Atlanta Falcons' Desmond Ridder Impressed by Carolina Panthers' 'Heart and Soul' Derrick Brown

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is impressed by the work of Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown.

For whatever shortcomings quarterback Desmond Ridder and the Atlanta Falcons have had in 2023, the 6-7 squad will enter their Week 15 matchup with the Carolina Panthers very much in the mix for the division title in the lowly NFC South. 

Derrick Brown and the Carolina Panthers will play against desmond Ridder and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15.  :: Dale Zanine/USA Today

There's not much about the 1-12 Panthers -- a team that's already fired their coach and is playing out the string in a disastrous campaign -- that scares you. But Ridder and the Falcons seem aware how important it is not to let one of the few impact players on the Panthers, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, wreck the game Sunday afternoon. 

"He's their heart and soul of not only their d-line but their whole defense," Ridder said of Brown. "He's a big aggressive guy who for as big as he is you know he's got quick speed and he's a guy that you have to know where he's at on every single play."

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Auburn, Brown has 74 combined tackles, 12 quarterback hits, six tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception in his fourth season. The Panthers have already exercised Brown's fifth-year option, which will pay him $11.67 million in 2024. But on a team desperate for success stories, Brown seems like an obvious extension candidate this offseason for the Panthers.  

Ridder's Fourth Quarter Stardom Gives Falcons Hope - But Consistency Remains Concern

Brown's lone sack this campaign -- along with eight of his tackles -- came in Week 1 against the Falcons. Despite that, Ridder and the Falcons still won 24-10 to open the season. 

As evidenced by their -18 point differential this season, not much has come easy for the Falcons. But this is a game, outside of a few plays from Brown, that should be a relatively easy win for Ridder and company. It's a must-have as they try to push ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints -- both also 6-7 teams -- in the NFC South race.