Category: Sports

The Atlanta Falcons finished the season with 10 losses yet again, including stinking up the final game 48-17 to the hapless New Orleans Saints. As a result, head coach Arthur Blank was fired.

The Falcons had an up and down season, but they if they develop (of as some say change) the quarterback position, they have a lot of room to grow.

Falcons Finish Season 7-10

Smith took on the role of head coach for the Atlanta Falcons on January 15, 2021, leading the team for three seasons. Throughout his tenure, the Falcons maintained a consistent 7-10 record each season. His time in Atlanta concludes with an overall record of 21-30.

Despite the early struggles, the Falcons still had a good chance in the NFC South with one week left, but they needed some help.

How did the Falcons do over the course of the season? Let’s take a look.

Here Is The 2023 Atlanta Falcons Schedule

Football fans are excited about the Falcons and the moves they’ve made behind quarterback Desmond Ridder. HOw many games will the Falcons win? That remains to be seen. Some people are saying at least 11 games. I think 10 is reasonable given their strength of schedule at home.

They will have to go through the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, Chicago and the always-tough New Orleans Saints in the season finale.

Are The Atlanta Falcons On Thursday Night Football?

The Falcons are one of four teams without any primetime games. The other teams are Arizona, Houston and Indianapolis.

Here are teams with primetime games:

• Buffalo, Dallas, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City (6 games)
• Green Bay, New York Giants, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Philadelphia (5 games)
• Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, New England, Pittsburgh (4 games)
• Miami, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Seattle (4 games)
• Carolina, Cleveland, Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee, Tampa Bay (2 games)
• Washington (1 game)

Week 1: Falcons 24, Panthers 10

With the Atlanta Falcons victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, the Dirty Birds are over .500 for first time since finishing 10-6 in 2017. That was the league’s longest active drought of not being over .500.

Atlanta started their 2023 season off with a thrilling 24-10 win against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The game was the NFL debut  of rookie Bryce Young, the starting quarterback of the Panthers.

The Falcons broke open a tight game behind three turnovers, including two interceptions by Atlanta safety Emoni Bates.

The Falcons also snapped a five-game losing streak in season openers (was longest active streak and longest streak in franchise history).

Week 2: Falcons 25, Packers 24

A close game came down to a field goal as Atlanta had to come from behind to beat the Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love.

The Atlanta Falcons defended home field on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, with a thrilling 25-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Week 3: Falcons 6, Lions 20

The Falcons lost to the Detroit Lions 20-6 on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. The Falcons offense could get nothing going as quarterback Desmond Ridder was sacked seven times.

Week 4: Jaguars 24, Falcons 6

The Atlanta Falcons lost 24-6 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL’s international game on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.

The Falcons defense and offense looked listless against the Jaguars.

Week 5: Falcons 21, Texans 19

In a battle of young quarterbacks, Desmond Ridder outdueled CJ Stroud in the Falcons’ 21-19 victory against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.

Ridder turned in the best performance in his career, throwing for over 300 yards and limiting his mistakes.

Week 6: Washington Commanders 24, Falcons 16

The Atlanta Falcons lost 24-16 against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in another mistake-filled game by quarterback Desmond Ridder.

Week 7: Falcons 16, Tampa Bay 13

The Falcons won 16-13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023 in another mistake-prone game by quarterback Desmond Ridder.

Despite Ridder’s struggles, he had some key plays with his arm and legs against Tampa.

Week 8: Falcons 23, Titans 28

The Falcons had a chance to win the game against the Tennessee Titans late, even after losing starting quarterback Desmond Ridder to a concussion, but they just couldn’t get it done.

Week 9: Falcons 28, Vikings 31

The Atlanta Falcons had to start backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke due to Desmond Ridder still being in concussion protocol. During the game, Atlanta underestimated quarterback Josh Dobbs, who used his legs to scramble for first downs and throw darts at the last minute. The Vikings escaped with a three-point win while the Falcons lost again.

Week 10: Falcons 23, Arizona 25

The Falcons decided to go with Taylor Heinicke again at quarterback for the second week in a row. The Arizona Cardinals did just enough to win against the Atlanta Falcons, 25-23 as Tyler Murray threw for 249 yards and a touchdown.

Week 11: BYE Week

Week 12: Falcons 24, Saints 15

The New Orleans Saints came to Atlanta looking to cement their lead in the division. Instead, they left as losers after Ridder and Bijan Robinson ran all over them for a 24-15 victory.

Week 13: Falcons 7, Panthers 9

The hapless Carolina Panthers couldn’t find the end zone against the Falcons, who were atop the NFC South. But on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, Carolina didn’t need a touchdown to beat the Falcons 9-7 in Charlotte.

The Falcons were up 7-6 and driving with about 7 minutes in the game when Desmond Ridder threw an ill-advised dart into traffic at the Carolina 10-yard line. The pass was picked off.

The Panthers then drove down the field, using up the rest of the game clock, to win the game with an easy field goal in the closing seconds.

Week 17: Falcons 17, Bears 37

Taylor Heinicke threw for 163 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions as the Falcons lost 37-17 to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.

Week 18: Saints 48, Falcons 17

The Falcons scored first after their defense limited the Saints to a short opening drive of four plays and 10 yards. Quarterback Desmond Ridder then orchestrated a seven-play, 79-yard drive culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jonnu Smith. Wide receiver Scotty Miller contributed a 56-yard catch that covered most of the distance.

