QB Desmond Ridder makes debut as Falcons face rival Saints

It has been 14 weeks since the Atlanta Falcons and the visiting New Orleans Saints met in the season opener. The rebuilt Falcons were the better team for much of the game, but the Saints outscored them 17-3 in the fourth quarter to win 27-26 in Dennis Allen's debut as head coach. Both teams came out of the opener encouraged about the prospects for their seasons, but things haven't gone as they had hoped as the NFL South rivals prepare to meet again Sunday in New Orleans. The Saints (4-9) are nearing elimination from the division race while the Falcons (5-8) are turning to rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder to try to trigger a push for the division title during the last four games. "This is what they've been preparing me for," said Ridder, who will be making his NFL debut. Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith said the decision to replace Marcus Mariota was performance-based, though Mariota was placed on injured reserve Wednesday as he awaits season-ending surgery to repair a lingering knee issue. The Falcons are tied with Carolina for second place in the division, one game behind Tampa Bay. Atlanta hosts the Buccaneers in the season finale. "We are close but we need to get over that hump," Smith said. "I have confidence in Desmond. There's a risk any time you make a move, but you have to be willing to take that if you want to break through and get out of this up-and-down inconsistency." In addition to the one-point loss to the Saints, the Falcons have lost five other games by fewer than seven points. Both teams are coming off their bye week, which was helpful in the Falcons' transition to Ridder as well as an opportunity for the Saints to have what Allen called "a reset." The Saints' chance to move into the thick of the division race vanished as Tampa Bay's Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes to beat visiting New Orleans 17-16 on Dec. 5. New Orleans generally has been competitive as four of its nine losses have come in one-score games, but three of the last four losses have been by 10 or more points. "You can look at multiple games where if we had done this or that, we'd be sitting in a completely different spot than we are," Saints quarterback Andy Dalton said. "But that's how it goes in the NFL where most of the games are one-score games." Allen said the Saints have had "discussions" about how to get more productivity from running back Alvin Kamara, who has been one of the most productive all-around backs since entering the league in 2017 but who has had an off year in 2022. "Alvin's a good football player," Allen said, "so we have to find ways to allow him to be the playmaker that he's been for us in the past." New Orleans had 13 players on its injury report Wednesday, most notably three starters who were limited -- defensive end Cameron Jordan (foot), linebacker Pete Werner (ankle) and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (abdomen). Atlanta is getting healthier with offensive linemen Elijah Wilkinson (knee) and Matt Hennessy (knee) as well as linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (forearm) all practicing fully Wednesday. --Field Level Media