Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mary Clarke

Falcons coach Arthur Smith blew up after a late Saints TD and no one felt bad for him

Arthur Smith Falcons Saints Dennis Allen Jamaal Williams NFL Atlanta (Organization)

Arthur Smith is no doubt headed for a Black Monday exit and it seems like he knows it too.

On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons capped off their disappointing 7-10 season with a blowout 48-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Given how weak the NFC South was this season, the Falcons had a chance at a playoff spot, but went 1-4 in their last five games of the season, playing some truly pathetic football along the way.

With how poor the Falcons played down the stretch, it won’t be a surprise to see Smith fired now that Atlanta’s season is over. And, to cap it all off, this might be how Falcons fans remember Smith’s tenure in Atlanta.

After the Falcons dropped their Week 18 game to the Saints, Smith was irate at New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen during postgame handshakes. Here’s how the interaction went down.

Why was Smith so upset? Because the Saints — up 41-17 at this point — faked the victory formation so Jamaal Williams could score one final touchdown to ice the game with a minute and 13 seconds left.

It’s a bit understandable that Smith would be heated at a trick play to run up the score, but at the same time … is there really a difference between losing 41-17 and 48-17? A loss is a loss, and both scores are clear blowouts regardless. This is the NFL, teams have no reason to let up against an opponent, especially a divisional one.

To Allen’s credit, he did apologize to Smith and the Falcons after the game. Weirdly though, Allen also threw his own Saints players under the bus, stating that they wanted to get Williams a touchdown and ran the play anyway despite a kneel down being called.

Talk about taking away all the good will you earned with your fans in one fell swoop. Either way, though, what a story to go out on if you’re the Falcons and Saints.

Meanwhile, NFL fans couldn’t find it in their hearts to feel bad for Smith’s tantrum to end his time in Atlanta.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Tom Hardy's Venom And Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man Crossover Teased.
Fan trailer 'Venom: The Last Dance' hints at a clash between Tom Hardy's Venom and Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man 3, sparking exc...
Top News
Top News
The Anxious Generation wants to save teens. But the bestseller’s anti-tech logic is skewed
There’s no doubt about the mental health crisis facing young people. Jonathan Haidt blames our devices – which oversimplifies the problem
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
How to play with Barbie dolls: 6 ways to use the iconic doll as a positive role model at home
If you have a little one who loves to play with Barbie, there are lots of positive ways in which you can encourage them to play in a way that helps their development and self-esteem. We’ll show you how.
GoodToKnow
GoodToKnow
7 Google Docs keyboard shortcuts to get more done in less time
Google Docs is a great free online word processor, and you can get a lot of productivity out of it once you know these keyboard shortcuts.
Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Woman Misses Her Freckles So She Paints Them On, Gets Called Out For ‘Cultural Appropriation’
Cultural appropriation in beauty and fashion is nothing new. But today, it seems impossible that white models could walk a runway in dreadlocks, tribal and Native American dress, or geisha makeup and kimonos. Appropriation happens when consumers or companies use and manufacture products that either promote cultural stereotypes or take…
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
50 Texts Women Got From Men That Are A Crash Course In How Not To Communicate
For many of us, texting is a huge part of our lives. However, some messages can take an unexpected turn for the bizarre, hilarious, and even downright cringy. The post 50 Texts Women Got From Men That Are A Crash Course In How Not To Communicate first appeared on Bored…
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play