Atlanta Falcons Coach Arthur Smith Not Shying Away From Firing Rumors
The Atlanta Falcons were once again the victims of a crushing, one-score loss on Sunday. Atlanta lost for the third straight game after the Arizona Cardinals hit a game-winning field goal as time expired to win 25-23.
This marked the sixth straight game where the contest ended within one score, as it's clear the Falcons are right on the cusp of success but just haven't been able to figure out how to close games.
Whether that's on Falcons coach Arthur Smith or not is up for debate, but when things don't go right, all eyes tend to point his way. He's well aware of fans calling for his job, and will continue to just roll with the punches as the season treads on.
“That goes back to what I was talking about. It’s pro football. Don’t sign up for it," Smith said. "I mean, honestly. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if you win 10 Super Bowls, or you don’t win anything. That’s what it is. If you don’t like that, don’t sign up for it. That’s players, everybody. If you don’t want the pressure, there’s other professions you can go do. That’s just what it is, you know what I mean? We know what we’re hired to do. You embrace it and you try to do everything you can to win, so you do right by the job you’re hired to do.”
Arthur Smith
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Smith has little choice but to just embrace the hate and roll with it. Undefeated or winless, there's an expected pride that comes with being an NFL head coach, and backing down from adversity is hardly an option.
Luckily for Smith and Atlanta, the schedule is favorable in the second half of the season, as none of the Falcons' next seven opponents are above .500 in the standings. Additionally, the NFC South remains highly competitive with no team quite breaking away as the top squad in the division.
The Falcons have a bye this week, but will host the current division-leading New Orleans Saints on Nov. 26 before a road meeting with the New York Jets on Dec. 3. Atlanta then plays back-to-back division games against the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before closing out the year against the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and Saints, respectively.
If Smith is going to turn the Falcons' season around, it starts with attacking this bye week before a crucial game with the Saints in Week 12. Atlanta still has a real chance at making the playoffs, a goal that would certainly keep Smith's job safe for at least one more season.
