The Atlanta Falcons had hope. After leading the team to a tense win over the Houston Texans in Week 5, they thought Desmond Ridder had finally turned the corner. Instead, he only took another massive step back on Sunday.
With the Falcons locked in a duel with the Washington Commanders, Ridder had multiple opportunities to lift Atlanta over the top of a mediocre team. Ridder pretty much squandered most of them in a losing 24-13 performance where he threw three horrendous interceptions.
Easily the most egregious turnover was when the Falcons had a pivotal third-and-goal late in the fourth quarter. After a late snap (and late play call from Smith, a consistent theme for Atlanta on Sunday), Ridder threw up an end-zone duck that was intercepted by Washington’s Benjamin St-Juste. In reaction to the pick, Smith unleashed a surrender cobra that epitomized Atlanta’s pitiful passing game:
Desmond Ridder got Arthur Smith in hell 😭 pic.twitter.com/HJzZs2CcZ4
— 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗻 🪖 (@Howell2McLaurin) October 15, 2023
That wasn’t Ridder’s last turnover of the day, either. With the game on the line, the quarterback threw another interception on the Falcons’ final possession after staring down Bijan Robinson.
Smith isn’t without fault for Ridder looking lost at the worst possible times. As noted, his play-calling (and timing of said play calls) left much to be desired, more or less occasionally hanging out Ridder to dry. But one week after Ridder looked like he could be a franchise quarterback, all of that goodwill quickly evaporated when he tried to build on it. What’s even worse for the Falcons is that it doesn’t seem like Smith is equipped to properly manage Ridder.
This was how Twitter reacted
Oh bet the whole stadiums reaction to abysmal play calling and disorganization https://t.co/1oPmrsBSVq
— Chase Masri (@Cmasri1222) October 15, 2023
Do not feel sorry for them they turned down Lamar Jackson https://t.co/nwCd769brN
— Kev (@BKABeloved) October 15, 2023
How can you feel bad for someone who keeps saying “ridder is our starting QB?” https://t.co/zkeNQwG7so
— BON (@NotTonyDennis) October 15, 2023
Should have traded for Lamar lmao you’ll have a lottery pick again so don’t worry you can draft top 10 next year https://t.co/wuWM2vPrMQ
— $aint (@TimelySaint) October 15, 2023
Tank for Shedeur, Desmond ain’t the answer 😂 https://t.co/AEnOL5DdyC
— O (@GoatedGod24) October 15, 2023
They gotta make that call for Justin fields https://t.co/LPEBAqzFh7
— Joe Cox (@joe_cox224) October 15, 2023
Desmond Ridder’s play aside, that game was an extremely bad look on Arthur Smith. Washington gave him every opportunity to win that game and he still lost. He doesn’t manage games well enough to get snippy with the media for reasonable questions the way he often does.
— PSP (@PeachStPayton) October 15, 2023
Masterclass in pathetic football from Arthur Smith and Desmond Ridder.
— Carlton (@CrispyCarlton) October 15, 2023
This game was all on Desmond Ridder and Arthur Smith there’s no excuses for that horrible 4th quarter
— Kai (@SznPltts) October 15, 2023
