Desmond Ridder and the Atlanta offense got things going early on Sunday afternoon, touchdowns on their first two drives of the game, but turnovers and questionable play-calling continued to be a major issue as the Falcons were shutout in the second half and allowed 31 unanswered points en route to a 48-17 loss in a must-win game.
Desmond Ridder made his 13th start of the season, stepping in for an injured Taylor Heinicke (ankle), with a possibility that the Falcons could actually come away division champs with a win and a Tampa Bay loss in Carolina. Things were looking up after Ridder connected with tight end Jonnu Smith for a 15-yard TD pass after a seven play, 79-yard opening drive to take a 7-0 lead.
New Orleans marched down the field on their first drive, aided by an unnecessary roughness flag on Falcons defensive back Clark Phillips, and tied it up 7-7 when Derek Carr found rookie wide receiver A.T.
Perry for an 18-yard touchdown pass.
Atlanta struck quick on the next possession with Ridder finding an open Bijan Robinson with a swing pass on the left side that Robinson turned into a 71-yard touchdown to put the Falcons ahead 14-7 late in the first quarter.
The Saints then proceeded to chew up over eight minutes of clock with a 16-play, 75-yard drive that ended with running back Kendre Miller finding the end zone from three yards out to even the score 14-14.
After trading field goals to end the first half, the Falcons offense just couldn’t gain any momentum for the rest of the contest. The Falcons’ drives in the second half went: interception, punt, a failed 4th & 2 from the Saints two-yard line, fumble, punt, punt and an interception.
Ridder finished the game 22 of 30 for 291 yards and two touchdowns. He added an interception and a lost fumble that both contributed to Saints touchdowns which ultimately put them up for good. He was replaced by Logan Woodside about midway through the final period.
Most likely his last season as the Falcons starter and possibly his last in the red & black, Ridder closes out his year completing 64% of his passes for 2,836 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions
Bijan Robinson led all Falcons’ receivers with seven catches for 103 yards. The run game was not much of a factor with Robinson leading the charge with eleven carries for 28 yards. Tyler Allgeier finished with just six carries. Robinson also set the franchise record for scrimmage yards by a rookie.
Derek Carr went 22 of 28 for 264 yards and four touchdowns, rookie receiver A.T. Perry caught two scoring passes for New Orleans. Alvin Kamara was a game-day scratch with an ankle injury.
Despite the Saints victory, the Tampa Bay 9-0 victory over Carolina sealed the division crown for the Bucs and the Packers victory over Chicago knocked New Orleans out of playoff contention.