Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota kept the team afloat for the first half of the 2022 season, but the former No. 2 overall pick’s performance has been inconsistent at best. Despite Mariota’s struggles, head coach Arthur Smith was reluctant to bench his starting QB while the team was fighting for a playoff spot.
Atlanta started off 4-4, but the team has since lost four out of five games to drop to 5-8. With just four games left in the 2022 season, the Falcons have finally made the decision to bench Mariota for rookie Desmond Ridder when the team returns from its bye week.
