Atlanta Falcons Offense Inept as Desmond Ridder Struggles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

After scoring just 13 points in the last two weeks, the Atlanta Falcons' offense has plenty of questions to answer.

The Atlanta Falcons' first offensive play from scrimmage foreshadowed a difficult Sunday in London as the offense mustered just one scoring drive in a 23-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson ran right and was met almost immediately, ultimately being dropped for a one-yard loss by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco.

"From the jump, first play, it didn't go as we planned," quarterback Desmond Ridder said postgame.

In its first three drives, Atlanta's offense mustered just one first down. The two possessions that followed ended on back-to-back interceptions from Ridder, one being a pick-six by cornerback Darious Williams.

At halftime, the Falcons trailed 17-0. They've scored only 19 points in the first half this season, and three points in the first half of the last two games. In Ridder's eight career starts, Atlanta's registered just 49 total first half points, an average of 7.3 points per first half. 

The Falcons have now faced double-digit deficits in each of the past three games, in large part because the offense simply can't find an early rhythm - which coach and play caller Arthur Smith accepted blame for afterwards.

"We've got to do a better job - it starts with me - jumpstarting the offense early," Smith said. "Put ourselves in a hole and we can't turn the ball over. It's something we've got to look at, and it's not just one person."

As for the interceptions, the first came on an in-breaking pass to London against zone coverage but Williams drove on the ball and returned it 61 yards to the endzone.

The next play, Ridder dropped back and tried to rip a pass to tight end Kyle Pitts. Smith wanted to give Ridder a chance, and they ran a similar concept earlier in the game that netted a favorable look.

Instead, Cisco jumped it, and Ridder had two interceptions in as many throws. Afterwards, the second-year quarterback singled out the way in which he used his eyes as the key factor.

"The one to Kyle, they cut the crosser, we ran a three-level read and the safety drove on it. I could've held my eyes in a better place," Ridder said. "The other one to Drake, he was inside leverage, coming back, I didn't get my eyes over there quick enough."

In something of a full circle moment, Ridder's final play of the day was a turnover - a lost fumble on a strip sack by Jaguars edge rusher Josh Allen inside of two minutes to play.

By that point, the game was already over ... and Ridder's interceptions played a big part as to why.

"I did a terrible job of taking care of the ball," Ridder said. "That changed the momentum of the game. We've got to find a way to start faster. Whatever that may be, however it is, that's just what we've got do. I've got to do a better job of taking care of the ball."

Ridder finished the game 19 of 31 for 191 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, one lost fumble and four sacks taken. The 24-year-old passer entered the day leading the NFL in turnover-worthy throws with seven, per Pro Football Focus, despite having just one interception to his name.

But inside Wembley Stadium, Ridder's struggles reached new heights, with the passing game - be it turnovers or an inability to push the ball downfield and attack the deep third - once again limiting the offense's production.

Desmond Ridder hands off to running back Tyler Allgeier against the Jacksonville Jaguars / USA Today

Smith told ESPN at halftime that he never considered making a change to backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, and after the game, seemed to express pleasure in how Ridder responded in the second half.

"Those are tough lessons for a young quarterback," Smith said. "But you're going to find out about yourself when you go back out there. That's why in the second half he was able to push the ball down the field a little bit. I thought he operated cleaner in the pocket. He was not risk averse after that."

Ridder's second half stats showed improvement but still didn't prove to be enough, completing 10 of 17 passes for 118 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and the lost fumble.

Over the last two weeks, Atlanta's been outscored 43-13. The optimism fueled by preseason hype and a fast 2-0 start has quickly subsided.

After Ridder was nearly intercepted for a third time on an underthrown deep ball, receiver Mack Hollins appeared to voice his frustration on the sideline.

Suddenly, the Falcons are facing an early-season crossroads fostered by an inept offense.

There's not much internal concern; Atlanta remains confident in the pieces it has ... but sooner or later, the offense has to get rolling, and there doesn't seem to be any valid answers roaming through the minds of Smith or Ridder.

"We've got the right guys in that locker room," Smith said. "The other reality is that we're thankfully 2-2, and we've got to get back to Atlanta and get this thing jumpstarted."