ATLANTA -- It had been 27 regular-season games since Falcons backup quarterback Chris Redman had thrown a pass in the NFL. But on Sunday, he was asked to keep the Atlanta Falcons in the playoff hunt and lead his team to victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Matt Ryan left with an injury."As a backup in this league, it's a very difficult position, especially the quarterback position," Atlanta head coach Mike Smith said. "You maybe get 15 snaps during the week [of practice], and Chris, when called upon, made the most of his opportunity."
Redman finished the day with an 89.8 quarterback rating and threw two touchdown passes -- the biggest was his last pass of the day, a five-yard scoring strike on slant pattern to Roddy White with 23 seconds remaining that gave Atlanta a 20-17 victory.
"I'm always ready at any time," Redman said. "That's what I'm here for."
Ryan left the game after playing just one series. He was sacked by Tampa Bay's Tim Crowder and Stylez G. White with 10:57 remaining in the first quarter, and his foot bent awkwardly underneath him. Ryan looked fine leaving the field, but immediately met with trainers -- he tried to loosen up his foot, but Redman entered the game after he was unable to do so.
Ryan left the field to go to the locker room in the second quarter, but returned right before halftime still in uniform. When the team came out after their halftime break, though, Ryan was in street clothes.
Smith was very tight-lipped about Ryan's status in the press conference following the game, giving only one tidbit of information, "I know it's a toe injury."
The Falcons coach said that any further news would have to wait until Wednesday, when the team was required by league rules to file an injury report.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
It must be frustrating for Chris Redman, being a better quarterback than most NFL starters, and being a backup, mostly because he is a pocket passer who isn't a runner. It works for Peyton Manning, and some smart team with a line that can block, and receivers that can catch, could go all the way with Chris. He is, after all, the #5 all-time college passer for yardage! Go Chris!