The Atlanta Falcons have had their fair share of disappointing losses this season, however there may have not been one that was more of a letdown than Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers. On the surface, the Falcons did everything you could have asked them to do to walk away with a victory including not giving up a touchdown and leading the Panthers most of the game.
But in the fourth quarter on a potential game winning drive, the Falcons would suffer a crucial turnover as Desmond Ridder’s intended for Cordarrelle Patterson would be intercepted by Xavier Woods at the Panthers five yard line with 7:44 remaining in the game. From there, the Panthers would put together a drive led by Bryce Young, who completed five passes on five attempts, and march down the field to the Falcons five yard line and with one second to go in the game, would kick the go ahead and winning field goal as Eddy Pineiro would send it through the goal post giving the Panthers the win.
On Monday, as expected, Falcons’ fan expressed their disappointment and for some, dis-satisfaction, in the play and decision making of Ridder and to some extent, head coach Arthur Smith for his play calling. On the Steakhouse with Drew Butler and Mark Zinno, who sat in for the vacation Steak Shapiro, the two host shared their thoughts on Sunday’s outcome and began a discussion on whether or not Smith should continue with Ridder under center and if so, who he putting his own job on the line.
“The fact that Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith convinced Rich McKay and Arthur Blank that going into this season with Desmond Ridder as the quarterback literally puts their jobs on the line,” Butler would tell Zinno as he expressed what he believes is the current state of job status for Smith. However, Zinno, in agreeance that Smith’s future with the franchise may be in jeopardy, would share that he believes Smith will return next season as the head coach of the Falcons.
“You’re asking me whether he should be fired, whether he will be fired and my answer is no and no,” Zinno responded. He would later add that while he believes Smith will return as the head coach, “that doesn’t mean he’s not going to go into the season on a very, very hot seat,” Zinno said.
Click link above to hear Butler and Zinno’s conversation in its entirety: