The Falcons haven’t solved their offensive problems in anyway, however they’re 3-2 later a last-second comeback win over the Texans, the second one while this season that Desmond Ridder has outdueled every other younger quarterback ill the stretch.

In Sunday’s 21-19 win over the Houston, Ridder went 18-for-20 for 208 yards and a landing over the general 4 drives, together with a fab, calmness 5-for-5 for 44 yards within the ultimate two mins to arrange Younghoe Koo’s game-winning farmland objective. Atlanta’s ultimate 3 drives have been landing, farmland objective, farmland objective, precisely the similar end as 3 weeks previous, when Ridder outdueled Jordan Love in a 25-24 comeback win over the Packers.

“I really don’t care what the outside world has to say,” Ridder mentioned later Sunday’s win when requested if he idea he had confirmed himself with the comeback win. “As long as myself and my teammates are on the same page, we’re just going to keep getting better.”

Ridder used to be making best his 9th NFL get started, however his total numbers have been simply the most productive of his profession: 329 passing yards when his earlier towering used to be 237; 28 completions when his best possible have been 22; and a brandnew towering with 8.9 yards according to cross aim. His landing cross to rookie Bijan Robinson used to be a easy shovel cross that Robinson stuck one-handed in opposition to his hip for a highlight-reel develop into the top zone.

The Falcons protection had restricted the Texans to farmland targets all the match, however later Robinson’s TD, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud led Houston ill the farmland for a landing and a 19-18 top. Arrange at his 25, Ridder used to be affected person in that ultimate power, with 1:49 left and all 3 time-outs, understanding Atlanta best wanted a farmland objective to win.

“That’s an eternity in the league,” mentioned Ridder, content material to whisk decrease positive aspects and sideline throws for 26 yards on 5 performs, permitting the clock to proceed to run with not up to a tiny left and infrequently throughout midfield.

Later he attached with receiver Drake London for a 23-yard acquire to the Texans’ 26, neatly inside of Koo’s dimension, and the residue performs simply arrange the successful kick as while expired. Ridder, who left-overs undefeated in school and the NFL as a starter in house video games, mentioned the mentality at the final power used to be merely “go win the game.”

“You don’t have to try to force anything. You have plenty of time,” he mentioned. “Just take what they give you, which I did. They played a lot of off and soft, a lot of access, banged a couple to Drake and just got the ball moving.”

Sunday’s win got here later a two-week lull the place the Falcons scored six and 7 issues in losses to the Lions and Jaguars, prominent to questions as as to if Atlanta must bench Ridder and provides additional Taylor Heinicke a shot at sparking the offense. Head mentor Arthur Smith caught together with his starter, and Ridder rewarded that agree with with a powerful end and comeback win Sunday.

“He was about as cool as you can [be],” Smith mentioned. “A lot of times, I just look at players, and that look in his eye, and all our guys, they executed the plan and took control of the situation. When he needed to deliver one, we got the look we wanted and he did, Drake came down with it and essentially ended the game. We’ve got the most clutch kicker in the league and we go home with a win.”

Atlanta’s total offensive numbers nonetheless aren’t good-looking. The Falcons are secured for 6th within the NFL in fourth-quarter scoring at 8.8 issues according to match, however they’re additionally secured for thirtieth in averaging simply 5.2 issues within the first part this season. That has put an undue burden on their protection, which ranks tenth within the NFL in issues allowed and 7th in general yardage allowed.

The Falcons haven’t executed a excellent task of having their best possible passing objectives concerned within the match, however Sunday used to be in all probability their best possible instance of doing that. London and tight finish Kyle Pitts had 20 of Ridder’s 37 objectives, combining for 13 catches for 165 yards. Robinson remains to be an affect participant everywhere the farmland. He used to be restricted to 46 dashing yards Sunday however got here thru with a head-turning landing when the staff wanted it.

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The Falcons rank twenty seventh in scoring out of 32 groups, however they’re house once more Sunday (the place they’re 3-0) in opposition to a Commanders staff that has misplaced 3 immediately, give up 37 issues according to match in the ones losses. That might cruel every other robust life for Atlanta’s offense, putting in place a divisional combat in Date 7 on the Bucs, doubtlessly with first park within the category at the sequence.

“This game felt more like a true team win,” Ridder mentioned Sunday. “There was still a lull early in the first half that we have to get out of, have to be able to overcome, but it feels great for everyone to come into the locker room and celebrate.”

Greg Auman is FOX Sports activities’ NFC South reporter, protecting the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He’s in his tenth season protecting the Bucs and the NFL full-time, having spent while on the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You’ll apply him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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