The losing skid of the Atlanta Falcons has ultimately been put to rest, as Kirk Cousins and his teammates managed to secure a crucial victory against the Las Vegas Raiders with a score of 15-9 on Monday night. Atlanta’s record for the year now stands at 7-7, a significant feat given the intense competition within the NFC South division. In contrast, the Raiders’ struggles persist as they fall further to a disappointing 2-12 record.
While the win may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing, especially during this juncture of the season with only three games remaining, a victory is a victory nonetheless. The Falcons’ offensive unit did not reach the breakout performance they may have hoped for, but Cousins broke a streak by throwing his first touchdown in five games. The momentous touchdown came from a 30-yard pass caught by Drake London, marking a significant shift from Cousins’ previous trend of throwing interceptions without any touchdowns.
Despite the promising start, the Falcons were unable to replicate their early success in finding the end zone again. Several drives stalled within Raiders territory, resulting in field goal attempts by Younghoe Koo. Koo managed to convert on two out of three attempts, contributing 13 points to the Falcons’ offensive efforts.
Defensively, the Falcons dominated the Raiders’ offensive strategies, particularly pressuring quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was thrust into the starting role against his former team due to Aidan O’Connell’s injury. By stifling the Raiders’ running game and limiting them to a mere 65 total yards, the Falcons effectively forced Ridder to rely on his passing game, resulting in an interception and three sacks. The Falcons’ defense also managed to force a fumble from Alexander Mattison, showcasing their ability to disrupt the Raiders’ offensive rhythm.
Despite the defensive prowess displayed by the Falcons, the game ultimately came down to a tense final play from Ridder as the Raiders were down by six points, needing a touchdown and an extra point to clinch the victory. Ridder attempted two Hail Mary passes to the end zone, with the first falling incomplete and the second being intercepted by Falcons’ star safety Jessie Bates III, securing the win for Atlanta.
On the statistical front, Cousins completed 11 out of 17 passes for 112 yards, while also throwing another interception in addition to his touchdown pass. The Falcons’ ground game proved to be their strength, with Bijan Robinson rushing for an impressive 125 yards on 22 carries, and Tyler Allgeier adding 43 yards on 12 carries.
For the Raiders, Jakobi Meyers led the receiving corps with 59 yards, contributing significantly to Ridder’s total of 208 passing yards on 23 completions out of 38 attempts. Ameer Abdullah, the lone touchdown scorer for the Raiders, also made an impact with seven receptions for 58 yards.
