
In a rather lackluster showing by both teams during last night's matchup, the Atlanta Falcons managed to eke out a win against the Las Vegas Raiders with a score of 15-9. This win proved to be enough for the Falcons to cling onto their playoff aspirations while the Raiders continued to plumb the depths of their losing streak, according to reports from News3LV and ESPN.
With a performance that was far from convincing, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins managed to throw his first touchdown pass in five games, a 30-yarder to Drake London with just 14 seconds left in the first quarter. Indeed, Cousins has struggled mightily, throwing nine interceptions over the past five games with only one touchdown to show for it. Nevertheless, the Falcons appear to be determined to stick by their $180 million man, despite his ongoing issues to robustly turn the tide in the team's favor. Cousins, as per the ESPN report, was limited in the game plan, with no first-down pass attempts in the first half—a telling stat that reflects perhaps a dwindling confidence in his arm.
Raiders' rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder, who started in place of the injured Aidan O'Connell, had a difficult night, despite completing 23-of-29 pass attempts. He ended up throwing two interceptions, including a crucial one with just 10 seconds remaining in the game. This reflected the Raiders' broader issues, as they've been beset by injuries and have now chalked up their 10th consecutive defeat, tying them for the worst record in the NFL, as mentioned by News3LV.
The Falcons' defense and special teams deserve their fair share of accolades, though, with key plays like a blocked punt and a safety contributing to the win. KhaDarel Hodge stood out with a blocked punt and another tipped punt, importantly swinging the field position in the Falcons' favor. Let's just say the Falcons' specialists had reasons to dream tonight, as noted by ESPN. Despite the victory, however, concerns about the team's prospects linger as they head into their remaining games with the shadow of a surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers looming over them.
Looking ahead, the Falcons prepare to host the New York Giants this Sunday, hoping to better their now-even record, while the Raiders brace themselves for a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, possibly with the top pick in the draft on the line. Both teams find themselves at critical junctures as the season draws to a close, the Falcons looking to maintain their playoff chase and the Raiders possibly looking to salvage anything from a season that's quickly going down in the history books for all the wrong reasons.