Falcons bench Marcus Mariota will start rookie Desmond Ridder at QB vs. Sai
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 team'sJaelen Strong Jersey 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 season. "(Any changes are) going to be what's best for this team short term and long term Ricardo Louis Jersey .""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,Seth DeValve Jersey and have just one le s win than the NFC South-leading . But they've lost two straight and four of their last 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, Jarvis Landry Jerseywhile rushing for 438 yards and four scores. Ridder, 23, has yet to take his first NFL 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 than Mariota, who's often leaned more on his legs.Ridder Sheldrick Redwine Jerseywill have the bye week to prepare as the Falcons' starter before taking on New Orleans on Dec. 18.Click here Click here Click here
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