4 Atlanta Falcons that let the team down against the Saints

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Sep 11, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith talks with an official on the field prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith made several questionable decisions throughout Sunday’s game. The most obvious was the failure to go for a 4th and short at mid-field giving the ball back to the Saints allowing them to kick what would be the game-winner in their final possession. Going for 4th down and short late in games isn’t always the right move this isn’t Madden, if Atlanta’s defense was playing at the level they did for three quarters no question the Falcons should have punted the football and forced Winston to make a play.

However, Smith had a front-row seat to what every Atlanta Falcons fan had to watch on Sunday in the fourth quarter. Winston was slicing up the Atlanta defense and the pressure Atlanta had gotten earlier in the game seemed to evaporate.

Sitionally punting the football was obviously an unforgivable decision. The right decision was to allow Cordarrelle Patterson to lower his shoulder and have the chance to get the one-yard that would have ended this game. If Patterson failed to get the yard the Saints would have been closer but perhaps Atlanta could have had more time on the clock to get into field goal range. Whether or not they converted Arthur Smith made the wrong decision he played the 4th quarter trying not to lose instead of pushing the pedal down and attempting to put the Saints away.

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