Falcons coach Arthur Smith gave the saltiest response after blowing a 16-point lead to Saints

There are few aspects in life that are more reliable than the Atlanta Falcons blowing a double-digit lead in the second half. It’s a phenomenon that is truly immune to coaching changes and player turnover. Blown leads just happen because it’s the Falcons.

And you know what, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith isn’t exactly helping his cause after Sunday’s Week 1 loss to the rival New Orleans Saints.

The Falcons controlled much of Sunday’s game, taking a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter. But the typical Falcons mistakes compounded in typical Falcons fashion. The second half consisted of Marcus Mariota taking a hit instead of sliding, leading to a turnover near the goal line. With new life, the Saints chipped away at the lead, and Smith elected to punt instead of going for it with a chance to ice the game.

With all that in mind, he should have been prepared for more questions about the Falcons’ late-game woes. Instead, he took his frustration out on the reporters during the press conference.

This kind of thing keeps happening to the Falcons, and reporters are absolutely right to question why.

Fans understandably weren’t impressed with how Smith handled that defeat.

He’s blaming the wrong people.