'Good Reset' Has Desmond Ridder Poised to Start for Atlanta Falcons After Bye Week

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder appears well-positioned to start over Taylor Heinicke after the bye week.

The Atlanta Falcons have lost three consecutive games and are entering the bye week in a state of disarray - and have plenty of questions to answer about who starts at quarterback upon their return.

Desmond Ridder led Atlanta's offense for the first eight weeks and made noticeable strides, but he had a league-high 12 giveaways and the team's redzone efficiency wasn't where coach Arthur Smith wanted.

When Ridder entered concussion protocol after a difficult first half against the Tennessee Titans in Week 8, Taylor Heinicke took over and guided the Falcons to a 20-point second half, the best scoring half they've had this season.

Heinicke started the next two weeks, and while Atlanta scored a season-high 28 points in a Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the level of play under center didn't really change.

The quarterback position firmly reached a crossroads in Sunday's 25-23 road loss against the Arizona Cardinals, when Heinicke departed with a pulled hamstring and Ridder led a pair of lengthy fourth quarter drives, one of which came up short on fourth down while the other gave Atlanta a late lead that it ultimately couldn't hold.

Smith and staff will evaluate what's been put on film thus far and then announce a starter moving forward next Monday. There's a fair sample size of both options.

Across nine games, Ridder's completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,740 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions while adding four scores on the ground. He's also fumbled six times. The Falcons are 4-4 in his eight starts.

In his three appearances, Heinicke's gone 41 of 74 (55.4 percent) for 498 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He's 0-2 as a starter.

Atlanta's final decision will come down to what Smith feels is best for the team, but he spoke at length about Ridder in his press conference Monday and appears to be leaning that way entering his bye week gleaning process.

“I thought it was a good reset for Des," Smith said of Ridder's time off. "Just some things that were going on. Obviously, he got evaluated in the Tennessee game. He would’ve been able to come back, but Taylor went in there and operated pretty well. Like I said, he’s not the first guy, and I think it can be very beneficial to him.

“Everybody’s different, but I think what you saw with Des what was very encouraging was that’s tough for anybody as a young player in his career."

Smith offered an example he learned under coach Joe Gibbs with the now-Washington Commanders: Mark Rypien, a sixth-round pick turned two-time Pro Bowler who battled fumbling issues early in his career and rebounded to play 11 professional seasons.

Ridder's had success - from Weeks 5 through 7, he was second in the NFL in passing yards per game at 297.3, trailing only Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.

But the Falcons ultimately turned away from Ridder, with his seven turnovers - three interceptions, four fumbles - in his final 10 quarters as a starter being too much to overcome.

That said, when forced into action against Arizona, Ridder impressed, completing four of six passes for 39 yards while adding a go-ahead rushing score that caught Smith's eye.

“We needed to get the turnovers under control, and there were some other things going on, but I always watch who wants the ball when the game is on the line, and he wanted the ball in his hands. That’s why we loved him coming out of Cincinnati.

“I think when you get in those critical situations, got to have it, you're on the game-winning drive, and you package some things in the short-yardage. He wanted the ball in his hands.”

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder seems to have the upper hand over Taylor Heinicke to start after the bye week / Getty Images

Smith added that pro football is a considerable test in big moments, but things always play out on the field - and in this case, Ridder made a big statement.

Perhaps most impressive to Smith is that Ridder's rushing touchdown was quite similar to a play that happened against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which the 24-year-old signal caller nonchalantly approached the endzone and had the ball punched out before crossing the goal line.

Some three weeks prior, Ridder didn't make the play. He did this time around - and may have won the starting job back.

“Made a hell of a play,” Smith said. “That told me a lot that he wanted the ball in his hands.”

The Falcons have also been pleased with how Ridder handled his demotion, as he proved supportive of Heinicke behind the scenes, continued to lead offensive meetings and remained prepared if his opportunity came.

The opportunity arose in Arizona, and Ridder, armed with what Smith dubbed a "fresh perspective," built on his first stint strengths and produced at a strong level.

“I saw his confidence and I saw a guy that’s the reason we love him and wanted him here coming out," Smith said. ”The guy wants the ball in his hands in critical moments. He has done a lot of good. But the reset, the re-focus and working on things that I thought could help him, he’s done that.”

The Falcons are now facing seven games worth of critical moments, with their first postseason appearance since 2017 on the line coming out of the bye week.

Ridder has a tall task ahead of him to inspire confidence he can be a long-term answer under center, but he seems likely to get a second chance down the stretch - and may be able to resurrect not only his career, but Atlanta's season, along the way.