Flick's Forum: Desmond Ridder's Ups & Downs a Microcosm of Atlanta Falcons Offense

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is in the midst of his best - and most turnover-prone - stretch of his career, embodying the inconsistencies of an offense close to finding a new level.

For the first time since the end of the 2018 season, the Atlanta Falcons' offense has recorded three straight games of at least 400 yards ... and haven't mustered more than 21 points in any of them.

Perhaps no game better illustrates the highs and lows of coach Arthur Smith's unit better than Sunday's last-second 16-13 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and perhaps no player better than quarterback Desmond Ridder.

Entering with his first two 300-yard passing performances under his belt, Ridder once again produced at an efficient clip, completing 19 of 25 passes for 250 yards while adding 38 yards and a touchdown on six rushing attempts.

But like last week's 24-16 loss to the Washington Commanders in which he tossed three interceptions, Ridder had a trio of turnovers - all fumbles, all in the red zone, two just shy of the goal line.

Over his past four games, Ridder's turned the ball over three times in all but one - a clean sheet in a 21-19 win over the Houston Texans in Week 5.

Few would argue Ridder's play has reached a new level over the past three weeks; he's had his three most productive games in terms of passing yards, has led two game-winning drives inside of two minutes and has operated with more decisiveness than in his first eight starts.

But if the turnovers aren't resolved, the impact of him finding that new level will largely be unseen in the point totals and, perhaps more importantly, the win/loss column.

“At the end of the day, I’ve just got to do a better job of taking care of the ball,” Ridder said postgame.

Added Smith: “I promise you we’ll find a way to fix it.”

Each of Ridder's three fumbles were different in nature, but all hurt the same.

At the end of the first half, Ridder dropped back to pass on 3rd and Goal from the 11. He was hit by Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaq Barrett. The ball came out, and Tampa Bay recovered. A chance to take the lead at halftime evaporated.

That was missed opportunity No. 1.

Atlanta opened the second half with a three-and-out. On the ensuing drive, Ridder hit receiver Drake London for a 13-yard gain on 3rd and 8. London nearly fumbled out of bounds but was ruled just short of the goal line, a fortunate break for the Falcons to set up a prime scoring opportunity.

All hopes of that were dashed on the next snap, when there was a mistake on the snap exchange between Ridder and center Drew Dalman, with the Buccaneers recovering once again.

That was missed opportunity No. 2.

“You know, the one right there on the goal line – (I) just didn’t get in, obviously," Ridder said. "You’re antsy to get in, you’re about eight inches away – at the end of the day, just have to come up with it.”

Both of the first two fumbles were damaging to Atlanta's aspirations but weren't entirely uncommon mistakes.

The same can't be said for the last one.

Taking over on his own seven-yard line with a 13-10 lead and 12:37 left in the fourth quarter, Ridder and the Falcons offense marched downfield, spearheaded by a 46-yard completion to running back Tyler Allgeier on an improvised scramble drill.

With the way Atlanta's defense was playing, a touchdown would all but end the game ... and for a few seconds, Ridder thought he accomplished that feat, running into the endzone from 12 yards out for what would've been his second rushing score of the day.

Moments later, Buccaneers fans erupted as a replay was shown on the big screen - safety Antoine Winfield Jr. punched the ball out of Ridder's possession before crossing the goal line.

Ridder nonchalantly approached the endzone on his run and was carrying the ball in his right hand when it should've been in his left. Since the ball went through the back of the endzone, the Buccaneers received the ball.

Ridder went from hero to zero just like that.

That was missed opportunity No. 3.

“It was an RPO (run-pass option), so I was going to pass it," Ridder said. "Back when we’re seven, eight years old playing football you learn that when you’re running to the left, put the ball in your left hand, when you’re running to the right, put it in the right.

"So, I was running out to my left and I thought I was going to throw it, I pulled it down and ran it, kept it in my right hand and obviously didn’t protect the ball.”

Smith provided coaching tidbits to reporters afterwards.

"You run through the goal line," he said. "Don’t let up."

On Ridder's first two fumbles, the Buccaneers didn't score. On the last one, they did ... and tied the game at 13 apiece with 45 seconds left to play.

Ridder trotted out to his own 25-yard line with two timeouts in his back pocket and the NFC South lead on the line.

