The Atlanta Falcons were doing really well a month ago, but now things have changed. They beat the Dallas Cowboys and had a good record of 6-3. But then they lost their next three games to the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers, making their record 6-6. If it weren’t for winning four out of five games in their division, they’d be in big trouble.
Despite my hopes, this wasn’t going to be the Falcons’ year for a deep playoff run.
Being ahead by two games over the New Orleans Saints and three over the Carolina Panthers is great for the Falcons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers share the same 6-6 record as Atlanta, but remember, Atlanta swept their series with them. With only five games left, the question is whether Raheem Morris can lead this team back to victory.
At first, hiring Morris seemed like a smart move. I believed he could be the leader the Falcons needed. He had experience on both offense and defense from his time with the Los Angeles Rams and as interim coach in 2020.
However, losing to the Saints was rough, especially since they were struggling too. And those losses to Denver and Los Angeles? They really stood out. While Morris is respected, I’m not sure he’s ready to take on the best coaches just yet.
Morris has won against some notable names, but his losses tell another story. He’s faced off against top coaches like Andy Reid and Sean Payton. It’s been tough competing with such seasoned professionals.
The Falcons’ path to the playoffs is clear: win four out of five upcoming games. Even winning three could work due to their tiebreaker over Tampa Bay. A loss to the Vikings seems likely, but they should beat teams like Las Vegas and Carolina. Everything might hinge on that late December game against Washington.
Firing Morris would be a mistake right now. Still, changes are needed. Maybe a new defensive coordinator could help. Plus, it’s time to see if Michael Penix Jr. is ready to challenge Kirk Cousins for the quarterback spot. The next few weeks will be crucial for Cousins’ future with Atlanta.
If there’s any silver lining to this slump, it’s that Zac Robinson won’t be leaving anytime soon.