3 Observations for the Atlanta Falcons and Marcus Mariota in week 6

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Oct 16, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons players including quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) react with tight end Kyle Pitts (8) after his touchdown catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

A different Marcus Mariota showed up for the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday protecting the football and making throws he had missed in previous weeks. It was a steadying performance that will keep Ridder on the bench for the time being.

Many Atlanta Falcons fans (this one included) have been calling for Arthur Smith to bench Marcus Mariota and insert rookie Desmond Ridder into the starting lineup. Each week has been painfully predictable for Mariota with turnovers and missed throws hurting a team that could be 6-0 on the season with reliable play at the quarterback position.

Arthur Smith, however, remained committed to his veteran quarterback and this paid off on Sunday with a perfectly executed game from Smith and Mariota. It was a clear example of what Smith expects from Mariota and how great he can be at his best.

Atlanta will likely keep Mariota in the lineup for some time now with winnable games ahead of them and Mariota having faced San Francisco and Tampa Bay who are arguably the toughest defenses on Atlanta’s schedule. With this in mind, let’s break down the biggest takeaways for Mariota in week six.

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