The NFC South division is still up for grabs, but the Atlanta Falcons missed a crucial opportunity to stay on pace with the New Orleans Saints as they suffered a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.
The Falcons appeared to be in control for most of the game, and they even had some luck on their side when rookie Jaren Hall was forced to leave the game early due to a concussion. However, Joshua Dobbs, who had been traded to Minnesota earlier that week, came in and managed to upset Atlanta in the closing moments.
It was a disappointing loss for the Falcons, who seemed like the better team for most of the afternoon, especially with a solid performance from Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke passed for 268 yards and a touchdown but did throw one interception during the game.
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Despite the loss, head coach Arthur Smith has decided to stick with Heinicke as the starting quarterback for Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals, as reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
It seems that Smith may have seen enough from Desmond Ridder, who began the 2023 NFL season as Atlanta’s starting quarterback. While Ridder showed glimpses of potential in his second year, there were too many instances of him missing easy throws within the offensive scheme.
Heinicke may not represent a significant upgrade over Ridder, but he is a capable quarterback who is not afraid to challenge defenses vertically.
The Cardinals have had a subpar season, but they will have Kyler Murray back in action. With Murray leading the charge for Arizona, the Falcons can’t afford to underestimate their opponent.
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