Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass in five weeks and the Atlanta Falcons did enough on Monday night to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 and continue their run in the NFC South.
Trying to pull off a late comeback, Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder lofted two desperation passes into the end zone in the final 10 seconds. The first was incomplete and the second was caught by Jessie Bates III.
The Falcons (7-7) ended a four-game losing streak to stay in the game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place. Atlanta owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Las Vegas (2-12) has lost its 10th game in a row, the longest streak in the NFL, and is tied with the New York Giants for the league’s worst record. It’s the fifth-longest skid in Raiders history, and the worst since 16 in a row a decade ago.
Cousins has gone without a touchdown pass and eight interceptions in his last four starts, raising questions about whether rookie Michael Penix Jr. will take over at quarterback. Falcons coach Raheem Morris is sticking with Cousins - who signed a four-year, $180 million contract this year – over the eighth pick in the NFL Draft.
Cousins did little to ease concerns about his play, passing for just 112 yards per reception. His 30-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with 14 seconds left in the first quarter to put Atlanta ahead 7-0 was his first three-pointer since Nov. 3 in a 27-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. .
The Falcons got all of their field goals on two field goals by Younghoe Koo and a safety by defensive lineman Zach Harrison.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 125 yards and London caught three passes for 53 yards to give him 219 career receptions. London surpassed Calvin Ridley’s 217 catches for the most in Falcons history in the player’s first three seasons.
Atlanta prevented Ridder from adding a bolt to their playoffs. Ridder, who started 13 games for the Falcons last season before being traded to Arizona, had a rough night in his start this season. Replacing Aidan O’Connell, who was sidelined with a sprained left knee, Ridder passed for 208 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
The injured offense has only gained 249 yards, and has trailed by double digits in all 14 games this season.
O’Connell wasn’t the only player missing. Quarterback Maxx Crosby announced Saturday that he will undergo season-ending ankle surgery. Las Vegas also lost running back Sincere McCormick, a freshman starter, to an ankle injury early in the second quarter.
Next
Falcons: Host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Raiders: Host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
It is reported by the Associated Press.
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