Falcons Coach Mike Smith Still Accepting Blame For OT Loss

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – Everyone seems to be playing Monday Morning Quarterback with Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith.

By sending Michael Turner up the middle for no gain, Smith might have doomed the Falcons to an overtime loss to New Orleans, but the fourth-year coach wasn’t surprised by the public’s negative response.

Though the move backfired, Monday Smith repeated his postgame – that he’d do it again given the circumstances and the Falcons’ spotty history of defending Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the late stages of a game.

After watching film of the Falcons’ 26-23 defeat, Smith disputed reports that New Orleans guessed correctly on quarterback Matt Ryan’s snap count and thus had no trouble stopping Turner to set up John Kasay’s 26-yard, game-winning field goal four plays later.