The Atlanta Falcons are set to travel to the Ceasers Superdome to take on the New Orleans Saints in a week fifteen divisional matchup. The Falcons come into the game with a record of 5-8. They are currently tied with the Carolina Panthers for second place in the NFC South. On the flip side, the Saints enter the contest with a record fo 4-9 and currently sit in last in the NFC South, only one game behind the Falcons and Panthers. Despite this being a tough season for both teams, with the NFC South being such a poor division this year in terms of record, there is still a chance that either team could still win the division. As a result of this, this game is a must win for both sides. Depending on how Desmond Ridder comes out and performs in his debut, this could be a must watch game and one that comes down to the wire.
Atlanta Falcons Look For Big Debut Out of Desmond Ridder
There has been a lot of speculation going on this week about what is going on in the quarterback room of the Atlanta Falcons. It has been announced that Marcus Mariota is being benched, however, he may be getting added to the injury reserve as well. Some have claimed this to be a “phantom injury” and the Falcons have stated that Mariota’s injury had nothing to do with his benching. Regardless of why Mariota was benched, it is clear that the Falcons will be riding out rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder for the remainder of the season.
The Saints defense has some talented pieces that could give him some trouble. However, this is a moment that Ridder has been waiting for. Many analysts believed that he was the most “pro ready” quarterback in the 2022 draft class. It will be very interesting to see how Ridder performs and how his game meshes with the other offensive weapons on Atlanta’s roster, and how the Saints will gameplan for him. He will likely end up being the deciding factor in this game, and it will be up to him to step up to the plate.
New Orleans Saints Hope to Make Up Ground In Tight NFC South Divisional Race
Coming into the season, many believed that the Saints would be fighting for first place in the NFC South. However, injuries have stunted a lot of the potential that this roster had this season. However, with them still matmatically in contention for the top spot, they must pull it together and win out for a shot at the postseason. This is a very winnable game for the Saints. While it will be difficult to gameplan for him due to the limited amount of tape, the Saints should not struggle to slow down Desmond Ridder. Very few quarterbacks come right in and dominate the game. Along with this, the New Orleans offense could also give the Falcons some trouble.
