NFL: Coaches Who Will Get Fired On Black Monday

Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons (5-9, 3rd place, NFC South)

Two seasons ago, things were going well for Mike Smith and the Atlanta Falcons. They had a 13-3 record and the number one seed in the NFC. They were moments away from going to the Super Bowl, but they fell short of finishing the job.

Things have gone downhill for Smith ever since. In 2013, the Falcons finished a miserable 4-12. They expected things to be much better this season with the return of some key players like wide receiver Julio Jones, who played in only five games in 2013.

Well, the Falcons again are in the midst of another dismal season. Going into Sunday’s game, they are 5-9.

Even with that bad of a record, the Falcons are actually in the running for winning their division. The winner of the NFC South may not reach .500, so that is why the Falcons are still alive.

Even if they win the division, with a losing record, the Falcons will need to go on a mind-blowing playoff run to save Smith’s job.

Smith has been criticized for not having a “tough” team. He is supposedly a defensive-minded coach, yet his defenses have been bad. This season, the Falcons allowed 369 points, ranking just 26th in the NFL.

Another problem that has occurred is how he handles play calling. In the loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, Smith bungled the clock management late in the game. With about a minute left in the game and Atlanta trailing 23-21, Matt Ryan completed a pass to Harry Douglas that put the Falcons on the Browns’ 35-yard line that set up a third-and-two. Instead of letting the clock run, Smith called a timeout. Then, coming out of the timeout, instead of calling a running play that would use the clock some more (and probably get a first down), Smith called a deep throw to a well-covered Devin Hester.

The Falcons had to settle for a field goal, but left 44 seconds for Cleveland to go down the field and kick the game-winning field goal.

Reports are that owner Arthur Blanks has already decided to fire Smith, and intends on going after Rex Ryan (more on him later).

Next: Rex Ryan