'Hot Seat!' Should Falcons Fire Arthur Smith This Season?
It's time to ask the question. Should Arthur Smith be let go as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons?
Atlanta can still win the NFC South if it wins next week and the Carolina Panthers win, but even so, games like Sunday's are incredibly concerning in regards to the future direction of the franchise. If the Falcons reach the postseason, that probably buys Smith more time, but if they don't, Week 17's 37-17 loss in Chicago could prove to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith on the sideline during the game against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
This team hasn't "looked right" in 2023. Maybe it's the ongoing quarterback controversy that has been a back-and-forth affair for weeks or the lack of involvement of running back Bijan Robinson in the offense, but the Falcons have not looked like a playoff contender this season at most stages. They're aided by the NFC South being an objective disaster, but the point remains the same.
Atlanta's playoff chances were slim entering this week anyway, and they now sit at 11 percent after the loss to the Bears, according to NFL.com. A win, however, would have been a welcome sight in an attempt to keep those hopes alive, but instead, the Falcons laid a massive egg on the road against a Bears team that is also fighting for playoff survival and is in even worse shape than Atlanta.
Sometimes coaches are fired for "appearance" purposes, meaning that when things go south, a coach is let go as a way to appease a fan base. But sometimes, even those moves can provide a spark that ignites a fan base and locker room with some belief once again, and Atlanta is in desperate need of that these days.
This season may not be entirely Arthur Smith's fault, but it's still more than fair to ask the question: should he be fired at the end of the season? It certainly appears to be trending that direction after Sunday.
