A win is a win in the NFL – certainly one that ends a four-game losing streak.

Just don’t expect Atlanta to cut this film out for the highlight reel. The Falcons limped past a Las Vegas Raiders team that was starting just its third quarterback of the season with a 15-9 win on Monday night. They were unable to hold off the Raiders until the very end of the game.

They won the game with the help of a controversial attack on the passer that allowed the Falcons to make a play in the fourth quarter. Raiders linebacker Spillane converted the penalty on that contact with Kirk Cousins ​​that gave the Falcons first-and-10 at midfield with 2:44 left after a third down incomplete.

The Falcons ultimately didn’t capitalize and hit back to Las Vegas with 1:50 left. But the Raiders couldn’t respond with a touchdown. Las Vegas reached Atlanta’s 35-yard line on its final drive. But the Raiders’ last shot into the end zone was intercepted by Jessie Bates III.

The win improved the Falcons’ record to 7-7 and kept their long-term playoff hopes alive. But Monday’s performance gave little indication that the 8-6 Buccaneers could win the NFC South title.

The Falcons have struggled to capitalize on their good field position

The Falcons spent most of the night starting drives at premium field position and then failing to convert them into touchdowns. Three first-half drives that crossed into Raiders territory ended in punts. A second-half possession that began at the Las Vegas 37-yard line thanks to a blocked punt yielded only one field goal.

The only offensive highlight for Atlanta was Kirk Cousins ​​hitting Drake London for a 30-yard touchdown at the end of the first quarter. London broke free from cornerback Jack Jones’ coverage and ran untouched down the right sideline to score.

But the struggles that stunned Cousins ​​during the four-game losing streak continued throughout the night. The Falcons’ first-year quarterback was missed repeatedly and was limited by the mobility issues that have continued to plague him since tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 8 last season.

Cousins ​​finished the night completing 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He recorded three sacks, two of which put the Falcons out of field goal range. Bijan Robinson was effective and often electrifying when he touched the ball, rushing for 125 yards on 22 carries. But Atlanta’s entire offense was hamstrung by an ineffective passing attack.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris has repeatedly expressed his confidence in Cousins ​​as his starting quarterback. But Monday’s efforts will do little to quell calls to give rookie Michael Penix Jr. a chance to start.

But in the end, the Falcons’ performance was enough to overcome an inept Raiders offense led by former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder in its first start of the season. Ridder was given the nod after Aidan O’Connell was ruled out of action before kick-off with a bone bruise in his left knee suffered against the Buccaneers last week.

He struggled to move the ball and had little success offside in his first start since Week 18 with the Falcons last season. Ridder finished the night completing 23 of 38 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown and one interception while taking three sacks.

Late in the fourth quarter, he led a touchdown drive that put pressure on the Falcons. But Las Vegas’ last attempt failed with two passes into the end zone – one went incomplete, the other was deflected by Bates.

Meanwhile, running back Alexander Mattison lost a fumble and was tackled in the end zone for a safety. And the Raiders’ special teams allowed three blocked kicks – two on punts and one on an extra point.

The Raiders fell to 2-12 with the loss, keeping pace with the Giants, who had the worst record in football in the race for the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft.