The Falcoholic Nov 19, 2023
What the Desmond Ridder decision means for the Falcons
Photo by Mike Christy/ Atlanta’s hoping Ridder and the season can still be salvaged. Earlier today, we learned that the Atlanta Falcons are starting Desmond Ridder at quarterback again, going back to their Week 1 anointed starter. After a halftime benching complete with a concussion check against the Tennessee Titans and a pair of starts for Taylor Heinicke, the now 4-6 Falcons will hope that Ridder can help them salvage an increasingly lost season where the team is falling well short of expectations. We’ll see if they can stick with the decision or not, but it’s...
The Falcoholic Nov 19, 2023
Report: Desmond Ridder is back as starter; Taylor Heinicke benched
Photo by Megan Briggs/ Atlanta’s quarterback carousel keeps spinning without much rhyme or reason. Arthur Smith has reportedly made another decision on the most important position in all of football: walking back his last decision on the most important position in all of football. Taylor Heinicke, who has a proven career as a very good backup but poor starter, has been benched after poor play at starter. In his place, of course, is the recently monitored-for-a-concussion-then-cleared-then-benched Desmond Ridder. Heinicke provided a spark filling in for Ridder against...
The Falcoholic Nov 14, 2023
Falcons snap counts from a loss in the desert
Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via The Falcons drop their third straight game, this time to the Cardinals. What do the snap counts tell us? I could kick this off with a long-winded note about the Atlanta Falcons losing, but with each passing week, that gets more and more depressing. Let’s just jump right into the snap counts for this loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Offense Jake Matthews: 71 Matthew Bergeron: 71 Drew Dalman: 71 Chris Lindstrom: 71 Kaleb McGary: 71 Drake London: 55 Bijan Robinson: 53 Kyle Pitts: 50 Taylor Heinicke: 49 Jonnu Smith: 31 MyCole...
The Falcoholic Nov 12, 2023
Taylor Heinicke leaves Falcons vs. Cardinals with hamstring injury
Photo by Norm Hall/ Desmond Ridder is in the game. Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke left Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals early in the fourth quarter with an injury. Desmond Ridder took over behind center for Atlanta. Shortly after Ridder entered the game, Heinicke’s injury was confirmed to be a hamstring. He is officially questionable to return. Taylor Heinicke has a hamstring injury and is questionable to return.— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) November 12, 2023 It doesn’t sound like he’s coming back into this one. Heinicke was eight of 15...
The Falcoholic Nov 12, 2023
Intriguing players to watch in Falcons vs. Cardinals
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports New opportunities await. Naming five Atlanta Falcons most weeks can be difficult. Yet, with the team facing a must-win contest against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, finding those with intriguing potential becomes a bit easier. This week’s focus is on players that need to step up, either in new opportunities or familiar ones. Taylor Heinicke That begins with starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who needs to step up after a rough outing last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Heinicke’s decision-making must improve after throwing a...
Revenge of the Birds Nov 10, 2023
5Qs, 5As: Previewing Cardinals-Falcons with The Falcoholic
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/ Previewing the Atlanta Falcons vs the Arizona Cardinals with Kevin Knight of The Falcoholic. Happy Friday one and all. The Atlanta Falcons are coming to town and things are not going great, despite a 4-5 record and being one game out of first place in the NFC South. We talked with Kevin Knight of The Falcoholic to see what is going on and to prepare you for their matchup with your Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Enjoy. 1. Taylor Heinicke is starting again this week, is this an extended tryout for him or is this just trying to salvage a season where...
The Falcoholic Nov 9, 2023
Falcons GIF film review: Disorder hits a new level
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Follow the breakdown of how the Falcons turned a favorable matchup into total madness, leading to a deflating defeat. When it comes to all-time chaotic Atlanta Falcons’ games, this one against the Minnesota Vikings will be included on the list. It will also be on the list of most excruciating losses, considering the circumstances at quarterback for the Vikings. This was a horrific setback for a team already in a state of uncertainty following the decision to bench Desmond Ridder and start Taylor Heinicke. The quarterback change ended up...
