Could Taylor Heinicke Be the Atlanta Falcons' Answer at QB?
Desmond Ridder entering concussion protocol seemed to add insult to injury where the Atlanta Falcons were concerned on Sunday afternoon, but his replacement almost led a comeback effort against the Tennessee Titans.
Taylor Heinicke was unable to secure the win for Atlanta, but he definitely appeared to be the sharper of the two quarterbacks in the loss, throwing for 175 yards compared to Ridder's 71 in the first half. The Falcons' offense as a whole seemed to look more efficient as well, putting up 20 points in the second half compared to just three in the first half.
Not all of those scores were Heinicke's, but it begs the question: is he the right answer for the Falcons at quarterback moving forward?
It's never good when a quarterback (or any player) suffers an injury, but perhaps Ridder being sidelined provided a good look at Heinicke for Falcon fans. It's also just one game where the Titans likely prepared for only Ridder coming into Sunday, but the difference in offensive production cannot be ignored.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) looks for a receiver against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.
© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
The offense has oftentimes been the Achilles heel for Atlanta this season, even in wins. Who can forget the low-scoring victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week ago? If Heinicke provides more of a spark at the game's most important position, why not give him a shot?
Of course, all of this hinges on Ridder's health moving forward. If he is unable to go next week, Heinicke for sure will get another shot under center. If he is, however, head coach Arthur Smith and his staff have a decision to make before facing the Minnesota Vikings.
For now, however, Heinicke looks up to the task, and he may have earned himself a start as a result.
