Kirk Cousins ​​tackles in the Falcons’ 15-9 win over the Raiders

LAS VEGAS – The Atlanta Falcons snapped their four-game losing streak and kept their hopes of winning the NFC South alive Monday night after their 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. But the team still has one glaring problem: its quarterback play.

Kirk Cousins ​​was 11-of-17 for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a game where the Falcons leaned heavily on their rushing attack. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 34 carries.

Cousins ​​has nine interceptions in his past five games with just one touchdown pass during that span. His first-quarter, 30-yard lob to wide receiver Drake London was his first touchdown pass since Week 9 — when the Falcons were 6-3 and in control of their division.

“He’s got to play better, and obviously you’ve got to go back, you’ve got to look at everything,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “But he wants to play better. He’s got to play better. We’ve got to find a way to get him to play better.”

Morris didn’t say he was ready to switch at quarterback. The Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in April’s NFL draft, a few weeks after signing Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million free-agent contract.

Atlanta (7-7) focused so much on the running game that Cousins ​​didn’t throw for a first down in the first half. It was the first time this has happened in his 13-year career.

Cousins ​​threw two interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings last week, but had 344 yards through the air. The big plays weren’t there against the Raiders, and the Falcons went 4-of-13 on third down.

Morris said Cousins ​​showed improvement against the Vikings, coming off a four-interception performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13. When asked if Monday was an improvement or regression for him, Cousins ​​said it was “a bit of both” and the biggest issue for him right now is “decision making.”

“So you don’t put the ball in jeopardy and don’t try to be too aggressive,” Cousins ​​said. “And I think that’s really the key. Protect the football.”

It was the fewest interceptions he has thrown in three games, and Cousins ​​had no fumbles. He leads the league in both categories – 16 and 12, respectively (along with Baker Mayfield). But the outing was certainly not up to his standards either.

When Cousins ​​was asked about Morris’ comments that he needed to play better, the quarterback said, “I don’t think it’s a mystery.”

“I think the last couple of weeks I would say I’ve got to play better,” Cousins ​​said. “Raheem says it, but it says the obvious and every week you go through your process and you plan to go out there and play the very best you can. So this week will be no different.”