ClutchPoints Nov 8, 2023
Falcons coach Arthur Smith’s perfect ‘musical chairs’ answer on Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder QB chatter
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith announced that Taylor Heinicke will get his second straight start this weekend against the Arizona Cardinals. Heinicke initially came into play for the Falcons in Week 8 versus the Tennessee Titans after Desmond Ridder exited for concussion protocol. Smith decided to stick with Heinicke the next week against the […] The post Falcons coach Arthur Smith’s perfect ‘musical chairs’ answer on Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder QB chatter appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Falcoholic Nov 7, 2023
Falcons snap counts from an ugly one against the Vikings
Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Not like this! Big changes were afoot this week for Atlanta. There was a new starting quarterback under center, a new defensive lineman added via trade, and injuries forcing lineup changes. Obviously the Falcons lost, but what did those snap counts look like? You probably guessed it from the article title, but that’s what we’re about to find out. Offense Taylor Heinicke: 69 Jake Matthews: 69 Matthew Bergeron: 69 Drew Dalman: 69 Chris Lindstrom: 69 Kaleb McGary: 69 KhaDarel Hodge: 46 Van Jefferson: 45 Bijan Robinson:...
The Falcoholic Nov 6, 2023
Falcons will roll with QB Taylor Heinicke against Cardinals
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/ Heinicke Hour is extended. The Atlanta Falcons did not win against the Minnesota Vikings, in case you hadn’t heard. Arthur Smith isn’t about to pin that on new starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke, however, and Heinicke is now in line for a second straight start on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. Per team reporter Tori McElhaney, Smith cited the team’s newfound scoring ability as part of the reason to keep him at the helm. Characteristically, he did not close the door on Desmond Ridder making starts down the line, but he did...
ClutchPoints Nov 6, 2023
Falcons’ Arthur Smith makes unsurprising Taylor Heinicke decision for Week 10
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith announced that Taylor Heinicke will start again for the team this week on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Falcons and Arthur Smith started the year with Desmond Ridder as the starter, and decided to hand over the starting duties to […] The post Falcons’ Arthur Smith makes unsurprising Taylor Heinicke decision for Week 10 appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Falcoholic Nov 6, 2023
Falcoholinks: All the Falcons news you need for Monday, Nov. 6
Photo by Alex Slitz/ LIIINKS A wacky game on Sunday, one where the Falcons’ offense was anemic for the bulk of the contest. A blown lead late is the takeaway from Atlanta’s loss against Minnesota, where offensive inefficiency and poor tackling ruled the day. Read on for Falcoholinks for your Monday morning. Falcons - Vikings recap As has been the story all season long, turnovers were the Atlanta Falcons’ undoing against the Vikings on Sunday. A fumble by running back Bijan Robinson and an interception on the next possession by quarterback Taylor Heinicke...
FOX Sports Nov 5, 2023
Joshua Dobbs leads unreal Vikings comebacks against Taylor Heinicke, Falcons | NFL on FOX Pod
Dave Helman is joined by Mark Schlereth and Chris Myers to talk about the Minnesota Vikings' victory against the Atlanta Falcons. Did Joshua Dobbs just win the QB position for the remainder of the season? How did Taylor Heinicke look in the tough loss? Check out everything the trio said here!
ClutchPoints Nov 5, 2023
Arthur Smith evasive on Taylor Heinicke’s future after ‘missed opportunity’ vs. Vikings
The Atlanta Falcons appeared to have a huge advantage in their Week 9 home game against the injury-plagued Minnesota Vikings. A week after the Vikings lost QB1 Kirk Cousins to a season-ending Achilles injury, backup quarterback Jaren Hall was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a concussion. Falcons head coach Arthur […] The post Arthur Smith evasive on Taylor Heinicke’s future after ‘missed opportunity’ vs. Vikings appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Falcoholic Nov 5, 2023
Falcons vs. Vikings Week 9 open thread
Here we go. Every game is important, but certain games take on that additional sheen of urgency and criticality. This is one of them. The 4-4 Falcons just parked Desmond Ridder for Taylor Heinicke, perhaps permanently, and now face a 4-4 Vikings team starting rookie Jaren Hall. Atlanta is home, and while they’re down a few key players, this is a winnable game for a squad that hasn’t found its footing for any length of time. It’s pretty important that they do so now, while they’re still holding a slight edge in the NFC South, or they risk a season-long stumble that...
