ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are teetering on the brink after one of the worst losses in franchise history, an inexplicable setback that raised questions about the fates of coach Arthur Smith and quarterback Desmond Ridder.
As his third season winds down with the playoffs looking increasingly out of reach, Smith is under intense heat from a disgruntled fan base that is clamoring for a change. Social media was flooded with “#FireArthurSmith” posts, which were sure to get the attention of owner Arthur Blank.
Then there’s Ridder, the second-year signal-caller entrusted by Smith to lead the Falcons back to the postseason. Another boneheaded turnover in a year filled with them led to a dismal 9-7 loss to a Carolina Panthers team that came into Sunday with the NFL’s worst record (1-12) and an interim coach.
“The job is to win games and get into the playoffs,” said Smith, whose overall record as the Falcons coach dropped to 20-28. “Definitely a tough pill to swallow.”
Having already benched Ridder earlier in the season, Smith all but said Monday that he’s planning another switch at quarterback, though backup Taylor Heinicke offers little hope of a dramatic turnaround.