Desmond Ridder will look to build off his best passing performance of the season when the Atlanta Falcons host the struggling Washington Commanders on Sunday. Nearly one week after reporters asked Atlanta coach Arthur Smith if he would move in a different direction with his QB1, Ridder connected with 10 different receivers and passed for a career-high 329 yards in the Falcons' 21-19 comeback win over the Houston Texans last Sunday. The second-year pro completed 28 of 37 passes and added one passing and one rushing score. On the 10-play, 56-yard game-winning drive in the waning moments, Ridder completed all five of his pass attempts, which eventually led to Younghoe Koo nailing a 37-yard field goal as time expired. "His teammates believe in him," Smith said. "And again, you got a quarterback making his ninth NFL start (Sunday), those guys believe in him so it's more like, ‘Hey, let's go, we've got your back.' I thought he played well and responded." Kyle Pitts and Drake London were heavily involved in the air attack in the win over Houston. Pitts hauled in seven catches for 87 yards, while London had six receptions for 78 yards. It was the first time this season that the talented duo had big outputs in the same game. Jonnu Smith is tied for the team lead in receptions (21) and leads in receiving yards (246) for Atlanta (3-2), but he has yet to find the end zone. In addition to leading the team in rushing (364 yards), dynamic rookie running back Bijan Robinson has been a reliable weapon in the passing game, sharing the team lead in catches with Jonnu Smith. His one-handed, 6-yard TD grab gave the Falcons a lead against the Texans early in the fourth quarter. Atlanta's defense has been one of the league's top units through five games. The Falcons rank seventh in total yards allowed per game (295.2) and rank 10th in scoring defense (19.2 points allowed per game). The Commanders (2-3) have lost three straight games and are coming off a disappointing 40-20 loss to the Chicago Bears last Thursday night. Washington had no answer for the Bears' offense, in particular Justin Fields and DJ Moore. Fields passed for 282 yards and four touchdowns and added 57 yards on the ground. Moore finished with eight catches for a career-high 230 yards and three TDs. When asked about his team's performance, Washington coach Ron Rivera was quick to the point. "It starts at the top," Rivera said. "That part is on me." One major bright spot for Washington has been the play of quarterback Sam Howell. After passing for 290 yards and a score in a heartbreaking 34-31 overtime loss to Philadelphia in Week 4, Howell put together a 388-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Bears despite being sacked five times. Following a strong start to the season, running back Brian Robinson had six carries for just 10 yards in the loss to Chicago. Logan Thomas is coming off his best game of the season and has emerged as a favorite target of Howell. He had nine receptions for 77 yards and a score on 11 targets last week. Right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee), outside linebacker Bud Dupree (wrist) and Jonnu Smith (ankle) were limited in Atlanta's practice on Wednesday. Tight end Curtis Hodges (illness) and cornerback Christian Holmes (hamstring) did not participate for Washington in its Wednesday session. —Field Level Media
Related Posts
Not much has gone the way of Manchester United since they won the Champions League in May. Ronaldo wants to leave, Ramsey snubbed them over Arsenal and the fans want Arshavin at the club. It is a mess for United. But finally some good news seem to make their way to Old Trafford.
Manchester Evening News reckons that the Manchester United board is confident of signing Carlos Tevez on a permanent deal. They say that Manchester United has already paid £10 million to sign him on loan for two years and would have to pay another £10 million to complete his move.
However, the newspaper says that, should Manchester United fail to tie up Tevez by the end of the year, they risk losing him to other clubs.
Tevez has had a brilliant first season with Mancheste…
As a player Luis Aragones earned the nickname Zapatones or big boots and his will certainly be hard to fill when he stands down as Spain coach after his side s exorcising of so many ghosts at Euro 2008.
Like most men within weeks of turning 70 Aragones can be irascible and short-tempered but he has won the hearts of a nation with his team s exploits at these championships.
By masterminding Spain s passage to Thursday s semi-final against Russia he ended the 1964 champions well earned reputation of falling short when it mattered most.
Prior to last Sunday s spot-kick win over their bogey team Italy they had lost on penalties in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, Euro 96 and the 2002 World Cup.
Since Aragones took over the Spanish reins after Eu…
There will be no more arrivals at Liverpool in this transfer window says manager Jurgen Klopp, unless they experience injuries or sell someone.
The Reds have already added Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsey to the squad since the end of last season, and have been consistently linked with a move for a midfielder in recent weeks.
Borussia Dortmund s Jude Bellingham and Sporting CP s Matheus Nunes have been reported targets, but Klopp has appeared to rule out a move for either, or anyone else, in this window.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the German coach said when asked if there would be further signings: Unless we have injuries or player sales, no, we have our squad [for the coming season].
