JUST IN: Fans send strong massage to board on named starting QB in Week 16—and that’s the wrong move

Following an embarrassing 9-7 loss to the now 2-12 Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons announced Tuesday morning that Taylor Heinicke would start Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Falcons digital managing editor Scott Bair.

Desmond Ridder, a 2022 third-round pick, made another perplexing decision deep in opposing territory late in Sunday’s game, leading to an interception. The second-year quarterback attempted to force a pass through three defenders to running back Cordarrelle Patterson in the end zone, but failed to notice wide receiver Drake London standing wide open inside the five-yard line. It was the Falcons’ final offensive play of the day.

With the loss to Carolina, Atlanta’s playoff chances dropped to 7%, according to the New York Times’ playoff simulator. The move to Heinicke was presumably made in an attempt to capitalize on that slim possibility. In reality, the change makes the Falcons’ chances of making the playoffs more difficult.

It’s pointless to sugarcoat it: Ridder has been abysmal this season. In fact, he has already been removed from Heinicke’s starting lineup this season. Ridder ranks in the bottom half, if not the bottom five, of most qualitative and quantitative statistical categories among all qualified passers (30) through Week 15.

Atlanta’s problem is that Heinicke has never performed at a significantly higher level than Ridder in 2023, or at any point in his career. His total numbers, such as passing yards per game, are influenced by his nine non-starting appearances in his career, but the metrics are very similar to Ridder’s.

In what has been a disappointing season, head coach Arthur Smith is beginning to feel the heat. Ridder’s lack of development is directly attributable to him; now that the losses are piling up, he’s making a desperate move to not only save the Falcons’ season, but potentially his job. This type of change has previously sparked a run, but there is no tangible evidence that Heinicke will make Atlanta the next to benefit from such a shift this late in the season.