Will Falcons turn to QB Desmond Ridder down the stretch?

At 4-5, the Atlanta Falcons are somehow still in the NFC South playoff hunt. 

Though, the team may want to find out what it has in quarterback Desmond Ridder before the year is over. 

Quarterback Marcus Mariota has had a bit of a resurgence with the Falcons, but his limited passing game is preventing top weapons like tight end Kyle Pitts and wideout Drake London from really breaking out.

It's also keeping Atlanta's offense from really living up to its full potential. While the Falcons can run the ball on anybody, it's just not mounting a successful passing attack enough to consistently win games. 

Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati, looked the part in preseason reps for the Falcons, and some are wondering when his time will come to audition for the team's quarterback job. 

If the Falcons lose in Carolina to the lowly Panthers on Thursday night, it could leave the team at 4-6. At that point, it's plausible the team will give Ridder a try to see if he can ignite a more balanced offense. 

Mariota can still be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but it depends on the type of offense you'd want to run. Most NFL offenses require a vibrant passing attack to set up the explosive play, and the Falcons will need more of that in the future to really unlock the offense's full potential. 

The Falcons may want to get a taste of what Ridder can do before letting the 2022 season pass them by. If he is the quarterback of tomorrow, getting a glimpse today wouldn't hurt.