But if you watched this game then you’ll understand that I’m pessimistic about their chances of making a run. The Falcons can’t be trusted to score often enough to win three games in a row, no matter the opponent. In the last five games they have only scored more than 20 points once. Quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​still doesn’t seem comfortable or confident.

The Falcons had 11 drives against the Raiders (2-12), with four of them starting on the home team’s side. They scored a touchdown. Two Falcons drives started less than 40 yards from the end zone. They got three points from it. The Falcons only managed one first down on eight drives. A good kickoff return by Avery Williams brought the Falcons to their 45-yard line to start the half. Cousins ​​​​threw an interception on the first play of the game.

Everything is hard for cousins ​​now. He got off to a fast start with his first touchdown pass in his last five games. Drake London’s 30-yard strike gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead. They never gave the lead back, but they couldn’t beat the Raiders because Cousins ​​wasn’t sharp. The league’s leader in interceptions had another giveaway (another late pass) and missed throws that killed drives.

Cousins ​​was the subject of constant commentary in the locker room on Monday Night Football. The gist of the conversation between Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky is that Cousins ​​just doesn’t look the same. Here was an exchange after Cousins ​​fumbled an easy throw to Ray-Ray McCloud in the red zone before the Falcons kicked a field goal in the third quarter:

Riddick: “Just a miss. He has a clear line of sight.”

Orlovsky: “I’m surprised he’s not getting in Drake London’s way now.”

Riddick: “Just not able to put it on (McCloud). Not under pressure. Nobody stands in his face. You just wonder now if (the interception) is a little more on Kirk’s mind again. Is it starting to unsettle him a little?”

Cousins ​​​​haven’t melted. He just didn’t really try to make any plays. It seemed like offensive coordinator Zac Robinson didn’t want to risk letting Cousins ​​try. The Falcons’ running backs carried the ball on 34 of 54 plays, covering 168 yards. The play mix after Cousins’ interception was seven passes and 22 runs, although the Falcons never led by more than 12 points.

The Falcons couldn’t solve a defense that ranked second-to-last in points allowed and the absence of Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby. They didn’t have to score much because former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder was even worse than Cousins. But Ridder got a chance to win the game because the Falcons couldn’t beat Las Vegas when they got the ball with three minutes left, even after the Raiders were called for a suspect roughing the passer call.

With ten seconds left, the Raiders reached Atlanta’s 35-yard line. Ridder’s first pass into the end zone was incomplete. His second attempt was intercepted by Falcons safety Jessie Bates III. The Falcons came out of Vegas with a decisive win. According to the NFL’s statistical projections, the Falcons have a 36% chance of making the playoffs. If there had been a loss it would have been 10%.

The Commanders (9-5) are the only winning team still on Atlanta’s schedule. The Falcons play here next weekend against the Giants (2-12) and in the finale against the Panthers (3-11). These are football teams that play poor defense and even worse offense. But that also describes the Raiders, and the Falcons had to huff and puff to beat them.

Even the worst teams in the NFL have a chance to beat the Falcons. The plan to build a high-scoring offense around Cousins ​​isn’t working. The Falcons won on Monday night against an opponent with a worse offense. They won’t win enough to get into the playoffs.