Falcons Unravel Against Titans, 23-28

When it comes to games like the Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans, the final score tells the story better than any other data could.

The Falcons lost a winnable game against the Titans 23-28 because their offense is still subpar, their starting quarterback is still not ready for prime time, and to make matters worse, the normally stellar Falcons defense let a Titans backup quarterback in his NFL debut have a blowout game.

This game shows why Falcons fans grow so frustrated with their team. Because despite having the elements of a playoff-ready team, like a (usually) great defensive line and a coaching staff that for the most part gets it right, none of these can always compensate for poor offense, starting QB Desmond Ridder repeatedly making bad decisions, and even defense having a bad day.

It’s like that Toad The Wet Sprocket song, “Something’s Always Wrong.” Well it seems something IS always wrong with the Falcons, and seemingly everything went wrong for them this Sunday.

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— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 29, 2023

The first quarter came and went with a Titans touchdown and the Falcons settling for a field goal. Second quarter, another Titans touchdown, and this time, the Dirty Birds got nothing. Falcons defense was powerless to stop the Titans march to the end zone and their offense could not get a touchdown of their own. This is when murmurs started growing about how Will Levis, the Titan’s replacement for an injured Ryan Tannehill, was turning into an NFL legend in his first game. That tends to happen when you go 19 of 29 for 238 yards and 4 touchdowns, and your mostly seasoned opponents seem unable to answer through at least half the game.

After halftime, a change in quarterbacks occurred for the Falcons, apparently not because of performance, but concussion protocols. Out came Taylor Heinicke to go the rest of the game, and the difference was stark and obvious. Heinicke went 12 for 21 for 175 yards with a TD to his credit and was only sacked once.  By contrast, Ridder went 8 of 12 for 71 yards and no touchdowns. Worse, he was sacked FIVE times in two quarters. (Hello Falcons’ pass protection?)

The Falcons would do better in the second half with Heineke throwing, picking up 20 points over the Titans 14. But there was too much damage done in the first half for Heinicke to cover. Bijan Robinson got 62 yards and scored a 13-yard touchdown. Hienike threw an 8-yard pass to Robinson for a touchdown later in the 4th quarter. After that, there was no more magic left.

The long and brutal game claimed some members of the Dirty Birds: Grady Jarrett, the reliable defensive tackle had to leave the game due to an ankle injury. Drake London, who made a couple of awesome catches for the Falcons, left due to a groin injury. Fullback Kevin Smith and LaCale London also had to leave the game. For a time, Ridder’s replacement at halftime was blamed on a concussion, but he was cleared to return to the game, which he never did.

“Des needed to get checked out, said coach Arthur Smith after the game, as reported by Falcons Senior Content Producer Tori McElhaney. “It’s why Taylor’s here. Taylor got in there and got going.”

And Smith was in no mood to elaborate further on the halftime switcheroo either.

“We just finished this game, and we have a lot of confidence in Des,” he said, answering the first of what will be many questions he will be asked about this move among other uncomfortable questions about the present state of the Falcons. “We didn’t take him out for performance issues. That’s why Taylor is here as a backup, to give us a shot to win.”

And Heinicke made it clear his performance in the second half wasn’t a reason to replace Ridder with him as starting QB for the rest of the season, as calls are growing louder game by game to do.

“This is Desmond’s team,” Heinicke said. “He’s played great throughout the year. Obviously, there’s a couple of hiccups here and there, but he’s progressing every week.”

Of course, no one in Flowery Branch is going to state the reality that Ridder has not been improving consistently and that his mistakes are contributing to costly losses. The Falcons are now 4-4 for the season (still #1 in the NFC South) and sitting at .500, a number they could have easily topped had they won this winnable game. Now after this embarrassing loss, it’s getting harder for the team to think they can sail through to the playoffs this year without making some kind of permanent change in the direction, and possibly personnel, of the team.

The Falcons play another team that possibly will have a QB other than their injured and out-for-the-year starter, Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings, next Sunday.

By Brian Allen, founding Editor