The Atlanta Falcons are no longer in control of their playoff destiny. What does this mean for head coach Arthur Smith?

On the last NFL game day, the Atlanta Falcons suffered a disappointing 7:9 defeat against the Carolina Panthers. It was the second defeat in a row for the franchise. The Falcons have now disappeared from first place in the NFC South. Instead of having control over their postseason entry, the team is now reliant on help from others.

What does this mean for head coach Arthur Smith? In an interview with “Georgia Public Broadcasting”, team owner Arthur Blank commented on the issue. He explained that the team would “let the season come to an end and then move on”.

Accordingly, the franchise will stick with its head coach, but will assess “where we are at the end of the season and then go from there.”

Reaching the playoffs in the current season was not a prerequisite for Smith to keep his job. The expectation was much more that the team would be more competitive. By comparison, the Falcons finished the previous two years with a 7-10 record. They currently have a record of 6-8.

On the team’s past performances, the owner said: “This part of the season has been mixed. And the coach would say that too. He’s a very honest person. He’s very critical of himself. He comes from a wonderful family with good values – and he tries to reflect those values in his leadership style as best he can.”

Next Sunday, the Falcons have to play the Indianapolis Colts, followed by games against the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints.

This is Head Coach Smith’s third season in Atlanta