3 Things the Atlanta Falcons learned against Saints in week one

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Aug 27, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith runs on the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars before a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Coach this team not to lose and you will be searching for a job this off-season

Dean Pees and Arthur Smith are the primary culprits when it comes to why the Atlanta Falcons lost this game. With a 16-point lead, the Falcons completely changed the way they were playing this game. They played prevent defense putting in backup defensive linemen and playing this game not to lose. The quickest way to lose in this league is to play scared and Atlanta went from a ferocious underdog to a scared team trying to cling to a lead they suddenly realized they didn’t know what to do with.

The Atlanta coaching staff has to learn from this game quickly or they will be searching for new jobs during the off-season. Losing because you have an inferior roster is forgivable what isn’t is getting your inferior roster in a position to win and collapsing because you are coaching scared.

Arthur Smith had multiple chances to go for 4th downs that would have put this game away. Most notably a fourth and short at midfield. A first down wins the game and Smith didn’t show belief in his offense and made the conservative decision that lost Atlanta the game. This is the type of coaching that ran Dan Quinn out of Atlanta, if Smith continues down this path he too will be searching for employment outside of Atlanta.

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