Coach Mike Smith said he has no concerns about his job security with the Falcons on a five-game losing streak that dropped them to 2-6 on the season.
“None whatsoever,” Smith said Monday. “We are going to do what we’ve done last the six-plus years and prepare each and every week like we know how to do it and I’m going to continue to do that until Mr. (Arthur) Blank tells me otherwise.”
Blank, the team owner, expressed disgust with the Falcons’ 22-21 loss to the Lions on Sunday. The Falcons led 21-0 at halftime and 21-19 in the final two minutes.
“You’re up 21-0,” Blank told The Atlanta-Journal Constitution following the game. “There’s no way you lose that game — just no way. There’s nothing else I can say.”
Smith said he talks with Blank after each game but declined to share any details of their conversation on Sunday.
“I agree with him,” Smith said. “When you are up 21-0 at halftime you should not lose that football game.”
The Falcons were 56-24 in the first five seasons under Smith, who is the franchise’s winningest coach. They are just 6-18 since the beginning of last season. Five of their six losses this season were by double-digit margins.
Smith was asked to explain how the team has fallen so far after having success previously.
“I haven’t done a good enough job, plain and simple, because ultimately it’s my responsibility,” he said. “I haven’t done the job that I need to do. I’ve let down the players, the coaches, and the fans thus far. But I tell what we plan on doing. We plan on getting hot and making it a really good second half of this season.”
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