Falcons bench Marcus Mariota will start
coach Arthur Smith left the door open for a potential quarterback change after Atlanta's Week 13 lo s to the . Now, he's pulled the trigger on just that, benching for rookie ahead of the
Dwight Howard Jersey team's Week 14 bye, . A third-round draft pick this April, Ridder will make his debut in Week 15 against the rival ."We've got to get over this hump here, and there are a lot things at stake," Smith told reporters after Sunday's lo s, which dropped Atlanta to 5-8 on the
Moses Malone Jersey season. "(Any changes are) going to be what's best for this team short term and long term.""If you think it's the best thing for you in that moment, yeah, we're going to do that," he added later, regarding a potential QB change. "That's what you're paid to do. Our circumstances are very different today than they were a couple of weeks ago." The Falcons are technically still in the NFC playoff picture, and have just one le s win than the NFC South-leading . But they've lost two straight and four of their last
Trey Burke Jersey five while struggling offensively. In each of their last four lo ses, the Falcons have failed to eclipse 17 total points. While injuries to big names like tight end have impacted that side of the ball, Mariota has been erratic as a pa ser all season, mostly finding succe s as a runner.Signed this offseason to replace , Mariota exits the starting gig having thrown 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing for 438 yards and four scores
Josh Richardson Jersey . Ridder, 23, has yet to take his first snap. The Cincinnati product impre sed teams coming out of college with his smarts and leadership, , but is obviously unpolished as a pro-level pa ser. Theoretically, he'll open up Atlanta's aerial attack a bit more
Kyle O'Quinn Jersey than Mariota, who's often leaned more on his legs. Ridder will have the bye week to prepare as the Falcons' starter before taking on New Orleans on Dec. 18.