The Atlanta Falcons secured a crucial 29-10 victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, keeping their playoff aspirations alive. Despite this triumph, FOX analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw remains adamant about his desire to see Falcons head coach Arthur Smith dismissed. Bradshaw expressed his lack of respect for Smith during the Fox pregame show, particularly criticizing his handling of young quarterback Desmond Ridder. According to Bradshaw, Smith’s decision to bench Ridder in favor of Taylor Heinicke went against an earlier promise to let Ridder quarterback for the rest of the season, resulting in setbacks for the young player.
The critique intensified as Bradshaw called for accountability, stating that Smith lied to Ridder and deserves consequences for his actions. Despite the recent victory, Bradshaw’s scathing comments reflect a broader dissatisfaction with Smith’s coaching decisions.
terry bradshaw cooked arthur smith.
notice the number of losses in front of the number of seasons…
we can never escape it… pic.twitter.com/fIByORpBmE
— pboyydouglas (@milfhunterjones) December 24, 2023
The Falcons’ overall performance under Smith adds to the mounting pressure. With a current record of 21-28 as the head coach and a 7-8 standing for the current season, there’s speculation about a potential 7-10 finish, marking the third consecutive season with that record. Despite significant investments in offensive talent such as Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson, the Falcons rank 24th in scoring, 16th in yards, 22nd in passing, and eighth in rushing. This combination of on-field performance and Bradshaw’s outspoken criticisms creates a challenging situation for Smith’s future with the team, leaving the possibility of his termination at the end of the season.
