Las Vegas, NV — The Atlanta Falcons held onto a narrow lead for most of the game, including a double-digit advantage in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t until the final moments that they secured a hard-fought 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night.
With the game on the line, Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder had two attempts to reach the end zone and steal the win. His first pass fell incomplete, and his second was intercepted by Falcons’ safety Jessie Bates III, sealing the victory for Atlanta and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
The Falcons (7-7) ended a four-game losing streak and remained one game behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With three games left in the regular season, Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buccaneers, which could prove crucial in the tight NFC South race.
“This is where you want to be, and that’s exactly where we’re at,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “We’ve got a short week, so we’ll get back to work and correct the mistakes from tonight. Our goal is to keep moving forward and get another win.”
Atlanta’s remaining schedule is favorable, with games against teams with a combined total of five wins, alongside a road trip to face the 9-5 Washington Commanders. Tampa Bay also faces a similarly challenging finish.
On the other hand, Las Vegas (2-12) is focused more on the draft order than playoff hopes. The Raiders’ 10th consecutive loss ties them with the New York Giants for the worst record in the NFL, marking their fifth-longest losing streak in franchise history. It is their worst skid since 2014, when they dropped 16 straight games.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had struggled in recent games with no touchdowns and eight interceptions over his last four starts, faced continued scrutiny. Morris opted to stick with Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract this season, over rookie Michael Penix Jr. Cousins, however, didn’t inspire much confidence, passing for just 112 yards with an interception. His lone highlight came in the first quarter when he connected with Drake London for a 30-yard touchdown, giving Atlanta a 7-0 lead.
“He’s got to play better,” Morris acknowledged after the game.
Cousins agreed, admitting, “It’s stating the obvious.”
The Falcons’ points came from two field goals by Younghoe Koo and a safety by defensive lineman Zach Harrison. Bijan Robinson had a strong performance, rushing for 125 yards, while London caught three passes for 53 yards, marking his 219th career reception. London surpassed Calvin Ridley’s 217 receptions for the most by a Falcons player in the first three seasons of their career.
Despite the loss, Ridder’s efforts to help Las Vegas were stymied. The former Falcons starter, now with Arizona, struggled in his first game of the season, replacing Aidan O’Connell, who was inactive due to a bruised knee. Ridder threw for 208 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions.
“The rhythm just wasn’t there until late in the game,” Ridder said. “But by then, it was too little, too late.”
The Raiders gained just 249 total yards and have trailed by double digits in every game this season. In addition to O’Connell, defensive end Maxx Crosby, who had announced that he would undergo season-ending ankle surgery, was also absent, leaving Las Vegas without a significant portion of their starting lineup.
The Raiders also lost starting running back Sincere McCormick to an ankle injury in the second quarter.
Despite all these setbacks, Las Vegas nearly mounted a late-game comeback, showing resilience until the final moments.
Looking Ahead:
- Falcons: Host the New York Giants on Sunday.
- Raiders: Host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
