HONEST TRUTH: Falcons coach Arthur Smith gets brutally honest on crushing loss vs Cardinals

The Atlanta Falcons fell to 4-6 on the 2023 NFL season after a crushing 25-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Falcons took a late lead with a touchdown from quarterback Desmond Ridder; however, the defense then surrendered to the Cardinals’ march down the field, aided by the return of quarterback Kyler Murray, and eventually lost after a game-winning field goal as time expired.

The loss did not alleviate the fanbase’s growing dissatisfaction with head coach Arthur Smith, who was forced to face tough questions after the game. Smith reflected on how the loss felt similar to last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in some ways.

“The last two weeks, it’s been very similar, losing at the end,” Smith said, according to the Falcons’ official YouTube channel. “You put everything you had into it, and you’re frustrated, but we’ve got to find a way to get on the plane, get back, take advantage of this bye week, and regroup.” Put everything into it, come up with solutions, and beat New Orleans. That is the only option we have.”

On Sunday, Arthur Smith addressed at least some of the criticism leveled at him in previous weeks for his bizarre unwillingness to get the ball to his best playmakers. Bijan Robinson led the team in rushing, while Kyle Pitts and Drake London led the Cardinals in receiving yards.

However, losing to a one-win Cardinals team, even with Murray back in the lineup, is not a good look.