Read the reports from Sunday’s NFL games.
Desmond Ridder silences critics
Desmond Ridder ran and passed for touchdowns, answering calls to see him out of the lineup, and the Atlanta Falcons snap their two-game losing streak with a 21-19 win over the Houston Texans, Sunday.
Younghoe Koo made a 37-yard field goal to give the local favorites the victory on the very last play of the game.
Ridder’s six-yard touchdown pass to running back Bijan Robinson and subsequent two-point conversion gave the Falcons (3-2) a 15-12 lead early in the fourth quarter. Robinson caught the pass with his hip before running through the center of the Texans (2-3) defense into the end zone.
Rookie CJ Stroud responded with an 18-yard touchdown pass to slotback Dalton Schultz, making it 19-18 in favor of the Texans with 1 minute 49 seconds on the clock. Schultz found an opening in the middle, behind safety Jessie Bates.
The biggest play of the decisive offensive sequence completed by Koo was a 23-yard pass from Ridder to Drake London.
Stroud set a new NFL mark by starting his career with 177 pass attempts without an interception. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott previously held the record.
Stroud completed 20 of 35 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown. Ridder connected with his receivers 28 times in 37 attempts for 329 yards and a touchdown. He also reached the end zone with a seven-yard run in the first quarter.
Ridder, in his first season as starting quarterback, came under increasing criticism after throwing three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, in a 23-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week in London. .
His comeback ended the Texans’ two-game winning streak.
Before Stroud’s pass to Schultz, the Texans had four field goals, all by Kaʻimi Fairbairn, including a 28-yarder with three seconds left in the first half.
The Texans will host the New Orleans Saints next Sunday. The Falcons will receive a visit from the Washington Commanders.
Charles Odum, Associated Press