Atlanta Falcons QB Desmond Ridder Reveals Key Detail of Electric Kyle Pitts Catch in 4th Quarter
In the Atlanta Falcons' final drive in Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Desmond Ridder found tight end Kyle Pitts on the right sideline for a first down gain...or so we thought.
Replay later indicated that Pitts did not complete the process of the catch, thus overturning the call. Some fans may forget about this play that started the possession, however, because Pitts came through in a big way later in the drive on a different catch-and-run from Ridder.
But did you know that it was the exact same play as the incompletion? Desmond Ridder revealed that fact after the game on Sunday.
"We ran the same play, just the other way around the first time, came incomplete," Ridder said. "Literally ran the same exact play and was able to complete it."
Oct 22, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) is chased out of bounds by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
It is oftentimes thought in the NFL that you don't run the same play in close succession. After all, these are professionals you're playing against, and defenses are known to adjust and adapt as games progress.
But, if the play seemed to have the potential to work earlier in the drive, why not try it again? This time, it paid off, as Pitts made his way into Bucs territory and helped set up a game-winning field goal from kicker Younghoe Koo.
The Falcons offense has struggled at times this season, but maybe its new mantra can be "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Not necessarily running the same play over and over, but finding an identity that works and sticking with it.
It seemed to pay off on Sunday afternoon, at least.
