As the Falcons continue to spin their wheels, the metaphorical pitchforks are being sharpened by fans as calls grow louder for Arthur Smith’s job.
After an offseason of vast investment and improvements to the roster, the results have still been middling as the club sits one game under .500 and in second place of the division.
The Falcons can still win the NFC South and capture their first postseason berth in the last five seasons, but it’s fair for the fan base to lack confidence in Arthur Smith.
However, their calls and wishes for his job are being shouted into the ether. Earlier in the week, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Atlanta’s head coach will be back in 2024 “barring a late-season collapse.”
“It seems like a job could open in this division, depending on how things play out. The sense I get after asking around is that Arthur Smith is safe in Atlanta, barring a late-season collapse.”
Fowler’s sense comes from Arthur Blank’s history of patience with his head coaches. He’s never one to jump the gun; in fact, he could be criticized for hanging on to guys too long. But let’s play the ‘what if’ game.
What would a late-season collapse entail?
Some might characterize the loss to the Buccaneers as a collapse. The Falcons were in a position to win the game throughout the contest, leaving more than a handful of points on the field.
Desmond Ridder missed a wide open Bijan Robinson on third and goal in the flat on the opening drive, which forced the team to settle for three points instead of a touchdown. Later in the first half, the typically reliable Younghoe Koo missed two field goals. In the second half, the defense consistently stopped Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense until the final drive that gave Tampa Bay the lead.
It was an inconsistent performance in all facets, but it wouldn’t be in the same ballpark of embarrassment as a loss to the Panthers. Carolina is a lifeless team that doesn’t have a coach or direction. They’re coming off a loss to a lousy Saints team that only mustered 206 total yards of offense. Bryce Young’s club is headed to a first overall pick that they don’t even own; it can’t get much worse.
With that being said, they’d love nothing more than to drag the Falcons down with them. Playing spoiler is a role that rivals cherish, especially when the team is as low as the Panthers. Even still, a loss this weekend might be the end of the world for Falcons fans, but I don’t think it’s enough to force Arthur Blank to pull the trigger.
Realistically, I think Blank would have to see Arthur Smith lose the final four contests to even consider scalping him. Even then, it might take a locker room mutiny to force Blank’s hand. A full blown loss of confidence in their head coach could be the late-season collapse Fowler references.
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Photographer: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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