Tag: Desmond Ridder

CBS Sports says Falcons should bench QB Desmond Ridder

CBS Sports says Falcons should bench QB Desmond Ridder following Sunday’s loss to the Commanders

The Atlanta Falcons are letting quarterback Desmond Ridder steer the ship and it’s been a bumpy ride through the first six games. The second-year QB has passed for six touchdowns and six interceptions this season while leading the team to a 3-3 record.

Ridder threw three interceptions during Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders, which comes just one week after he played arguably the best game of his NFL career. Will the Falcons continue to roll with Ridder, or is it time to give Taylor Heinicke a shot?

CBS Sports thinks it’s officially time for Atlanta to bench Ridder:

The two interceptions Ridder threw late in the fourth quarter were brutal, especially the one in the red zone with Atlanta down 24-16. The Falcons outgained the Commanders 402 yards to 193 and picked up 25 first downs to Washington’s 13 — but lost because of Ridder’s three miscues. 

Ridder is supposed to be a game manager, yet struggles when the run game is taken away. Perhaps the Falcons should give Taylor Heinicke a shot, as they are still in the NFC South race at 3-3. They could be punting 2023 by keeping Ridder in. — Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports

The last time fans were calling for Ridder’s job, he responded with a career-high 329 passing yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Texans. Despite getting off to a solid start against the Commanders on Sunday, Ridder essentially gave the game away with his three turnovers.

Head coach Arthur Smith was patient with Marcus Mariota last season, so it’s hard to imagine him giving up on Ridder after six weeks. However, Smith did say the team had “turned the ball over too much lately” following Sunday’s loss.

The Falcons will look for their first road win of the season in Week 7 when they travel to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are 3-2 and coming off a loss to the Lions in Week 6.

10 takeaways from Week 6 loss

Studs and Duds from Week 6

Twitter shreds Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith: postgame presser

WATCH: Smith frustrated with QB

Calais Campbell gets sack No. 100

The NFL’s Worst of Week 6: Bad officiating, punter headbutts, angry Brian Daboll!

Massive officiating errors! Angry coaches! Punters starting fights, and announcers jinxing quarterbacks. It’s the NFL’s Worst of the Week for Week 6!

Football is a wonderful, thrilling, inspiring game that can lift us to new heights in our lives.

But football is also a weird, inexplicable, at times downright stupid game that may force you to perform Keith Moon-level furniture destruction in your own living room.

So, as much as we at Touchdown Wire endeavor to write about what makes the game great, there are also times when it’s important to point out the dumb plays, boneheaded decisions, and officiating errors that make football all too human.

Folks, it’s time for the Worst of the Week for Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders escape with win over Falcons: Everything we know

The Commanders escape with a win. Here’s everything we learned.

The Washington Commanders snapped a three-game losing streak with a 24-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6.

Quarterback Sam Howell passed for a career-high three touchdowns despite throwing for a career-low 151 yards. Additionally, Howell did not turn the ball over, although he was sacked five times.

Washington’s defense shut down Atlanta’s powerful rushing attack for the most part, but quarterback Desmond Ridder passed for 296 yards. However, the Commanders intercepted Ridder three times, including linebacker Jamin Davis’ game-winner late in the fourth quarter.

Washington improves to 3-3. Here’s everything we know from Sunday’s win.

Desmond Ridder’s brutal interception drew the most defeated surrender cobra from Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith was so exasperated watching Desmond Ridder play terribly, but he wasn’t without blame.

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:

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.

Commanders hold on to defeat Falcons 24-16

The Commanders hang on to snap their three-game losing streak.

The Washington Commanders finally win a game. Washington held off the Atlanta Falcons, 24-16, after linebacker Jamin Davis intercepted Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder in the final seconds to snap the Commanders’ three-game losing streak.

It was a tale of two halves for Washington’s offense. Quarterback Sam Howell threw two touchdown passes in the first half but was sacked three times.

