After a 37-9 blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14, the Atlanta Falcons find themselves sitting at 4-9 and officially out of playoff contention. It's a tough pill to swallow for a team that entered the year with hope for progress, and now head coach Raheem Morris is squarely in the spotlight as questions about his future intensify.
Morris isn’t ducking the noise. He knows what’s at stake-not just for him, but for a franchise that’s been searching for stability since its last playoff appearance. Speaking ahead of a short-week matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Morris kept the focus on effort and accountability.
“Our fanbase deserves a winner,” he said. “The only thing you can do is try to go give them the best effort you can on Thursday night.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates, especially given how this season has unfolded. In his second stint as Falcons head coach, Morris has compiled a 12-18 record.
Last year’s 8-9 campaign showed flashes of promise, but the step back this season has raised legitimate concerns. With just four wins through 13 games, Atlanta would need to run the table just to match last year's total-a tall task for a team that's struggled to find consistency on either side of the ball.
Still, it hasn’t all been on Morris. Injuries have taken a toll, most notably at quarterback.
After starter Michael Penix went down with a partially torn ACL, the Falcons were forced to turn to backup Kirk Cousins. That kind of midseason quarterback shuffle can derail even the most well-constructed plans, and it’s fair to wonder how much leash Morris might get because of it.
Statistically, Atlanta isn’t bottoming out, which makes their record all the more frustrating. They’re currently 16th in total offense (330 yards per game) and 14th in total defense (322.5 yards allowed). Those are middle-of-the-pack numbers, which suggest this team has been competitive in stretches-they just haven’t been able to string it together when it matters most.
That’s the crux of the issue. The Falcons have talent, and at times they’ve shown they can hang with just about anyone.
But the inability to close games, finish drives, or make key stops in crunch time has kept them from turning potential into production. Whoever is steering the ship next season-whether it’s Morris or someone new-has to find a way to push this roster past the “almost” stage.
For now, Morris is still at the helm and will lead the team into Thursday night’s divisional clash against Tampa Bay. Whether he finishes the season in that role remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the clock is ticking in Atlanta, and the next few weeks could go a long way in shaping the direction of the franchise.