For all the conversation that took place in the wake of the loss to the Panthers, Marcus Mariota remains the starting quarterback for the Falcons ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Bears, but is this his last shot at keeping rookie Desmond Ridder at bay?
This week, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith emphatically refuted the notion of a quarterback controversy which puts the conversation to rest…for now. On 92.9 The Game’s The Other Side of the Glass, Chris Thomas shared his opinion that Mariota faces three consecutive “must-win" games against Chicago, Washington and Pittsburgh when it comes to his job security and the Falcons playoff chances.
With the Falcons still in the hunt for a playoff spot at 4-6, Thomas said the team needs to focus on winning rather than the development of the rookie signal caller.
“What’s best for this team right now is to win football games…This team needs to win its next three games in a row. And if they do not, then, and only then, will it be time to turn to the rookie," he said.
Thomas acknowledged that Mariota’s play against Carolina was uninspiring to say the least, but stated that Smith has earned the benefit of the doubt and his trust when making the decision to ride with Mariota heading into this crucial stretch.
"If Mariota gives your team the best chance to win at this point, and we’re taking him at his word that he does, with the playoff hopes still alive, then you keep rolling him out there," Thomas said.
Through 10 weeks, Mariota’s season can be best described as a mixed bag completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,747 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven picks. While he’s shown flashes of the dual-threat ability that made him dangerous coming out of Oregon and in his first few years in Tennessee, his shortcomings as a passer have been exposed in losses throughout the season.