LAS VEGAS — Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass in five weeks and the Atlanta Falcons beat struggling Las Vegas 15-9 on Monday night The Las Vegas Raiders remain in the lead in the NFC South.
In order to achieve the final comeback, Raiders quarterback Desmond Reed made two desperate passes to the end zone in the last 10 seconds. The first was incomplete and the second was intercepted by Jesse Bates III.
The Falcons (7-7) snapped a four-game losing streak and remain one game behind the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
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Las Vegas (2-12) lost its tenth straight game, the NFL’s longest active skid, and 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 consecutive skids a decade ago.
Cousins had no touchdown passes and eight interceptions in his previous four starts, raising questions about whether rookie Michael Penix would take over at quarterback. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris selected Cousins with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft, and Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract this year.
Cousins did little to ease concerns about his performance, throwing for just 112 yards and an interception. His 30-yard pass to an open Drake London with 14 seconds left in the first quarter gave Atlanta a 7-0 lead, his first since a three-goal touchdown on Nov. 3. The touchdown helped Atlanta defeat the Dallas Cowboys 27-21.
The Falcons scored the remaining points on a pair of field goals by Younghoe Koo and a safety by defensive lineman Zach Harrison.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 125 yards and London had three catches for 53 yards, giving him 219 career catches. London passed Calvin Ridley’s 217 receptions for the most receptions in a player’s first three seasons in Falcons history.
Atlanta stopped Reed from derailing its playoff plans. Reed started 13 games with the Falcons last season before being traded to Arizona, but he was hampered throughout the night in his first start of the season. Reed, who replaced Aidan O’Connell, who was sidelined with a left knee injury, passed for 208 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
The injury-plagued Raiders managed just 249 yards and have trailed by double digits in all 14 games this season.
O’Connell isn’t the only missing player. Defensive end Max Crosby announced Saturday that he will undergo season-ending ankle surgery while about half the Raiders’ starting defense is out.
Las Vegas also lost recent starter running back Hinsley McCormick early in the second quarter to an ankle injury.
Falcons: Host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Raiders: Host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
