At a Glance
- Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot after a 8-9 season.
- Team completed a season sweep of the Saints, winning 19-17.
- Panthers win NFC South title, ending Falcons’ 8-9 streak.
- Why it matters: Leadership changes reshape the franchise’s future direction.
The Falcons’ fourth straight win over the Saints and a season sweep were not enough to keep Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot on the sidelines. After a 19-17 victory that handed the NFC South title to the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta announced the firings hours later. The decision comes as the Falcons finish 8-9, tied for first in the division but losing the tiebreaker.
Game Recap
Trailing 16-10, the Saints drove from their 25 to the Atlanta 20 before Dee Alford returned a 59-yard interception of Tyler Shough‘s pass intended for Dante Pettis. The play set up Zane Gonzalez‘s 38-yard field goal, extending Atlanta’s lead to nine. Shough later threw a 16-yard touchdown to Ronnie Bell with 1:11 remaining, but Kyle Pitts recovered the onside kick.
- Shough 22/35, 259 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD.
- James Pearce Jr. sacked Shough on back-to-back plays, giving the Falcons 4 sacks in the game and a season record of 57 total.
- Pearce finished the season with 10.5 sacks, leading NFL rookies.
Aftermath and Reactions
Arthur Blank attended Morris’ post-game news conference and gave the second-year coach a hug. Blank listened when Morris said, “My expectation is always to be back, right?” and added, “I’m going to coach this football team as long as he allows it.” Hours later, Morris was out of a job.
Jalon Walker praised Morris: “A great job of keeping the culture here strong. I commend him. All of our trials and tribulations this season, we’ve found a way, we’ve made a way.”
Kirk Cousins admitted playing while “a little weaker than normal” after testing positive for the flu. Ronnie Harrison missed the game because of the flu, while David Onyemata played after a positive test.
| Team | Player | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | LT Kelvin Banks Jr. | Left ankle (out) |
| Saints | QB/TE Taysom Hill | Right shoulder (left) |
| Falcons | CB Cobee Bryant | Concussion (out) |
| Falcons | DL Brandon Dorlus | Hamstring (out) |
| Falcons | CB Clark Phillips | Triceps, illness (out) |
Key Takeaways
- Falcons fire coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot after a 19-17 win over the Saints.
- Season sweep of the Saints ends with a 8-9 record, but the NFC South title goes to Carolina.
- Rookie James Pearce Jr. leads NFL rookies with 10.5 sacks, setting a Falcons record of 57 season sacks.
The Falcons’ leadership overhaul signals a new direction as the franchise seeks fresh coaching and front-office talent while the team reflects on a season that fell short of playoff hopes.
