A glimpse into the first look of the Atlanta Falcons' starting offense

In their second preseason game, the Atlanta Falcons faced the Cincinnati Bengals at home, giving the first look at their offensive starters, including Desmond Ridder, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, as a unit behind the starting offensive line. This was a valuable opportunity to preview their performance and identify areas that need improvement before the regular season opener against the Carolina Panthers.

Scott Bair, the Atlanta Falcons Digital Managing Editor, shared his expectations for the game during an appearance on The Morning Shift. He highlighted several key aspects he was looking forward to. These included evaluating the performance of players like Jalen Mayfield, who was vying for the third tackle spot, and rookie Matthew Bergeron as the starting center in place of the injured Matt Hennessy. Additionally, Bair mentioned Trae Flowers' role as a cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell, with Jeff Okudah being out the first few weeks with an injury, as well as expressing the desire to see Kyle Pitts on the field as much as possible to gauge his recovery from injury.

Desmond Ridder had a mostly positive performance, completing 7 of 9 passes for 80 yards. He showcased his ability to move the chains, connecting with receivers like Drake London and Kyle Pitts for crucial first downs. Bijan Robinson displayed his elusiveness with a 12-yard run while also catching a one handed ball for 6 yards as he threaded the sideline for extra yards, showcasing his potential as a rookie running back. Rookie DeMarcco Hellams also made an impact with an interception in the fourth quarter.

However, the game wasn't without its challenges. Pre-snap penalties, caused by the starting left and right guards, proved to be a concern during a goal-line drive. These penalties complicated the execution of scoring plays, although the team managed to work themselves back into position. Ridder's only mistake of the night was a poorly timed pass to Scotty Miller which was deflected into the air and intercepted by Joseph Ossai, ending the night for most of the starting offense.

You can see the Falcons progress Thursday, August 24th at 7:30pm as the Falcons have their third preseason game at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tune into 92.9 The Game for your Atlanta Falcons games, game day coverage and updates on Audacy.com or the Audacy app.