Raiders defense: Extending Kirk Cousin’s touchdown-less streak a must

Atlanta Falcons quarterback struggling to find end zone; Las Vegas’ takeaway hardship well documented, too

The last time Kirk Cousins threw a touchdown was November 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback threw three in that game, matter of fact. That’s also the last time Atlanta won a game.

The last time the Las Vegas Raiders won a game was September 29 against the visiting Cleveland Browns, 20-16.

Something’s going to give when the two teams meet for a Monday Night Football clash in Allegiant Stadium.

Exactly what, is going to be interesting to watch.

Because for as much grief Cousins has gotten over his touchdown-less four-game streak, the Raiders overall lack of takeaways is equally miserable. But extending the opposing quarterback’s touchdown drought is a must.

For context: In the four games where Cousins hasn’t thrown a single touchdown pass, he’s fired eight interceptions — a high-water mark of four in a 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks ago. He did still average 267 passing yards in those contests (a high of 344 yards in the 42-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14) and a 62.72 completion percentage, too boot (high of 66.7 in a 38-6 loss to the Denver Broncos three weeks ago).

Cousins’ four-game skid seems ripe for the picking, doesn’t it?

Here’s the rub: The Raiders defense is ranked 32nd — dead last — in the league in takeaways with eight. (Technically, they are tied for the moribund mark with the Jacksonville Jaguars (who just happen to be 3-10 overall)). Of that eight, seven are interceptions (giving Las Vegas the 23rd ranking in that regard) with one fumble recovery.

Cornerback Jack Jones’ end zone interception of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield above was one of three takeaways Las Vegas compiled to bolster their overall single digit total.

The other two were: A second-quarter interception on a great tip and pick play by defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson and strip-sack by linebacker Amari Burney that saw safety Tre’Von Moehrig recovering the loose ball a series later.

“Just constantly improving, something we talk about and work on each week, starts individual, then in team periods, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said regarding the surge in takeaways after the team entered the game with only five total. “But I think just a conscious effort of our players. Really, you always talk about go get turnovers, well go out there and just take them, take them away. And I thought we did a good job pressuring the quarterback. We got a forced fumble there. Then obviously with the interceptions, heads up play by 44 (K’Lavon Chaisson) and Jack (Jones) had one in the end zone to take points off the board.”

The three takeaways was such a shock, check out this from the Raiders official public relations account:

Compounding matters of course are the Raiders 25 giveaways which gives the team the worst -17 differential in the league. The Jaguars and Tennessee Titans are at -11 with the Cleveland Browns at -10. The top three teams in the league in takeaway and giveaway differential are: The Buffalo Bills (+17), Pittsburgh Steelers (+17), and Los Angeles Chargers (+11).

There’s a bright side though.

Las Vegas’ takeaway breakout in Tampa Bay aside, the team produced back-to-back multi-sack weeks (five against the Kansas City Chiefs and four against the Bucs). That kind of harrier-style attack on Cousins is ideal as he isn’t very mobile, susceptible to sacks (dropped eight times in the Falcons’ four-game losing streak), and pressure has forced bad throws.

Patrick Graham’s unit has 29 sacks (good for 23rd in the league) and 69 quarterback hits (22nd). The Raiders defensive coordinator as dialed up 136 blitzes on the season, according to Pro Football Reference. Which puts the team at seventh in that category (the Minnesota Vikings pace the league in blitzes with 217). Thus, it’s imperative defensive ends Maxx Crosby (team high 7.5 sacks) and K’Lavon Chaisson (three sacks), along with defensive tackle Adam Butler (2.5 sacks), and any other defender Graham activates on a blitz to execute and fluster Cousins.

Along with those eight interceptions he’s thrown in the losing skid, Cousins has fumbled four times in that same span and has 12 on the year — which leads the NFL. His 15 interceptions total also top the league.

Of course, Atlanta could simply gameplan to attack Las Vegas’ middling run defense with productive second-year running back Bijan Robinson to mitigate Cousin’s turnover proneness. The 22-year-old (the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft) has 977 yards and eight touchdowns on 215 carries thus far along with 401 yards and one touchdown on 58 receptions.

In the Falcons’ win drought, Robinson has 345 yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries. A skilled runner who has the agility, speed, and vision to make Swiss cheese out of the Raiders defense, Las Vegas must be wary of the tailback. Especially considering the Silver & Black have the second-highest missed tackles tally on the season at 104. The Falcons also have Tyler Allgeier in the backfield and he totaled nine carries for 63 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Vikings last week (with a total of 508 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries).

Quote of Note:

“Energy, love for the game, passion, maturity, leadership, vocal player; a lot of stuff that we do with the games and rush coordinations, he’s a big part of it. And I’m not going to lie, for now the last two years, he’s been very productive rushing the passer, playing the run game, things that people probably knocked him for before he got here, he’s really improved in those areas.” —Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce on defensive tackle Adam Butler