A Desmond Ridder-led Atlanta Falcons offense had 89 total yards in the first half against the Tennessee Titans Sunday. A Taylor Heinicke led-Falcons offense had 253 total yards in the second half.
Even though head coach Arthur Smith told the media yesterday that the decision to sit Ridder in the second half wasn’t performance-based, but he wanted to protect the Falcons quarterback from another potential head injury, there’s no debating that Heinicke gave the Falcons offense the spark it needed.
After seeing Heinicke have success yesterday, is Ridder’s leash shorter now? Will Smith be more willing to pull Ridder now that he’s seen what Heinicke can do in the Falcons offense? The Morning Shift gave their thoughts.
Dave Archer also joined The Morning Shift later on in the show. When they asked him if he thinks Ridder’s leash is now shorter, considering how well Heinicke played in the second half against the Titans yesterday, Archer said the answer has to be yes.
“If you fashion yourself as a team that can win the division, which I would assume they would considering they're tied for the top spot, I would say yes, that would be a yes," Archer said. "You can’t wait, because this is a team that has a chance to be a playoff football team at this point.”
Heinicke hasn’t taken Ridder’s job, but he did show in the second half that at this point he gives the Falcons as much of a chance to win a football game as Ridder. And that is why the Falcons starting quarterback now has a shorter leash.
