Even through offensive struggles, special teams miscues and injuries – the Las Vegas Raiders still managed to make Monday's 15-9 loss to the Falcons go down to the wire with a chance to win in the final seconds.
Coming into the game, Maxx Crosby announced he would miss the remainder of the season, plus Desmond Ridder got his first start for the Raiders after Aidan O'Connell was inactive due to a knee injury suffered in Week 14.
Things didn't get any easier with newly-appointed starting running back Sincere McCormick exiting early with an ankle injury. Additionally AJ Cole, who was leading the league in yards per punt coming into the primetime game, had two punts blocked.
"We need all three phases to play well," Antonio Pierce said following the loss. "Obviously, when you're struggling, losing nine in a row, you can't have those mistakes and we did today and it was a bad day in the office. Bottom line."
Facing the team that drafted him in 2022, Ridder had his highs and lows. The Raiders offense only scored three points through the first three quarters. An interception to Justin Simmons with 9:02 left in regulation nearly sealed the deal for the Falcons.
But the Raiders weren't done yet. They kept fighting.
Ridder drove the ball 68 yards downfield, ending with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ameer Abdullah to cut Atlanta's lead to one score. The Raiders quarterback was also the team's leading rusher for the evening with 28 yards.
"I thought he battled, especially after the interception," Pierce said of Ridder. "He got nicked up. Man, he's a fighter. Obviously, a personal game for him."
On the final drive of the game, Ridder threw for 65 yards and got the ball down to the 35-yard line amid a flurry of penalties. Yet it was all said and done after two failed Hail Mary attempts.
"We were just never able to find a rhythm again there until late in the game," Ridder said postgame. "By then, it's just too little too late."
The grand reasoning for how the Raiders stayed in the game for so long was the play of their defense. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was sacked three times by Tyree Wilson, Adam Butler and rookie Jonah Laulu. They also held him to 117 passing yards with an interception by Robert Spillane. Atlanta's offense was also held to 4-of-13 (31 percent) on third downs.
"We've just got to go back to work and watch the film and try to correct the things we did bad and keep continuing to do the things we did right," Wilson said.
"It came down to the last series," he continued. "I feel we're real close, but close don't matter. We've got to get there."
The Raiders have three more games this season to rectify some of their recent misfortunes and break their 10-game losing streak. The next opportunity comes against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home on a short week.
"It really ain't about me. It's not about the individuals, it's about the team," Pierce said. "This is what we've been building on and working on since the offseason into training camp and then into the season. You just saw them in there at the very end of the game, everybody dapping each other, loving each other up and just keep fighting. ... Just hasn't gone our way which has now become transparent and redundant.
"But it's not really about them fighting for me, we're fighting for one another. We understand where we're at. We get what's going on."
View photos from the Raiders' Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74), quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) and running back Sincere McCormick (28) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick (28) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) and defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) and linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) and defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) and defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9), linebacker Divine Deablo (5), safety Tre'von Moehrig (7) and defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick (28) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) kicks a 52-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) celebrates after kicking a 52-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Gainer (53) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Zach Carter (93), defensive lineman Adam Butler (69), defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) and linebacker Amari Burney (56) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41), safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and cornerback Decamerion Richardson (25) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) and defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) and defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders celebrate linebacker Robert Spillane's (41) interception during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jordan Meredith (61) and tackle Kolton Miller (74) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) and safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Burney (56) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson (97) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson (97) and linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson (97) and defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) on the sidelines during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) makes a 5-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) dives into the end zone after making a 5-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) celebrates after making a 5-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Allegiant Stadium.
