Arthur Smith’s job was thought to be safe going into the Falcons’ Week 15 game against the Panthers.
It was highlighted that the idea precludes a late-season collapse. Smith’s offense managed only seven points against a lifeless, coachless Carolina team that eventually triumphed on a walk-off field goal.
Nobody knew what a “late-season collapse” constituted, but losing to the 1-12 Panthers had to meet the description in some way. It’s the kind of loss that makes heads turn, and talk about Smith’s job security was rife.
Arthur Blank eventually responded to those questions in a previously scheduled interview, expressing his support for Smith and refusing to contribute to the rumors.
When asked about his head coach’s future, Blank stated, “We’re going to play these last three games; we’re going to play ’em to win ’em.” And we’ll see how the season goes from there. Obviously, this has not been the year we anticipated.”
After a dominating victory over the Colts, that posture did not change. “We still have two games left.” Let’s wait and see what occurs. “Like I said last week, we’ll play these last two and then see where we go,” Blank said, according to The Athletic.
Smith’s job may have been rescued on Sunday, when the Falcons scored a season-high 29 points and accumulated 406 yards of total offense while Taylor Heinicke did not make a turnover. This is the type of performance that has been so frustrating this season because the promise is there, and it appears Smith and Terry Fontenot will get the opportunity to reach that potential in 2024.
According to Albert Breer, Arthur Blank is leaning toward another year for Smith and Fontenot.
“The Falcons are an enigma,” writes Breer. “They’ve had success with draft picks.” They’ve targeted free agents. They’ve developed strength along the line of scrimmage and certainly look like a rising young club in many aspects. However, the idea to tread water at quarterback has not gone as planned, leading to Taylor Heinicke’s reintroduction into the starting on Sunday.
And yet, in a strange way, Heinicke’s return demonstrated where the ceiling for this team is, how the bunch is still ascending, and why Arthur Blank is leaning toward giving Smith and Fontenot another year.”
There are still two games left, and as we’ve seen in the past, these feelings can shift after a horrible Sunday. The Falcons have a shot to make the playoffs, but they will need some help. Blank, as I’ve always thought, was unlikely to fire Smith because the quarterback has been the greatest source of the team’s problems.
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