Falcons quarterback change: Why Atlanta is moving back to Desmond Ridder as starter over Taylor Heinicke

The Falcons are making a change — again.

Less than three weeks after naming Taylor Heinicke their starting quarterback, Atlanta is turning back to Desmond Ridder as its starter as a critical stretch of games approaches.

The Falcons went into the season committed to Ridder as their starter, but the second-year QB committed nine turnovers over his last four starts before getting sent to the bench in a loss to the Titans. Just as costly as interceptions were his fumbles, as Ridder lost three fumbles in a win over the Buccaneers and another before his benching against Tennessee.

Sill, Arthur Smith has seen enough to end Heinicke’s short tenure as the Falcons’ starter and give Ridder another shot.

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Here’s what you need to know about why the Falcons are benching Heinicke for Ridder.

Falcons quarterback change, explained

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that the Falcons will roll with Ridder as their starter out of their bye week, explaining that Atlanta’s goal was “to name a starter and stick with him the rest of the season rather than go back and forth.” That indicates Ridder’s status won’t be a week-to-week matter down the stretch. 

Why return to Ridder? NFL Network’s James Palmer reported that the Falcons believed Ridder’s mistakes were “correctable” and that the Cincinnati product “needed a reset.” 

Smith echoed a similar sentiment this past week before he decided on a starter, telling reporters, “Sometimes you need a fresh perspective.” 

Palmer reiterated that a return to Ridder was “always planned” unless Heinicke went on a run with the team.

From what I’m told, the Falcons believed the bulk of Ridder’s mistakes were correctable & felt he had a lot of learning to do. A move back to him was always planned unless Taylor Heinicke went on a ridiculous run. It wasn’t like they fell out of love with Ridder. Needed a reset. https://t.co/jNF4EZVsWs

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) November 19, 2023

While the idea that the Falcons always planned to return to Ridder as their starter could just be a way of letting Heinicke down easy, it’s true that the former Commanders signal-caller did not go on any kind of run in his brief time as Atlanta’s starter.

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Heinicke did cut back on turnovers relative to Ridder, committing only one in two-and-a-half games, but he never led the Falcons to a win. Atlanta lost games against the Vikings and Cardinals, also failing to mount a comeback when Heinicke took over for Ridder mid-game against the Titans.

At the same time, the Falcons blew leads in both of Heinicke’s starts, allowing an average of 28 points. Atlanta’s issues go beyond the quarterback position, which puts Ridder in a difficult spot with the season hanging in the balance already.

The Falcons have lost four of their last five games and fallen to 4-6, trailing both the Saints and Buccaneers in the NFC South. With division-leader New Orleans only a game ahead of Atlanta, however, Ridder returns knowing the team still has a chance to contend. 

There won’t be much time for Ridder to readjust, as the Falcons face the Saints right out of their bye and then go up against the Jets’ tough defense. At this time, though, Atlanta doesn’t have any team with a winning record on its schedule the rest of the way. 

Desmond Ridder-Taylor Heinicke stats

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