackles and a forced fumble to his 2025 stat line.
Atlanta’s belief in him was made clear before the 2024 season, when the franchise rewarded Terrell with a four-year, $81 million contract extension that keeps him under contract through 2028.
Still No-Fly Zone
On a night when one of the NFL’s most explosive receivers arrived with momentum and hype, Terrell delivered a reminder that elite corners don’t need interceptions to dominate.
Sometimes, the best stat line is silence.