ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are again changing course at quarterback, giving Taylor Heinicke the reins for a second time this season after a 9-7 loss to the last-place Carolina Panthers on Sunday dealt a serious blow to their playoff hopes.
11Alive's Maria Martin confirmed Monday morning that Heinicke will start Atlanta's next game, against Indianapolis, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Christmas Eve.
It also may mark the last time second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder will lead the team, at least for this season.
The move comes after back-to-back losses, both to divisional opponents, that have the Falcons reeling. A New York Times analysis has 6-8 Atlanta with just a 5% chance to win the NFC South now, staring up at 7-7 New Orleans and Tampa Bay - who beat the Falcons on Dec. 10.
Ridder started for Atlanta up through a Week 8 loss to Tennessee, when an injury led to Heinicke taking over at halftime. Heinicke, a sixth-year NFL veteran and metro Atlanta native who attended Collins Hill High School, then started the next two games against Minnesota and Arizona - both losses.
Atlanta's struggles in those games - Minnesota was starting a new quarterback, Josh Dobbs, for the first time, and Arizona came into the game with just one win - led to Ridder's return against the Cardinals.
Ridder responded by leading the Falcons to a 24-15 win over the rival Saints in Week 12, but an ugly 13-8 win over the Jets and then the losses the last two weeks, putting the season in peril, have resulted in his second benching of the year.
Neither QB has mustered much for a Falcons offense that ranks 23rd in passing yards, 26th in passing touchdowns and 26th in points scored.
Ridder in his 13 appearances has completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,528 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions - with an 82.2 quarterback rating. Heinicke meanwhile in three appearances has completed 55.4% of his passes for 498 yards, three touchdowns and one interception - an 84.2 quarterback rating.