Desmond Ridder silenced the chatter of his benching Sunday with a game-winning drive to lead the Atlanta Falcons over the Houston Texans 21-19.
Last week, speculation grew about Ridder’s future as the Falcons starting quarterback. A dreadful performance in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London had some pundits calling for the Falcons to trade for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Others campaigned for Ridder’s benching in favor of backup, former Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
But on Sunday, after the Falcons’ defense yielded a CJ Stroud touchdown pass with 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, Ridder punctuated a solid game with an impressive finish.
Ridder completed all five passes for 49 yards on the Falcons’ final drive. A 23-yard completion to Drake London into Texans’ territory highlighted the possession. Three plays later, kicker Younghoe Koo made a 37-yard field goal with time expiring that snapped the Falcons’ two-game losing streak.
Ridder finished the game, completing 28-of-37 passes for 329 yards and one touchdown. The completions and yards are career highs for Ridder. He added ten yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown.
Ridder’s performance thwarted any chance of Heinicke starting next week’s game against the Commanders. Instead, Heinicke will start the Week 6 clash against his former team, aiding Ridder from the sidelines.
Heinicke spent the previous three seasons with the Commanders, starting 24 games in the Burgundy and Gold. However, this offseason, Washington moved in a different direction, starting last year’s fifth-round draft pick Sam Howell.
Heinicke inked a two-year, $14 million deal with the Falcons in March as a free agent. The Falcons wanted him to push Ridder in a competition, but it became apparent in preseason the starting job was Ridder’s.
After a sluggish two-game stretch, concerns increased about Ridder’s longevity in the starting role. Sunday’s performance against the Texans silenced those concerns, at least entering next week’s game against the Commanders.
