LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass in five weeks and the Atlanta Falcons did just enough Monday night to beat the struggling Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 and follow the pace in the NFC South race.
Trying to mount a late comeback, Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder threw two desperation passes into the end zone in the final 10 seconds. The first was incomplete and the second was intercepted by Jessie Bates III.
The Falcons (7-7) ended a four-game losing streak to stay within one game of the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Atlanta owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Las Vegas (2-12) lost its 10th straight game, the longest active skid in the NFL, and is tied with the New York Giants for the worst record in the league. It was the fifth-longest skid in Raiders history, and the worst since losing 16 in a row a decade ago.
Cousins entered without a touchdown pass and eight interceptions in his previous four starts, raising questions about whether rookie Michael Penix Jr. would take over at quarterback. Raheem Morris, Falcons coach stuck by cousins – who signed a four-year, $180 million contract this year – with the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Cousins did little to allay concerns about his play, passing for just 112 yards with one interception. His 30-yard pass to a wide-open Drake London with 14 seconds left in the first quarter to put Atlanta ahead 7-0 was his first touchdown since he hauled in a three on Nov. 3 in a 27-game win -21 against the Dallas Cowboys. .
The Falcons got the rest of their points thanks to two field goals from Younghoe Koo and a safety from 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, the most in Falcons history in a player’s first three seasons.
Atlanta kept Ridder from putting a damper on its playoff plans. Ridder, who started 13 games for the Falcons last season before being traded to Arizona, was stuck most of the night in his first start this season. Replacing Aidan O’Connell, who was inactive due to a bruised left knee, Ridder passed for 208 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The injury-riddled Raiders have gained just 249 yards and have trailed by double digits in all 14 games this season.
O’Connell wasn’t the only player missing. Defensive end Maxx Crosby announced Saturday that he would be undergo season-ending ankle surgeryand the Raiders were without about half their starting defensive lineup.
Las Vegas also lost recently-started starting running back Sincere McCormick to an ankle injury early in the second quarter.
Following
Falcons: Host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Raiders: Host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
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