The Atlanta Falcons enter their bye week with a three-game losing streak and critical questions ahead of their final seven games of the season. With a record of 4-6, they are only one game behind New Orleans in the NFC South, so the playoffs are still a possibility. To make a postseason run, Atlanta must first address the issues that have resulted in six losses in the last eight games. The most important question is what to do at quarterback.
Taylor Heinicke has started the last two games after replacing Desmond Ridder in a loss at Tennessee in Week 8. He has managed the offense well, but has only thrown two touchdowns and one interception in the last two weeks, both of which the Falcons led before losing in the final minute. After suffering a hamstring injury, Heinicke was replaced by Ridder in the second half of Sunday’s loss to Arizona. It’s a “low grade” strain, so Heinicke should be ready after the bye week, but coach Arthur Smith wasn’t in a rush to name his starting quarterback for a crucial Week 12 home game against New Orleans.
“We’re on bye week, so we’ll take some time, take a step back, and evaluate everything.” “A little premature,” Smith said when asked about the quarterback situation on Monday. “Obviously, both of those guys have done some good things and some bad things that we need to evaluate and see where we are.” We’ll return at the start of next week, get a bonus day on Monday, and go from there.”Just need to take a step back and assess the situation to ensure we’re doing what’s best for the team.” The Falcons also finish the season in New Orleans, and none of their remaining seven opponents have a winning record.
That is the positive side of the equation. On the other hand, Atlanta has lost in the last five weeks to Washington, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Arizona, teams with a combined 15-24 record. Smith may switch back to Ridder, who started the first eight games. With an 84.1 passer rating, the second-year quarterback has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions, but he did run for a 9-yard touchdown with 2:33 remaining on Sunday to put Atlanta up 23-22.
“There are some things that I think he’s done really well as a young player,” Smith said when asked how Ridder benefited from his time on the bench. “Every now and then, you need a new perspective.” That is what I believe helped him. And I believe you saw him enter the room. “I saw his confidence, and I saw a guy who is why we love him and wanted him to come out.”In critical situations, the guy wants the ball in his hands. He has done a great deal of good. But he’s done the reset, re-focus, and working on things I thought could help him.”
Smith has led the Falcons to an 18-26 record after going 7-10 in his first two seasons in Atlanta. If they don’t make a significant improvement after the bye, they’ll end up with a similar record. While the ground game has been effective, including 95 yards by rookie Bijan Robinson on Sunday, the passing game only managed 70 yards against the Cardinals, who came into the game with one win on the season.
Smith stated that he has no plans to change his staff and is aware that many disgruntled fans are calling for his dismissal. “You embrace it — the good, the bad, the pressure,” he said. “The good news is we’re not dead.”
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