As the Atlanta Falcons sit at 3-6 on the season, it is safe to say that the season is all but over. It would take a truly impressive win streak for the franchise to find its way back into the playoff race. Something that seems incredibly unlikely when you look at the schedule ahead and consider how Atlanta has been playing. Already this season, they've been blown out by the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.
With this in mind, the end of the year is going to set the stage for major changes, barring the unexpected. The Falcons coaching staff and roster have brought it on themselves by fumbling away winnable games and always folding in crunch time. This makes it easy to pinpoint the pieces that are destined to be shown the door.
1. Raheem Morris
Two seasons of watching the Falcons consistently collapse late in games is more than enough to demand a leadership change. Morris understood the urgency of this season and continues to make mistakes managing the clock and using his timeouts. Two years of this level of failure is more than enough to see that the Falcons have made a mistake.
As badly as fans want to see the very likable coach work out, this is a business based on winning, and Morris doesn't do it nearly often enough. Looking at potential options the Falcons could target, there's no shortage of headline names that could take this roster to the next level.
Morris has spent the last two seasons with the franchise, and there is still zero clear identity. One could suggest that finding ways to lose winnable games is the only consistent trait he's shown, making it all the more clear that it is time to turn the page.
2. Zac Robinson
Robinson doesn't have an imploding quarterback he is able to blame this season for Atlanta's imploding offense. Michael Penix Jr. is capable of making every needed throw and has continually made plays late in games. However, this offense is incredibly predictable and runs the same plays repeatedly as if the defense isn't going to anticipate what's coming.
You have two of the best playmakers in the league in Bijan Robinson and Drake London, and are still unable to come up with any unique attacks. Everything about the Falcons' offense is incredibly predictable and boring. If the head coach is on his way out, there is zero chance that the offensive coordinator returns.
Even if the Falcons defy the obvious and retain the head coach, it's hard to believe we won't see a change at OC. The offense simply has far too much talent to continue to play at this inconsistent of a level, unable to score consistently even against the league's worst defensive units.
3. Kyle Pitts
Early in the game in Germany, Penix threw a perfect ball deep to Pitts, who could only watch the ball bounce off his hands. At some point, enough is enough, and we are past this point with the talented pass catcher. There is no question that Pitts' frame should be a walking mismatch, and the receiver has the talent to be one of the league's most consistent receivers.
However, the quarterback or coaching scheme hasn't mattered over the last four years; there is zero consistency. It is time to move on and attempt to bring in some receiving threats who make life easier on their quarterback. Even if they don't have the possible ceiling of Pitts, it isn't going to be difficult to find a more consistent production.
For Pitts, it will be interesting to see if his career continues a frustrating path or if the right fit is found to unlock the elite production from his rookie season. Either way, the Falcons have been far too patient and must turn the page after another season of inconsistency.