LAS VEGAS -- It was not a dazzling affair, but the Falcons, desperate for a victory, did just enough to end their four-game losing streak.
It was not decided until safety Jessie Bates III came down with an interception in the end zone as time expired on a Raiders’ pass into the end zone.
Behind the running of Bijan Robinson, a safety, key special teams plays and three field goals from Younghoe Koo, the Falcons defeated the Raiders and former quarterback Desmond Ridder, 15-9, Monday at Allegiant Stadium.
With the passing attack sputtering, the Falcons leaned on Robinson and Tyler Allgeier and they delivered. Robinson rushed 22 times for 125 yards and Allgeier rushed 12 times for 43 yards.
“We leaned on it heavy,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “We came out, they were particularly hot. We were able to get off the ball and run the football on these guys. ... Those guys went out and performed at a high level.”
The Falcons improved to 7-7. They trail the Buccaneers (8-6) by one game with three to play in the NFC South. The Raiders dropped to 2-12.
The Falcons are also in the chase for a wildcard spot in the playoffs. The Falcons have not reached the playoffs since the 2017 season.
Robinson went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark early in the game and now has rushed 237 times for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
“It felt great,” Robinson said. “We have to do, what we have to do to get a win. … We want to put the ball in the end zone more. But when we are clicking in the run game, those seven guys up front are making ways and holes for us to run through. ... If we have to run the ball 30 times, then that’s what we had to do to win this. Go out there and dominate.”
Quarterback Kirk Cousins ended his touchdown drought, but also threw another interception. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards. He finished with a 78.6 passer rating.
Ridder, who started for the Raiders, was not a major threat as he also threw two interceptions and a late touchdown pass. He didn’t get the Raiders into the Falcons’ red zone until under three minutes to play. But because the Falcons couldn’t run out the clock, Ridder had a chance to pull out the victory with 1:50 to play, no timeouts and 80 yards to go. He drove the Raiders to the Falcons’ 35 and had two shots into the end zone to pull out the victory.
Ridder completed 23 of 39 passes for 208 yards and finished with a 60.6 passer rating.
Bates came down with the last pass.
“You see that play end in a touchdown at times throughout this whole year,” Bates said. “You see guys scoring on those Hail Mary’s. Just talking to Kevin (King), Justin (Simmons) on who’s going to be the jumper, who’s the tipper and who was the back line guy.”
Bates was the jumper and came down with the ball.
With the win, the Falcons matched their win total of the three previous seasons under former coach Arthur Smith.
Behind a strike from Cousins to Drake London and a safety, the Falcons held a 9-3 lead at halftime.
The Raiders opened the game with a false start, but picked up a couple of first downs as they moved out to midfield. But Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss sniffed out the Raiders’ gadget play and sacked wide receiver Jacobi Meyers, who was attempting a double-pass, for a 10-yard loss.
After a stop by rookie defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, Dee Alford forced Las Vega running back Alexander Mattison to fumble. The ball was recovered by King.
“Getting a turnover for the team, that’s big,” King said. “That’s something that we’ve been harping on. I saw the ball was on the ground and I just wanted to get on it.”
The Falcons’ ensuing drive stalled at the Raiders’ 38. The Falcons elected to punt instead of sending out Koo for a 55-yard field goal attempt indoors. He made a 58-yard field goal earlier this season to beat the Saints.
After a punt by the Raiders, Cousins tossed a 30-yard touchdown to wide receiver London, who put a double move (slant-and-go) on Raiders cornerback Jack Jones, and was wide open. Cousins sold the slant route with a pump fake.
It was Cousins’ first touchdown pass since the third quarter of the Dallas’ game on Nov. 3.
The Raiders answered with a 52-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson to make it 7-3.
The Falcons next possession stalled at the Raiders’ 38. The Falcons sent out Koo, but they didn’t kick the ball as they bizarrely tried to draw the Raiders’ field goal unit offsides.
After moving back five yards, Bradley Pinion came in to punt. Raiders returner Ameer Abdullah made a fair catch at the 3-yard line.
Falcons defensive tackle Kentavious Street dropped Mattison for a 2-yard loss and on the next play Zach Harrison tackled Mattison in the end zone for a safety.
After the free kick, the Falcons were forced to punt. The Raiders ran out the clock to end the first half.
On the Falcons’ first possession of the second half, Cousins’ pass over the middle intended for tight end Charlie Woerner was interception by Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane. Cousins now leads the NFL with 16 interceptions.
After the Raiders’ possession stalled, special teams maven KhaDarel Hodge, who’d tipped a punt earlier had a block.
“(Special teams coordinator Marquice Williams) is always scheming up stuff,” Hodge said. “He dialed it up and it worked.”
The Falcons had the ball at the Raiders’ 37, but the drive stalled at the 22. Koo came on to make a 40-yard field goal to make it 12-3.
After an exchange of punts, Koo made a 48-yard field goal to make it 15-3 with 13:26 to play.
Koo also missed a 42-yard field goal attempt wide left.
Ridder tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Abdullah with 2:54 to play. The extra point attempt was blocked by Antonio Hamilton Sr. to make it 15-9.
The Falcons are set to host the New York Giants (2-12) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Giants have loss their last nine games.
“We don’t want to look ahead or anything. ... We can’t lose another game to do what we want to do,” Robinson said. “The Giants are our number one opponent right now. Our number one focus.”
About the Author
