Things started terrible for the Raiders Monday Night. And they stayed there.
The first drive ended with a sack, a tackle for loss, and a fumble. A three-and-out ended with a punt and led to a Falcons touchdown on a short field to give them a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
The second quarter would see the Raiders make it into Falcons territory on a drive in which they got a field goal. But the following drive, they would be pinned deep in their own territory and on consecutive plays the run was stopped for a loss. The second of those runs was in their own endzone for a safety.
The third quarter would open with Robert Spillane picking off a Kirk Cousin pass. Only to have the offense three-and-out, losing 12 yards with a blocked punt.
The Raiders had just one first down in the third quarter. And for the game they had eight possessions with only one having made it into Atlanta territory.
With the game seemingly out of hand, down 15-3 with just over five minutes left in the game, things would suddenly get interesting.
For just the second time in the game, the Raiders would cross the 50-yard-line.
They would get a touchdown on the drive to make the score look not as bad. But even then, the extra point attempt was blocked.
The touchdown made it a six-point game. In order to have a chance, they would need a stop and a drive for a TD. A highly questionable roughing the passer penalty on Robert Spillane gave the Falcons an automatic first down. But even after that, the Raiders defense made the stop to give the Raiders offense 1:50 to go 80 yards.
It would take a new flawless drive to do it and that ended early in the drive with DJ Glaze getting flagged for holding. They would eventually pick up the first down, but it took a lot of time off the clock to get it.
A 22-yard catch by Jakobi Meyers put the Raiders in first down at the 35-yard-line with ten seconds left on the clock.
They would go for the Hail Mary on consecutive plays. The first incomplete. and the second was intercepted to end the game. Final score 15-9.
The Raiders losing streak reached ten games and brings the Raiders record to 2-12 on the season.
