Falcons Spiral Continues as Raheem Morris Faces Harsh Reality in Atlanta
The Atlanta Falcons are in free fall. After a brutal 37-9 loss, their seventh in the last eight games, the team sits at 4-8 with postseason hopes all but mathematically erased.
It's a sobering stretch for a franchise that entered the season with expectations of turning the corner. Instead, they’ve crashed headfirst into another year of disappointment, and head coach Raheem Morris is squarely in the crosshairs.
This latest loss wasn’t just a defeat-it was a dismantling. The Seahawks outscored Atlanta 31-3 in the second half, turning a manageable game into a full-on rout.
And Morris, now in his second year at the helm, didn’t shy away from the criticism. He acknowledged the frustration, admitted the fans deserve better, and took the blame for a team that continues to underperform.
And he’s not wrong. Atlanta fans have endured plenty over the years, but this season has been especially painful because of the talent on this roster.
There’s no shortage of playmakers. Drake London and Bijan Robinson are dynamic offensive weapons who can change a game in a single play.
On the other side of the ball, rookie pass rushers James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker have injected life into a defense that’s long needed it. But the results just aren’t there.
The Falcons aren't just losing-they're getting overwhelmed.
Morris’ accountability is commendable. After the game, he didn’t point fingers at the officiating crew for the controversial reversal of a Darnell Mooney touchdown.
He didn’t blame the special teams unit, which had its share of miscues. Instead, he looked inward, saying the team beat itself-and that starts with him.
That kind of leadership matters. But in the NFL, leadership without wins only goes so far.
The reality is setting in: Morris may not be long for the job. The locker room still seems to respect him, and by all accounts, he’s a stand-up guy.
But this league is about results. And right now, the Falcons are trending in the wrong direction.
The defense struggled to contain Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, giving up chunk plays that flipped the game. Offensively, they couldn’t get anything going after halftime.
And while Kirk Cousins’ performance was far from his best, the Falcons didn’t do much to help him out. The team looked flat, uninspired-even resigned.
That’s a troubling sign for a group led by a coach known for being a "players' coach."
There’s a common theme in the NFL: some coaches are better suited as coordinators than head coaches. It’s not a knock-it’s just reality.
Head coaching requires a different skill set. It’s not just about X’s and O’s.
It’s about managing egos, making in-game adjustments, setting the tone every single day. Morris has shown he can lead a defense, but this season has made it painfully clear that leading an entire team might be a different story.
With a short week ahead and a Thursday night matchup against the Buccaneers looming, the Falcons don’t have time to dwell. But the questions surrounding Morris’ future-and the direction of this team-aren’t going away. Not until the Falcons start playing like the team their talent says they should be.