Testy words were fired before cooler heads prevailed when losing coach Arthur Smith and Saints counterpart Dennis Allen met for the usual postgame salutations moments after New Orleans’ 48-17 win over the Falcons went final on Sunday.
Frustrated by the Saints scoring a touchdown in the final minute with a 24-point lead, Smith gave Allen his blunt assessment of that decision, saying “that’s f—- BS.”
Allen apologized to open his media session after the game, which ended Atlanta’s season with a 7-10 record for the third time in Smith’s three seasons as Falcons head coach.
“You can do whatever you want,” Smith said. “I just gave them my opinion about it.”
Offensive guard Cesar Ruiz took the blame for the decision by the offense not to following instructions and take a knee as the final 60 seconds ticked off the clock. Instead, Ruiz said the offensive line wanted to get running back Jamaal Williams his first rushing touchdown of the season.
“Whatever heat comes with that, put that on the (offensive) line,” he said.
New Orleans (9-8) won to keep its playoff chances alive and tuned in to root for the Green Bay Packers to lose at home to the Chicago Bears in the late afternoon slate of games Sunday.
In Allen’s first statement to reporters after the game was final, he explained the Saints’ players made the decision to get Williams the late score.
“That’s not who we are, not what we’re about,” Allen said.
–Field Level Media
