Arthur Blank should fire everyone if the Falcons lose to the Panthers this weekend

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Falcons at +155 odds (37% chance) of winning the NFC South after their devastating 29-25 home loss to the Buccaneers this past weekend. Despite the team’s playoff hopes dwindling, a new piece from Breacher Report suggests that Arthur Smith’s job is, “safe in Atlanta, barring a late season collapse.” What does the term “late season collapse” mean to you? Does this mean that if the team doesn’t win the division that Smith will be gone at the end of the season? Or could a late season collapse involve losing one game in the worst way possible, like what happened to Brandon Staley and the Chargers against the Raiders this week?

I was in attendance for the Falcons week 1 win over the Panthers at Mercedes Benz. The Falcons were in complete control of the game, & the game was never in doubt. We ran the ball well that day, averaging 5 yards per carry on 26 carries for 130 yards. Desmond Ridder only had to throw for 115 yards on 18 attempts in the 24-10 victory. I’m saying all of this to say that losing to the 1-12 Panthers, a division rival & the worst team in the entire league, would represent a clear regression from the team.

This is the NFL though, and in today’s parity driven league even the crappiest teams are often long overdue for a win, and it can happen against a far superior opponent. That concept is where the term “trap game” originated from, when a vastly superior opponent faces a far lesser opponent, gets too cocky, and ends up blowing the game. My belief is that the Falcons are heading into a trap game here against the Panthers.

After all, the team is favored by only 3 points against their division rival on Sunday. Arthur Smith’s track record in one score games looks great on paper, as he has a 17-15 career record in one score games, including recent wins against the Saints & Jets. Football games aren’t won on paper though, as his record in one score games since 2021 is 10-13, painting a different picture of how his teams have fared in the clutch. The team has played tons of close games recently, and without much to show for it. A loss to the Panthers on Sunday would give Arthur Smith a 20-28 career record and a slim chance of clinching a playoff berth in the worst division in football this year.

GM Terry Fontenot shouldn’t be absolved from blame in this scenario here either. The team, as currently constructed, has no franchise quarterback, no pass rush, & an inconsistent offensive line that’s being paid as one of the best units in the league. That’s a recipe for disaster in today’s NFL, and the team hasn’t been successful at all. Sure, Fontenot has signed some impactful free agents like S Jessie Bates, RB/WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson, & K Younghoe Koo, but his draft picks have included the likes of TE Kyle Pitts, S Richie Grant, OG Jaylen Mayfield, & some other non-contributors. Overall, it’s been a mixed bag of results for the third year GM of the Atlanta Falcons.

This is why owner Arthur Blank should clean house if the team loses on Sunday. Falcons fans have been anxiously waiting for a home playoff game in Mercedez Benz Stadium, & there haven’t been any to attend since the stadium opened in 2017. It’s been six years since the Falcons had a winning season as a playoff contender. Regardless of Sunday’s game outcome, a culture change is likely needed in Atlanta. Will Arthur Blank make the change? Or will he succumb to mediocrity once again?