What if the Falcons lose to Desmond Ridder?

The world is a weird place, and Falcons fans know this better than most.

It’s better to subscribe to Murphy’s Law when being a fan in Atlanta. What can go wrong will go wrong. Kirk Cousins throwing two interceptions and no touchdowns in his return to Minnesota was predictable. That’s just life as a Falcons fan.

There’s an even greater inevitability looming in Week 15 — Desmond Ridder. The Raiders will host the Falcons on Monday Night Football in Las Vegas, and if Aidan O’Connell is unable to go, which seems to be where things are headed, Atlanta will face their former starter.

Ridder started the last four games of his rookie season with the Falcons in 2022 before starting 13 games last season. He was benched twice for Taylor Heinicke and was effectively the driving factor in the Falcons’ shortcomings.

The 2022 third-round pick was eventually traded to the Cardinals in exchange for Rondale Moore. Arizona cut Ridder before the Raiders signed him off the Cardinals practice squad in October. Desmond Ridder has played in four games for Vegas, completing 28 of 44 passes for 239 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions, good for a passer rating of 85.3.

Desmond Ridder isn’t a good quarterback, but that shouldn’t ease Falcons fans’ worries about potentially getting embarrassed on national television. This is very Atlanta to trade their former starting signal caller then turn around and have their season effectively ended by said quarterback.

The Buccaneers take on the Chargers this weekend, as the three-time defending division champions are looking to extend it to four seasons. If the Falcons piss down their leg and lose to Desmond Ridder, it will allow the Bucs to slam the door on the NFC South with a win over LA.

It would be an excruciatingly poetic way for the Falcons season to end. More than a month ago, Raheem Morris’ team held a commanding lead in the division with a 6-3 record. In the last five weeks, the club hasn’t won a game or seen Kirk Cousins throw a touchdown pass.

The Bucs have overtaken them in the NFC South, and the Falcons are on the ropes. The Raiders aren’t a good football team, and the Falcons should win this week, but would anyone be surprised if Desmond Ridder pulled some heroics and beat his former team?

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