Things started well in the second half when cornerback Kendall Fuller picked off Ridder to give the Commanders outstanding field position. Two plays later, Howell found running back Brian Robinson Jr. on a screen pass, and Robinson took it 24 yards to the end zone, making it 24-10.

Surprisingly, it was Atlanta’s passing game that kept the Falcons in the game. Ridder moved the ball down the field with ease, and running back Tyler Allgeier finished things off with a short touchdown run.

For some reason, Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith chose to go for a two-point conversion and the Falcons came up short.

As the Commanders continued to do nothing on offense, the defense kept making plays, forcing a turnover on down and picking off Ridder two more times to preserve the win.

Washington was doubled up in total offense, as the Falcons had 402 total yards, while the Commanders had just 193 total yards. Howell completed 14 of 23 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns. He did not turn the ball over but took five sacks.

Ridder passed for 296 yards, but his three interceptions proved costly.

Next up for the Commanders is the New York Giants.

NFL Week 6 picks: Who the experts are taking in Commanders vs. Falcons

Unsurprisingly, the Falcons are the majority’s pick.

The Washington Commanders (2-3) meet the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) on Sunday in a Week 6 battle that could have playoff implications later in the season. These teams are similar, as both have talented rosters, but much of their success depends on the development of second-year quarterbacks Sam Howell (Commanders) and Desmond Ridder (Falcons).

So, who wins this Sunday?

According to NFL Pickwatch, the experts have weighed in, and, no surprise, the majority believe the Falcons will defeat the Commanders. With 69% of the picks in, Atlanta is the pick.

Does it feel like for every Commanders game, whether they are favored, which seems rare, or they’re the underdog, it feels like the experts lean heavily one way or the other? There isn’t a lot of middle ground as it pertains to Washington’s games.

Atlanta enters Sunday’s game as the slight betting favorite, too.

Kirk Cousins: Five potential trade destinations

After a 1-4 start, and with Justin Jefferson on IR, would the Vikings trade Kirk Cousins? And if so, where?

The ship of the Minnesota Vikings has taken a few cannonballs to the stern, leaving them with a 1-4 record. Oh, and they just put Justin Jefferson on IR. Their season is already all but wasted, and they are sinking quickly.

This leaves the question that has been pondered for weeks- will the Vikings trade the man in their captain’s quarters, Kirk Cousins? If they were to make such a move, these five teams are the ones to watch the closest.

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Heading into Week 6, many of us are feeling the pinch from injuries and when that precious No. 1 pick in your draft (Justin Jefferson) lands on injured reserve, you realize that your best played now was the 24th pick in your draft. Aaron Jones and Austin Ekeler have been painful to see on my roster for the last month.

After five games, were getting comfortable with how good and bad the players are. And from here on out, depth chart movement and new opportunities will almost entirely be related to injured players being out.

Let’s take a look at what the impact injuries have had over the first five weeks, and a few other notables to think about heading into the weekend.

  1. Running Back Injuries – Feels like there are more running backs getting hurt this season, so I took the Top-20 from the average draft from the last three years and marked the week in black if they didn’t play.
    Draft 2021 1 2 3 4 5 2022 1 2 3 4 5 2023 1 2 3 4 5
    1 C McCaffrey Jonathan Taylor C McCaffrey
    2 Dalvin Cook C McCaffrey Austin Ekeler
    3 Alvin Kamara Austin Ekeler Saquon Barkley
    4 Derrick Henry Najee Harris Bijan Robinson
    5 Ezekiel Elliott Dalvin Cook Nick Chubb
    6 Aaron Jones Derrick Henry Tony Pollard
    7 Saquon Barkley D’Andre Swift Derrick Henry
    8 Nick Chubb Joe Mixon Jonathan Taylor
    9 Jonathan Taylor Alvin Kamara Josh Jacobs
    10 Austin Ekeler Saquon Barkley R Stevenson
    11 Najee Harris Javonte Williams Najee Harris
    12 Antonio Gibson Nick Chubb Travis Etienne
    13 Joe Mixon Leonard Fournette Breece Hall
    14 Edwards-Helaire Aaron Jones Joe Mixon
    15 J.K. Dobbins Ezekiel Elliott Jahmyr Gibbs
    16 D Montgomery James Conner Aaron Jones
    17 D’Andre Swift Travis Etienne Kenneth Walker
    18 Chris Carson Cam Akers Dameon Pierce
    19 Miles Sanders J.K. Dobbins Miles Sanders
    20 Josh Jacobs D Montgomery J.K. Dobbins
    Missed = 12 1 2 2 2 5 Missed = 10 2 2 0 3 3 Missed = 24 2 4 6 5 7

