On Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke and Falcons loss to Tennessee Titans

Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney break down the Falcons' 28-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans on the latest episode of the Falcons Final Whistle podcast, presented by Zaxby's. There's a particular focus on the quarterback situation, after Desmond Ridder played the first half and Taylor Heinicke played the second. Scott and Tori present the details of that situation, as explained by head coach Arthur Smith and Ridder. They also break down Taylor Heinicke's performance in the second half and the costly explosive plays allowed by the defense.

Timestamps

(00:00:00): Intro, what's coming up on Falcons Final Whistle

(00:01:48): What Arthur Smith, Desmond Ridder said about halftime QB switch

(00:10:15): Evaluating Taylor Heinicke's performance versus Titans

(00:21:20): On defensive effort that allowed four explosive TDs

(00:26:05): Why Falcons continue to hover near .500

Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney discuss a difficult, all-three-phases loss to the Bears and why it showed the inconsistencies that have plagued the Falcons all season long. They also take a close look at the state of the quarterback position, including Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder and possible changes coming this offseason. Scott and Tori wrap things up by detailing how the Falcons can still emerge with an NFC South title despite finishing with a losing record.

Timestamps

(00:00:10): Intro, why the Falcons got beat handily in snowy Chicago

(00:05:16): Inconsistency, turnovers define Falcons season

(00:07:58): Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder and QB inconsistencies over three-year span

(00:14:25): Why quarterback position will define Falcons offseason

(00:17:33): How Falcons can still win NFC South despite Bears loss

Tori McElhaney, Terrin Waack and Scott Bair detail what went wrong in a rain-soaked loss to the Carolina Panthers, a game where the Falcons didn't give up a touchdown yet still came up on the wrong end of the result. They discuss how that happened and what this development means for their playoff chase and their evaluation of Desmond Ridder and the long-term quarterback situation, in addition to some parallels between what happened last year at Carolina and what happened on Sunday.

Timestamps

(00:00:10): Intro, chronic issues show up against Panthers

(00:06:28): Why Falcons defense continues to struggle late in games

(00:11:00): Parallels between this loss at Carolina and what happened last year

(00:15:20): What caused a change in outlook over the course of eight days

(00:16:40): Desmond Ridder's critical INT; what his turnovers mean in QB1 evaluation

(00:21:34): Putting this loss in the context of the NFC South

Scott Bair, Terrin Waack, Tori McElhaney break down why the Falcons loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14 was such a big deal within the context of the NFC South title chase. They explain why this loss falls on offense, defense and special teams, and why missed opportunities are becoming too common this season. Special guest Amna Subhan stops by to discuss why the Falcons depth is being tested before the crew discusses the response required after the Falcons lost a game they really wanted to win.

Timestamps

(00:00:00): Intro, why Bucs loss was a three-phase defeat

(00:05:45): Why NFC South gets jumbled up and remains wide open

(00:07:30): Younghoe Koo takes blame for Falcons loss

(00:11:45): Falcons depth being tested by injury issues

(00:16:00): Why this counts as a missed opportunity, maybe more

(00:23:21): How Falcons must respond after big defeat

Scott Bair and Terrin Waack break down how the Falcons emerged from a rain-soaked road game against the New York Jets with their second straight win. It was earned with an excellent defensive performance and quality special teams in a game where field position was at a premium. They also detail how Jessie Bates came through yet again, why it was so encouraging to see Bud Dupree have such a strong showing and how the Falcons can take control of the NFC South.

Timestamps

(00:00:00): Intro, how Falcons found a way to beat Jets

(00:05:20): Why Falcons offense couldn't get going

(00:8:20): Jessie Bates continues to make massive impact

(00:10:00): What's going right with Falcons defense

(00:13:50): What Falcons can take from this win moving forward

(00:17:11): Putting result in context within the NFC South

Scott Bair, Terrin Waack and Tori McElhaney break down a vital victory over the New Orleans Saints and why it was so important to the Falcons and their players. They discuss the role of Jessie Bates III, Bijan Robinson and Desmond Ridder in a victory that vaulted the Falcons back atop the NFC South. The podcast wraps with a conversation about what's required for the Falcons to sustain their positioning and finish with a division title for the first time since 2016.

Timestamps

(00:00:00): Intro, why victory over Saints was so important

(00:07:33): Jessie Bates value vs. New Orleans, 2023 season

(00:14:20): Why Bijan Robinson, Falcons run game was so impactful

(00:18:51): What Falcons need from Desmond Ridder to win game

(00:22:10): Optimism/Caution about Falcons chances to win NFC South

Scott Bair, Tori McElhaney and Terrin Waack break down the Falcons loss to the Minnesota Vikings, analyzing where things went wrong and why it should be considered a missed opportunity. Taylor Heinicke's performance goes under the microscope, in addition to points off of turnovers and explosive plays given up by the defense.

Timestamps

(00:00:00): Intro, what went wrong in loss to Vikings

(00:04:46): Why this should be considered a missed opportunity

(00:06:20): How turnovers, red-zone opportunities impacted game

(00:10:05): Breaking down Taylor Heinicke's first Falcons start

(00:15:45): How to get your BOGO Big Zax Snax deal

(00:17:10): Younghoe Koo's performance

Scott Bair, Terrin Waack and Tori McElhaney break down a big win over the Tampa Bay Bucs that vaulted the Falcons into first place in the NFC South. They detail how the Falcons overcame three lost fumbles with goal-to-go to pull out a big win. Defense made another big stand to keep the Falcons in the game and gave them a chance to set up Younghoe Koo's game-winner as time expired. We also go over what needs to get fixed and how close they are to being pretty darn good.

Timestamps

(00:00:00): Intro, takeaways from big win in Tampa

(00:05:55): Why winning games with so many turnovers is not sustainable

(00:08:13): Breaking down Desmond Ridder's turnovers, performance

(00:10:58): Falcons run game without Bijan Robinson

(00:14:35): How to evaluate a big win with some critical mistakes

(00:19:00): How Desmond Ridder can help Falcons level up