Two plays later, he stood at the Buccaneers' 36-yard line, fresh off hitting tight end Kyle Pitts for a 39-yard catch-and-run that vaulted the Falcons into field goal range.

Three snaps after that, kicker Younghoe Koo connected on a 51-yard field goal, vaulting Atlanta atop the division and giving Ridder his third game-winning drive in the past six weeks.

That was opportunity capitalized No. 1.

That was going from zero to hero.

And perhaps most importantly, that was enough to earn a strong backing from Smith, who praised his second-year quarterback's ability to make big-time throws, especially when it mattered most.

“The guy played phenomenal in the pocket, delivered the ball," Smith said. "Last week, he threw a couple a couple picks, fixes those. I understand it’s like a game of Whac-a-Mole, but he’s in his 11th start (and) just got a road win. They’re a great defense in the league – let’s give him some credit, let’s give this team some credit for winning.”

Sunday marked Ridder's first road victory as a professional, an ironic taste after he suffered his first home defeat since 2015 the week before.

Smith's note of it being career start No. 11 for Ridder shouldn't be overlooked - he's still just 24 years old and figuring out the ins and outs of the NFL.

But it's also true that some lessons, like the quarterback-center exchange, switching the hand with which you're carrying the ball and not letting up before the goal line, shouldn't have to be learned at the sport's highest level, regardless of experience.

Ridder's had nine turnovers in his last four games. He's given the ball away at least once in all but two contests this year.

Turnovers are going to happen - but they're currently happening when they physically can't if the Falcons hope to fulfill their preseason goal of making the playoffs.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 22: Desmond Ridder #9 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Tampa, Florida :: (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Against Washington, each of Ridder's interceptions came in the second half, two in the fourth quarter, one in the end zone. This week, he fumbled in each of the final three quarters, all wasting prime scoring opportunities.

Remember the stat about Atlanta's offense having three straight 400-yard games for the first time in almost five years? All it has to show for that is 53 points, an average of just under 18 points per game.

Looking for a reason why the Falcons' offense hasn't been converting despite moving the ball at a much higher rate? Look no further than the turnovers.

“There’s no magical potion to fix fumbles," Ridder said. "It’s just strapping up and knowing that you have to protect the football. That’s what this game is about, protecting the football. The ball is the key, the ball is the issue, and at the end of the day, for me and everyone else – but obviously me (Sunday) – we just have to do a better job at that.”

For as harmful as Ridder's turnovers were, it's also important to recognize that he threw the football at a high-level Sunday.

He completed a 46-yard pass to receiver Scotty Miller, the longest air-yard completion for Atlanta's offense this season, while adding the 46-yarder to Allgeier and 39-yarder to Pitts.

Even with running back Bijan Robinson, who entered Sunday tied for the team lead with 26 receptions, playing a minimal role due to a headache, Ridder spread the ball around, finding eight different receivers.

And with the game on the line, Ridder fearlessly threaded a window against zone coverage to hit Pitts, setting up a crucial road victory that could prove vital as Atlanta seeks to make its first trip to the postseason in six years.

“Shout-out to Desmond Ridder, man, ice in his veins,” veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell said, via The Athletic. “That’s big time. Thirty seconds or whatever it was, two timeouts, find a way to go get points and win the ballgame. Wow. I’m impressed.”

Campbell's in his 17th professional season; he knows what it takes to win, and with 15 games of playoff experience under his belt, is well aware of what's needed to play deep into January.

Games like Sunday, he said, build character and invoke playoff-esque feelings. The Falcons intend on being in many more contests just like it, and the way they finished inspires confidence they can not only hold their own in big moments but walk away victorious.

When Smith named Ridder the starter at the end of March, he anticipated growing pains but liked the upside in his young quarterback. Most of all, he believed in the person underneath the helmet.

Despite his three fumbles, Ridder remained mentally tough, and when his number was called at the end of the game, he delivered.

Smith has harped all season about the Falcons never being out of games because of their resiliency and ability to make big plays in big moments ... and Ridder embodied that better than anybody Sunday.

“There (are) always things to (fix)," Smith said. "We’re not going run away with some negative narrative – we found a way to win. I know this about Desmond Ridder – he’s tough and he’s a winner.”

And inside Raymond-James Stadium, both Ridder and the Falcons proved exactly that on their way to the top of the NFC South.