4 Things Desmond Ridder must do to stay Atlanta Falcons starting QB

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Jan 1, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (4) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Win ten games

Who is the best quarterback in the NFC? Kirk Cousins? Dak Prescott? Aaron Rodgers seems likely to land in the AFC or retire and Tom Brady has stepped away from the game leaving a real debate as to who is now the top quarterback in the conference. There isn’t a team in the NFC you can point to that won’t have big questions to answer in 2023.

Add in a last-place schedule for the Falcons and the fact they are playing in a terrible division and this is the season the team must take a big step forward. If Desmond Ridder cannot find a way to win ten games with this schedule in an open conference he never will.

Barring Atlanta’s defense being the worst in the league or the roster suffering major high-impact injuries this team should win ten games with average quarterback play. For Ridder to keep his starting job throughout the season and head into 2024 as the starter the quarterback needs to win at least ten games and keep his team consistently in the playoff race.

If this team wins ten games and just makes the wildcard round with Ridder at the helm there will be an argument for Desmond to remain the starter even if the rest of these goals aren’t hit.

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