The Falcons ran the ball 37 times for 168 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. They won the time of possession, 33 minutes, 52 seconds, to 26:08.

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Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said the team wanted to take first and second downs away from Cousins ​​after he didn’t throw a touchdown pass in four games and had eight interceptions.

The Falcons ended their four-game losing streak and won seven games for the fourth straight season. They also kept their flickering playoff hopes alive.

Here are five things we learned from the win over the Raiders.

1. Robinson is dynamic: If the Falcons make the playoffs, they appear to be carried by the stout run-blocking offensive line and running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.

Cousins ​​attempted a season-low 17 passes.

Robinson rushed for a career-high 125 yards and passed the 1,000-yard mark this season. It was his sixth 100-yard rushing game of his two-year career.

Robinson finished with 135 scrimmage yards. It was his 10th game with at least 100 scrimmage yards this season, second-most in the NFL behind Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley, who has 11 games.

Robinson became the first Falcon to exceed 100 scrimmage yards in a season since wide receiver Julio Jones in 2018.

Robinson almost gave up a couple of runs for long gainer.

“I feel like I’m a guy in some ways,” Robinson said. “One or two people away. We’ll get it right in practice. A big part of it depends on me breaking tackles. Just keep breaking tackles.”

Robinson senses that great success is imminent.

“Yeah, man, we’re close,” Robinson said. “When we start breaking up those runs and getting those 50- and 60-yard runs, the sky’s the limit. We will try to get them in the next game.”

2. The book about Ridder: Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake tried to downplay the importance of his defense, knowing Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder, who played with the Falcons in 2022 and 2023. He said it wasn’t a “huge advantage.”

But it was a huge focal point and advantage for the defense.

“We knew Des liked the fast game,” Falcons linebacker Nate Landman said. “Likes to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Obviously he is mobile. We practiced zone reading a little bit and he had a few goalies, especially the one in the fourth period.”

Ridder was popular with Falcons teammates. Landman, Robinson and safety Jessie Bates III made sure to chat with him before and after the game.

“We came into the same (draft) class together,” Landman said. “It’s always good to see him. He said his family is doing well. I was glad to see Des. I’m glad he landed (at the Raiders) and got the starting nod.”

3. The pass rush continues: The Falcons pass rush continued to get to the quarterback. Outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone led the attack with two sacks.

The defense finished the game with four sacks and six quarterback hits.

“It was an incredible blessing,” Malone said. “I felt like the guys came here with strong engines. The boys played tirelessly. Guys just wanted to finish.”

Malone, who made the team as a special teams player, was able to develop his strengths in defense over the course of the season.

“We know if we got one, they would come in bunches,” Malone said. “We play into each other. Guys have trust in each other. The guys did their best and got to the quarterback.”

The Falcons are the only team with an active streak of at least four sacks in three straight games.

The last time the Falcons had three consecutive games with at least four sacks was in Weeks 15-17 in 2004, when they were en route to the NFC Championship Game.

The Falcons remain last in the league with 23 sacks.

4. Kick game: Punter Bradley Pinion placed four punts inside the 10-yard line and two inside the 5-yard line.

Pinion struck out six times for 265 yards and a 37.5 net average. It had a length of 63 yards.

According to coach Raheem Morris, Pinion’s punts allowed the Falcons to play keep-away style football.

However, kicker Younghoe Koo missed another field goal attempt. He had a 42-yard attempt that sailed wide left.

Had he made the field goal, the Falcons would have had a two-point lead and would not have had to withstand Hail Mary’s attempts to win the game.

Additionally, the Falcons did not allow Koo to attempt two 55-yard field goal attempts.

“I definitely had two choices there and I definitely decided to take them back,” Morris said. “I thought special teams did it really well. We played a little football, let’s be honest, we played a keep-away game and got these guys to…drive all the way down the field. Try to beat us by touchdowns.”

5. Young defensive tackles: Second-year defensive tackle Zach Harrison and rookie defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro both made notable plays in the game.

Harrison dropped Raiders running back Alexander Mattison for a safety.

Orhorhoro, who came off injured reserve just hours before the game, had a tackle and a tackle for loss.

“Jimmy set us on the right path, and we went and executed,” Harrison said of security. “That’s all, really.”

Orhorhoro played 15 defensive snaps (22%). He was out with an ankle injury.

“It was really good after sitting for a while,” Orhorhoro said. “Had some time to study. I got my body back. It was really good. It was nice to be out there with the boys again.”

In total, the Falcons had 10 tackles for loss.

“We were definitely out there pursuing it,” Orhorhoro said. “I just get vertical. I try to play in the backfield to create a better pass-rush scenario.”