The Falcons ended the regular season with an embarrassing 48-17 loss to their most hated rival on the road. new orleans saints. And even more humiliating than the loss itself was head coach Arthur Smith's actions after the loss.
The Saints tried and scored a touchdown from the winning position with just over a minute left.
And Arthur Smith threw a little tantrum about this during what was supposed to be a post-game handshake between both head coaches.
Allen said after the game that his players asked if running back Jamal Williams could score a touchdown. He said no, so the players ran the play anyway.
Dennis Allen said Jamaal Williams asked if he could score a TD. He said, “No, I wanted to get on my knees.” He said the players executed the play anyway. He said it was natural for Arthur Smith to be upset.
— Kathryn Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) January 7, 2024
After the game, Smith acknowledged that the Saints “can do whatever they want” on the football field.
Arthur Smith on his heated exchange with Dennis Allen after the game: (The game) got out of hand, but with a score like that, he said to (Allen), “You can do whatever you want.'' He said he just wanted to express his opinion.
Allen reportedly apologized to the Falcons' Smith for starting the pressure.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) January 7, 2024
Would it be good sportsmanship to go for a touchdown from the victory formation in that scenario? No, of course not. But I'm not going to be mad at Saints players twisting daggers at their district rivals. And I think Arthur Smith should be more angry about his acting this time.
First, the game was well past the point of no return. The game was probably decided with over eight minutes left in the game. Facing a 17-point deficit, the Falcons hit a third-and-6 at their own 29-yard line. When the team is down three points against its biggest rival, when the head coach's job and the tattered remains of the team's last postseason hope are at stake, when there's so much playing time left. The last thing anyone should do is a) punt the ball away, b) bench the starter (even though the starter was Desmond Ridder) because there's enough time left in the game.3 number stringer Logan Woodside.
More importantly, it's not the Saints' job to make Arthur Smith look competent. It's not the Saints' job to cut the Falcons short. If Arthur Smith doesn't want his team to get scored on by the Saints in garbage time, Arthur Smith needs to make sure his team doesn't let it happen. That's how real life works.
This isn't fourth grade flag football where you hope everyone has a good time, everyone gets a trophy, and someone's parent hands out orange slices and juice boxes after the game. This is the National Football League. Teams play to win and play until the whistle blows. If Arthur Smith's team wasn't ready for that, there's one person to blame, and that's not Dennis Allen or the Saints.
Arthur Smith frequently said,this is not fantasy footballEvery time someone confronts him about why he didn't do a better job of incorporating Atlanta's considerable offensive skill position talent, especially Kyle Pitts and Drake Rondon, into the game plan, he makes excuses.
We may have seen the last of Smith on the Falcons sideline, but the arrogance he displayed in this postgame interaction will likely be one of the main reasons he didn't succeed in Atlanta. .
