Indianapolis @ Atlanta preview
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2019 ) Atlanta 24, Indianapolis 27
The clock is ticking on Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith.
A disappointing 9-7 loss to the league-worst Carolina Panthers last week dropped Atlanta to 6-8, a game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the woeful NFC South.
While winning out isn't a must, the Falcons' best shot at making the playoffs would be closing out the regular season with three straight wins, starting with a Sunday home game against the Indianapolis Colts.
In his third year on the job after a successful run as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator, Smith understands the consequences of not winning games.
"We all know what we signed up for," he said. "That's why I love this game. You want to be in pro football and you want to be judged. If you don't want to do that and you just want to be comfortable, that's not what this is."
While Falcons owner Arthur Blank said this week he would wait until after the season to make a decision on Smith's future with the team, the coach's seat got hotter with the defeat against the lowly Panthers.
Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder connected on 12 of 20 passes for 152 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Even considering the rainy conditions, that wasn't good enough, which is why Smith is making a QB change for the third time this year, ping-ponging back to Taylor Heinicke.
A former Washington Commanders starter, Heinicke took over for Ridder prior to the Falcons' Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and started a Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals before Smith went back to Ridder.
"When my number's called, I go out there and I'm the starter," Heinicke said, "and I do the same thing when I'm a backup. I think you go there and take it a play at a time. If your sole goal is to win and you win, that's going to take care of everything else."
That's a position Indianapolis (8-6) has put itself in despite losing rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5. Gardner Minshew has gone 6-4 as the starter, including a 30-13 home win over Pittsburgh last week that made the Colts 5-1 in their past six games.
Minshew overcame a slow start to complete 18 of 28 passes for 215 yards with three touchdowns against the Steelers. Just as important, running back Trey Sermon stepped up in the absence of Jonathan Taylor (thumb) and Zack Moss (arm) to log 88 yards on 17 attempts as Indianapolis scored the game's last 30 points to move into a three-way tie for first in the AFC South.
Taylor practiced in full all week and is expected to return after a three-game absence. Moss, though, sat out Wednesday through Friday and was ruled out Saturday. Indianapolis wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was cleared from concussion protocol Friday, but his symptoms resurfaced after the team arrived in Atlanta and he was ruled out Saturday.
Indianapolis tackle Braden Smith (knee) and linebacker Segun Olubi (hip) are also out.
The Colts also suspended two special teams stalwarts, wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown, early in the week for conduct detrimental to the team.
First-year Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen said, "I think there are standards around here and we've got to hold people accountable. That's it."
Falcons offensive lineman Kaleb McGary (knee) and defensive lineman David Onyemata (ankle) returned to practice Thursday and are questionable to play. Both sat out the past two games. Linebacker Bud Dupree (back) is also questionable and fullback Keith Smith (ankle) is doubtful.
The Colts have dominated the all-time series against Atlanta, posting 15 wins in 17 games. In the most recent meeting, Indianapolis earned a 27-24 home win on Sept. 22, 2019.
--Field Level Media