Desmond Ridder entered this season with some lofty expectations with many fans waiting on him to show he can deliver in big moments.
On Sunday, he did just that. The second-year QB engineered a fourth quarter comeback against the Green Bay Packers, completing six of eight pass attempts for 119 yards while rushing for 16 yards, including a six-yard touchdown run to make it a one possession game early in the fourth quarter.
It was exactly the kind of situations that Ridder thrives in, according to head coach Arthur Smith.
“There's a human element. You can feel it when you’re down on the field and you look at the opposing team and can tell who wants that ball and who doesn’t,” Smith said Wednesday while appearing on “Bell and Dukes” on 92.9 The Game. “And Desmond wants that ball.”
Ridder struggled early in that game, too, throwing an interception on his first drive and second pass attempt of the game.
But it was just a blip on the radar as he rallied Atlanta down 24-12 in the fourth to victory.
“That’s why you gotta love him,” Smith added. “He’s what we’re about. I like a quarterback that’s got some stuff to him. He’s a fighter, but not reckless.”