The Falcons haven’t been able to breathe easy all season.
Nine of their 12 games have been decided by one score; five of those were decided by three points or fewer. They’ve had two opportunities to climb above .500 for the first time since 2017, and they’ve come up short both times.
Now, after a last-minute loss to the Commanders, the Falcons find themselves at 5-7 and with their season at a crossroads for what feels like the first real time.
Atlanta’s approach this year has not been complicated. Arthur Smith practically laid it out in the first press conference of the 2022 offseason back in March:
“This is a competitive league.