Hopefully, there won t be any [injuries], so Liverpool …
Former Spain manager Luis Aragonés did not need long to make his first major change at Fenerbahçe, and attracted Liga top scorer Daniel Güiza.
Aragonés urgently needed a replacement for star player Deivid, who seriously injured himself on Sunday.
Güiza scored 27 goals for Real Mallorca in the Primera Division last season, enough to become Spanish Pichichi top scorer.
The player represented the Spanish national team in eight occasions. At Euro 2008, he scored two goals.
Fener and the Spanish forward have come to an agreement for five seasons. Mallorca reportedly receive a transfer fee of seventeen million Euros.
…
Wilfried Zaha deserves to play for a top club as his agent Federico Pastorello said the Crystal Palace star could leave during the January transfer window.
Zaha wanted to depart before the start of the season but neither a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal nor Everton materialised after Palace held firm.
Refocused and in form, former Manchester United forward Zaha has been linked with Chelsea, who are hoping to overturn their transfer ban.
Pastorello revealed Ivory Coast international Zaha could be involved in a busy January window.
Proud of the fight and hunger the lads had tonight! Great win
— Wilfried Zaha (@wilfriedzaha)
I think he really deserves a new challenge and a top club, because he is really a top player, Pastorello, …
Danny Welbeck is leaving Arsenal at the end of the season, Unai Emery has confirmed.
Welbeck has not played for the club since breaking his ankle in a Europa League match against Sporting CP last November.
Although the former England international has returned to training, he will not be given a new contract.
Welbeck s five-year stay at Emirates Stadium will therefore come to an end, with the 28-year-old s next destination unclear.
I spoke with the club about this situation, Emery said after Sunday s 1-1 draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.
The decision is he s going to leave.
Step by step
— Danny Welbeck (@DannyWelbeck)
Welbeck, who came through the ranks at Manchester United, has been linked with a move to N…
Competition: Premier League
Market: Javi Martinez to join Liverpool this summer
Odds:
In a bid to boost the Liverpool backline, manager Brendan Rodgers has been eyeing up top defensive talent this summer. Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez is reportedly on the radar as he can play as a centre-back, central midfielder and a holding role in front of the backline.
However, it’s unknown about his availability as Bayern recently won the league and German cup double with the Spaniard playing his part. But he’s only made 14 league starts for the German giants, with injuries hampering the campaign for him. Bayern paid £35M for his services in 2012, so Liverpool would have to stump up a lot to pique their interest.
Nevertheless, 888 Sport are giving odds o…
Yaya Sanogo hopes his loan move to Crystal Palace can help him show Arsene Wenger his Premier League potential.
The French striker agreed a temporary move to Selhurst Park on Tuesday after struggling to break into the first team at Arsenal, making just three league appearances this season.
Sanogo has yet to score in the Premier League for his parent club in 11 outings since arriving from Auxerre in 2013, and he hopes to change that under the guidance of Alan Pardew.
It feels good to have signed a six-month deal at Crystal Palace, so I am happy, the 21-year-old told the club s official website.
My ambition is to keep on and every day work hard on the training ground, and try to always play.
It would certainly be good to play [more] for my adap…
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel rebuffed former Premier League defender Gary Neville s criticism of new Blues owner Todd Boehly, labelling the American businessman as super hard-working .
Neville accused Boehly of treating Chelsea as if he wants to play Football Manager , referring to the video game, and acting panicky in the transfer market.
The west London club have missed out on a number of key targets this window, with Jules Kounde from Sevilla and Raphinha from Leeds United reportedly snubbing Chelsea in order to move to Spanish giants Barcelona.
While they have completed the signings of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli and England international Raheem Sterling, Neville said about Boehly on The Overlap: He s reacting to clubs and what they are doing. You hear…
New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders remained atop the table in their respective conferences with road wins Saturday.
Thomas McNamara s goal in the 88th minute gave New England a 3-2 victory over New York City FC, just three minutes after Ismael Tajouri-Shradi had equalised for the home side.
Gustavo Bou and Jon Bell also found the net for the Revolution, who are five points clear of Orlando City in the Eastern Conference.
Out west, goals four minutes on either side of half-time from Yeimar Gomez and Raul Ruidiaz lifted unbeaten Seattle to a 2-1 win at LA Galaxy.
FT: With the win, extend their unbeaten streak to 9 matches!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS)
Orlando City got early goals from Tesho Akindele and Nani before Juni…