However, the lead was short-lived as the Saints responded with an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Carr to wide receiver A.T. Perry, tying the game with approximately five minutes left in the quarter.

Final Word

No matter how many wins or losses, one thing we know for sure is that the Falcons will make things interesting.

The Atlanta Falcons lost to the New Orleans Saints in the last game of the season, but the classless act at the end of the game got Arthur Smith hot.

Update: Smith was fired after the Falcons’ 7-10 record.

Why Arthur Smith Was So Hot At Dennis Allen

After the Saints went into victory formation with only seconds left in the game, the Saints quickly changed into a run play, allowing their running back to score a touchdown.

“Nobody wants to end the season like that,” Smith told reporters after the game. “Credit to them. They made the plays, certainly in the second half. It got out of hand.”

After the game, Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen said that backup quarterback Jameis Winston changed the play and went rogue, opting to score the touchdown.

Allen then apologized to the Falcons.

Jamies Winston also apologized after saying that “the team” made the decision to score a run touchdown instead of kneeling on the ball to run the clock out.

Here is Winston’s take on why he did what he did.

The move angered many in sports talk TV, including Shannon Sharpe, who said that he would cut soon-to-be free agent Winston over the late TD.

“That’s a loser’s mentality,” Sharpe said about the move. “The defense has conceded. If you want to run the ball, let the defense line up. Don’t you trick them … that’s going rogue.”

Listen to what Sharpe had to say about it.

After Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South title, the Saints needed some help to make the playoffs.

The Seattle Seahawks needed to lose to the Arizona Cardinals and the Green Bay Packers needed to lose to the Chicago Bears. Both the Seahawks and Packers won, which means the Saints and Falcons have been eliminated from the playoffs.

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Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith came, he saw and concurred. Quarterback Desmond Ridder can’t deliver what the team needs over the remainder of the season.

Ridder has been benched by Smith, according to news reports. If you watch the Falcons, you know that this is the second time this season that the Falcons have chosen to sit their starting quarterback.

In his stead, Gwinnett football standout Taylor Heinicke will resume the starting role as signal caller. In three games for the Falcons this season, Heinicke has thrown for 498 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Confidence evidently waned after the Falcons’ 9-7 defeat to the hapless Carolina Panthers last week.

What Are Desmond Ridder’s Stats For the 2023 Season?

Ridder threw for 300 yards three times during the season, but was plagued by turnovers and bad decisions in clutch moments. Here are his 2023 stats:

The Flacons are 6-8 with three games to go on an easy schedule. They are fighting for a playoff spot despite their record due to the abysmal play in the NFC South.

The Georgia Bulldogs will play Florida State Seminoles on Dec. 30, 2023 at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

The Seminoles will be looking to make a statement after the undefeated team was left out of the College Football Playoff, becoming the only undefeated Power Five team to be left out of the playoffs in the 10 years the four-team format has existed.

Georgia vs. Florida State in Orange Bowl

Critics of the controversy surrounding the snub say the move has tarnished college football and will hurt the credibility of the sport.

UGA Coach Kirby Smart said that many of his players are hurt that Georgia didn’t get into the College Football Playoff with one loss.

”We’ve got a whole hornets nest of players who are mad they didn’t get in,” he said in a recent interview.

While you can expect some UGA players with NFL draft prospects to weigh whether to play in the game, Georgia running back Kendall Milton told reporters that he will suit up against Florida State.

“There’s no way I would abandon my brothers,” Milton said. “I’ve been through hell and back with these boys, so there’s no way that I won’t take every opportunity that I can to be able to play with them.”

The Georgia didn’t think their 2023 schedule would end this way. They lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-24 on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in a showdown between the best teams in the SEC. 

The Dawgs, which saw their 29-game win streak end, pulled up just short in their bid to win a third straight SEC Championship and national title after playing from a 10-point lead for most of the second half.

Final Score

The College Football playoffs feature a quartet of perennial juggernauts.

The No. 1 Michigan Wolverines will play the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl semifinal. The Washington Huskies, No. 2, will face the No. 3 Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl semifinal.

The Georgia Bulldogs lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-24 on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in a showdown between the best teams in the SEC.

The Dawgs, which saw their 29-game win streak end, pulled up just short in their bid to win a third straight SEC Championship and national title after playing from a 10-point lead for most of the second half.

UGA quarterback Carson Beck had a solid game, finishing with 249 yards passing. He also rushed for two touchdowns from the one yard line.

Georgia’s outstanding tight end Brock Bowers, who had 51 yards receiving, looked to be not 100% since coming back from injury two weeks ago. Ladd McConkey finished the night with 38 yards and seemed to be limping after a first-half collision.

On the other side of the field, Alabama freshman quarterback Jalen Milroe officially put the SEC on notice that he is coming strong in 2024. Tide Head Coach Nick Saban said after the game that the victory took not only Milroe, but the whole squad.

“This is a team. These guys here are what you call a team,” Saban said. “This is a great team. They play together as a team. They overcame adversity. They showed today and proved that they can win against anybody.”

The loss means that Georgia may lose out on a chance to make it to the College Football Playoff, which Head Coach Kirby Smart does not agree with.

“You’re going to tell me, someone is sitting in that committee room and doesn’t think that Georgia team is one of the best four teams, I don’t know if they’re in the right profession,” Smart said after the game.

Final Play

Will Georgia make it to the Big Dance? The Dawgs’ strength of schedule is impeccable. We will have to wait and see.