    So yes, there have been more injuries through the first five weeks. Twice as many as either of the last two years. Hey, it’s getting hard out there – this doesn’t even touch playing injured. Just the zero point games.

  2. Wide Receiver Injuries – This is info to consider when making position choices during your draft. Are running backs or wide receivers more reliable to play?
    Draft 2021 1 2 3 4 5 2022 1 2 3 4 5 2023 1 2 3 4 5
    1 Davante Adams Justin Jefferson Justin Jefferson
    2 Tyreek Hill Cooper Kupp Ja’Marr Chase
    3 Stefon Diggs Ja’Marr Chase Tyreek Hill
    4 DeAndre Hopkins Stefon Diggs Cooper Kupp
    5 Calvin Ridley Davante Adams Stefon Diggs
    6 DK Metcalf Deebo Samuel CeeDee Lamb
    7 Justin Jefferson CeeDee Lamb A.J. Brown
    8 A.J. Brown Tyreek Hill Davante Adams
    9 Keenan Allen Mike Evans Amon-Ra St. Brown
    10 Terry McLaurin A.J. Brown Garrett Wilson
    11 CeeDee Lamb Michael Pittman Jr. Jaylen Waddle
    12 Allen Robinson Keenan Allen DeVonta Smith
    13 Julio Jones Tee Higgins Chris Olave
    14 Mike Evans DJ Moore Tee Higgins
    15 Robert Woods Courtland Sutton DK Metcalf
    16 Amari Cooper Mike Williams Deebo Samuel
    17 Michael Thomas Diontae Johnson Calvin Ridley
    18 Chris Godwin Terry McLaurin Amari Cooper
    19 Cooper Kupp Amon-Ra St. Brown Keenan Allen
    20 Adam Thielen Jaylen Waddle DeAndre Hopkins
    Missed = 10 1 1 1 4 3 Missed = 8 0 2 2 2 2 Missed = 10 2 1 2 1 5

    Not only were the wideouts far less likely to miss games, but there was usually only one of the Top-20 draft picks that missed more than one. This year, Kupp was out for four games and Higgins had two. Notable too is that Justin Jefferson just landed on injured reserve.

