Falcons' Smith dismisses idea of benching Mariota

The Atlanta Falcons have lost three of their last four games and fallen out of the NFC playoff picture, but head coach Arthur Smith shut down the possibility of a quarterback change.

"There was never a situation. ... You understand why the questions get asked, lose two games in five days, and everybody wants to panic," Smith said Monday, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"We're right in the middle of it," Smith added. "Not where we want to be, but the reality is you're right in the middle of a playoff race with a conference opponent coming in here for a game we need to win."

Marcus Mariota has started all 10 games for the Falcons, throwing for 1,747 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Falcons are averaging 156.8 passing yards per game, which ranks 30th in the league.

Mariota, 29, signed a two-year, $18.75-million deal with the Falcons in March.

"If we were going to make a change, I'd tell you. You'd see it at practice," Smith said when asked about benching Mariota, according to team reporter Tori McElhaney.

The Falcons selected quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round of the 2022 draft. He threw 87 touchdowns over a four-year career at Cincinnati.

With the Falcons sitting at 4-6, they are one game back of the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South.