Atlanta Falcons QB Desmond Ridder Shows Grit, Silences Critics in Clutch Win Over Houston Texans

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder had a career day on Sunday, and he is a big reason for his team's win over the Houston Texans.

It was a defensive battle for most of the game, but the Atlanta Falcons moved back over .500 with a 21-19 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon. Even though the game-winning score came from the leg of kicker Younghoe Koo, it was quarterback Desmond Ridder who drew headlines for his stellar performance.

Both the Falcons and Texans struggled to put points on the board for much of the game, but Ridder, who had been plagued by lackluster play in recent weeks, threw for 329 yards in the win, a career-high. The most telling stat, however, was a zero in the interception column paired with a passing and rushing score.

Oct 8, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports / © Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta turned the ball over twice in the second half, but neither of them came from Ridder, and the Falcons defense was able to largely keep a lid on rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud of Houston. It wasn't a day that saw huge point totals, but after hearing criticism in back-to-back weeks on his level of play, Ridder definitely rose to the occasion and took care of the football, a key aspect in his team pulling out the late win.

His 28-for-37 stat line through the air helped him out-duel the blossoming Stroud, and Falcons fans should be pleased to return to the win column after pushing through adversity the last two weeks, especially given their quarterback's performance.

There are still areas to improve on offensively. Scoring just 21 points is not a billboard day for any NFL offense, but the important thing on Sunday was not the amount of points scored, but efficiency out of Ridder and attempting to gain a win in the process.

Both of those boxes were checked, and perhaps the young Atlanta signal caller is turning a corner heading into Week 6 against the Washington Commanders.