  3. WR Chase Claypool – Sure, I was comfortable thinking that Claypool was just another “physical freak” who had one monster game in his career and then flamed out. That may well be still true, but Claypool leaves a passing attack that has improved from the disaster of 2022, but he just never made a difference and potentially rubbed coaches and players the wrong way (Part 2). But ending up in Miami is an opportunity his past probably doesn’t deserve. There are interesting aspects to joining Miami, who has suggested that the 6-4, 238-pound wideout might play tight end (which they have never used much under Mike McDaniel). Rumors abound that Jaylen Waddle could be traded – likely not true – but that would move everyone else up a notch on the depth chart. Just do not admit that you are tracking him or have him hidden in the dark recesses of your fantasy bench.
  4. RB D’Onta Foreman – The Bears backfield is not only a mess to decipher, but in the end, they all watch Justin Fields run past on the way to the endzone. But Khalil Herbert has a high-ankle sprain and will miss multiple weeks. Roschon Johnson has a concussion but has impressed. Foreman has been inactive for several games but may be the only healthy back. He ran for 914 yards in Carolina last year with five 100-yard games. What interests the most is that  he’ll play the Vikings and maybe the Raiders as a waiver wire scrape. But watch what he does, not because he is taking over the crowded Bears’ backfield but also because we are heading into a three-week stretch where teams will make trades to fill holes or get more value getting rid of a player than keeping him. Running backs are getting hurt, and teams will be looking for help.
  5. WR KJ Osborn – Justin Jefferson landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury that happened without contact. And while they said they expect him back this season, it wasn’t one of those “on the field in five weeks” declarations. How do you replace the best wideout in the world? Probably not that well. But Osborn slides over to take Jefferson’s split-end spot.  Jordan Addison remains as the flanker and Brandon Powell is in the slot. Given that T.J. Hockenson maybe be the primary receiver now, the No. 3 wideout isn’t likely to matter. Osborn knows the offense and has chemistry with Kirk Cousins. The fear now is the rumor that they might trade Cousins away if they decide the season is already over and want to build for 2024.  It’s worth tracking to see how the offense changes, though overall, it will not be for the better.
  6. Atlanta Offense – It is hard to track what HC Arthur Smith is doing in Atlanta, but the highly drafted offensive pieces are in place for what should be an offensive juggernaut. They even have a solid offensive line. But they have disappointed all last year, and again through Week 4. Then, they played the Texans who shut down the running game and made Desmond Ridder pass for 329 yards and a score. And for once, both Kyle Pitts and Drake London were both productive. They face the weak Commanders’ secondary this week, and it is a chance for back-to-back high-point offensive performances. There’s still a chance for the offense to reach their potential, but it has to show again this week.

 

About last night

Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Denver 9, Kansas City 19

The Chiefs won, and even beat the 10.5 point line. But this game was yet another low-scoring Thursday night affair, that contained precious few notable fantasy performances and WOW Taylor Swift!  served no purpose other than give the Chiefs ten days off before they face the Chargers.

Javonte Williams was able to play and led the backfield with ten carries for 52 yards. That left the rookie Jaleel McLaughlin with only  seven runs for 30 yards though he caught two passes for 12 yards. The struggles of Russell Wilson were on full display with 13-of-22 completions gaining just 95 yards and one score with two interceptions, Wilson had a QB-rating of just 46.6. The Denver defense played better than usual, though that could also be that the Chiefs just played worse from the Thursday night effect.

Isiah Pacheco (16-62) handled all but two carries for the backfield, and added six catches for 36 yards.  Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and one score but could have turned in three scores for the want of a few more yards and one interception. Travis Kelce dominated the first half and ended with 124 yards on nine catches. The Broncos opted to actually cover him in the second half and held him to only two receptions for 15 yards.

Rashee Rice  was the next best receiver with four catches for 72 yards, but Mahomes threw to five other wideouts on the night. The 5-1 Chiefs keep their best record status in the AFC while the 1-5 Broncos are thinking about having a garage sale next week.

5 Falcons to watch vs. Commanders in Week 6

The Falcons have talent on both sides of the ball, but, like Washington, is relying on a second-year quarterback.

The Washington Commanders face the Atlanta Falcons for the third consecutive season in Week 6. Can Washington extend its two-game winning streak over Atlanta?

The Commanders enter the game, having lost three in a row. Surprisingly, Washington’s defense has been the biggest issue, as the Commanders rank 31st in scoring defense.

Atlanta presents another challenge for Washington’s struggling defense. The Falcons lean heavily on the running game but also have some excellent weapons in the passing game.

Is this the week the Commanders rebound on defense?

Here are five Falcons whom Washington will need to control to win Sunday’s game.

NFL Power Rankings entering Week 6: Bears finally climb back up

The Bears finally get out of last place while the Packers tumble in our power rankings entering Week 6.

Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season saw much of the same trends that we’ve been accustomed to this year. The juggernauts, such as San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Miami continued their strong performances, while struggling franchises like New England and Carolina stayed in the basement with more bad losses.

The biggest surprise might have been the Chicago Bears getting their first victory in decisive fashion. But how much were they able to move up in the rankings?

Each week of the season, Bears Wire will unveil power rankings of all 32 NFL teams. Here are the rankings entering Week 6.