Falcons’ season teeters on the brink after a dismal loss. Smith and Ridder feel the heat

The Atlanta Falcons are teetering on the brink after one of the worst losses in franchise history, an inexplicable setback that raised questions about the fates of coach Arthur Smith and quarterback Desmond Ridder. As his third season winds down with the playoffs looking increasingly out of reach, Smith is under intense heat from a disgruntled fan base that is clamoring for a change. Then there’s Ridder, the second-year signal-caller entrusted by Smith to lead the Falcons back to the postseason.