There are few aspects in life that are more reliable than the Atlanta Falcons blowing a double-digit lead in the second half. It’s a phenomenon that is truly immune to coaching changes and player turnover. Blown leads just happen because it’s the Falcons.
And you know what, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith isn’t exactly helping his cause after Sunday’s Week 1 loss to the rival New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons controlled much of Sunday’s game, taking a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter. But the typical Falcons mistakes compounded in typical Falcons fashion. The second half consisted of Marcus Mariota taking a hit instead of sliding, leading to a turnover near the goal line. With new life, the Saints chipped away at the lead, and Smith elected to punt instead of going for it with a chance to ice the game.
With all that in mind, he should have been prepared for more questions about the Falcons’ late-game woes. Instead, he took his frustration out on the reporters during the press conference.
"You'll continue to write our obituary. Who cares? We have 16 games." 👀🍿
Arthur Smith wasn’t have it today.
🎥: @thekellyprice
pic.twitter.com/Rls4wOjzaa— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) September 11, 2022
This kind of thing keeps happening to the Falcons, and reporters are absolutely right to question why.
Fans understandably weren’t impressed with how Smith handled that defeat.
This was how Twitter reacted
why didn't marcus mariota slide? https://t.co/GRhccwelYp
— mathew (@_mathewp) September 11, 2022
doesn't quite have the same pizzaz when you have to look down at your notes halfway through https://t.co/CWeUenndIk
— yo (@NottsJuventino) September 11, 2022
Trying to do his best impression of Belichick https://t.co/l9svCi8ARC
— 🏈 Kelly (@football_kelly) September 11, 2022
this not how you talk after that performance https://t.co/83z4umQh3T
— tre🏁 (@trevvondavis) September 11, 2022
Embarrassing. https://t.co/PHsByR03v8
— Reid Adair (@rwabhm) September 11, 2022
If you want to change the culture and perception you should try winning and not collapsing every fourth quarter https://t.co/ADC2IIQZgz
— Falcons disappoint me (@nathan_price011) September 11, 2022
This dude is tweeting through it at postgame availability lmao https://t.co/tFaGcitgMI
— Zach 🐷 (@zrau) September 11, 2022
Really unprofessional of the Atlanta media to blow that 16-point lead in the 4th quarter https://t.co/P0BiwXUAf8
— Matt Stahl (@mattstahl97) September 11, 2022
Does Arthur not know they just choked away their game??? So maybe the reporters were right?? https://t.co/wRPQqeRpbH pic.twitter.com/Yc41B2MsKb
— Zach Dreier (@zdreier88) September 11, 2022
He’s blaming the wrong people.
