Nothing could have possibly gone more wrong for the Atlanta Falcons as Raheem Morris’ team crumbled against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night. It was a terrible 30-27 overtime loss that also saw Michael Penix Jr. hitting the turf with a potential season-ending injury. As expected, the cries for ousting the head coach have already begun in Atlanta, with uncertainties looming around his future with the team. When the Falcons were struck with a similar dilemma back in 2020, team owner Arthur Blank fired then-head coach Dan Quinn for losing the first five games of the season.

Morris was then given charge as the interim head coach before he left for the Rams’ defensive coordinator job in 2021. The Panthers’ defeat this Sunday was the Falcons’ fifth straight loss, and football expert Josh Kendall predicts Blank could potentially pull the trigger and hunt for Raheem Morris’ replacement.

“There was no indication Sunday night that a coaching change is imminent or even inevitable, but it is a more realistic option than a postseason appearance at this point,” Kendall wrote via The Athletic in his Week 11 analysis. 

Meanwhile, Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. suffered a huge setback in the third quarter. He was taken to the ground by a group of rushing defenders and was checked for potential knee injuries. He was seen walking slowly on the sidelines after being listed as questionable for return. Veteran passer Kirk Cousins took the remaining snaps and wrapped up the game, leading to overtime. Penix Jr.’s availability for Week 12 is in the ditch now that he has been placed on injured reserve. This loss also puts the Falcons’ postseason ticket in question, as they are already 3-7. 

Raheem Morris will have to pedal hard as playoff projections look uncertain

Per the Athletic’s playoff predictor, Morris’ team has less than a 1% chance to make the postseason. They are already placed third in the NFC South below the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Panthers. Moreover, looking at the 2025 schedule, the Falcons have Tyler Shough and the New Orleans Saints next Sunday. They enter Week 12 as favorites and are expected to take the win home. 

Next up, they have the Jets in Week 13. Raheem Morris’ men boast an all-time 9-5 record over Glenn & Co. The Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 could be a possible win for the team; however, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pose a serious challenge in Week 15, as they are currently placed atop the NFC South. The Arizona Cardinals, LA Rams, and Saints are other opponents for Morris to wrap up 2025. Nonetheless, every game going forward is a must-win for the Falcons. 

While they are not fully eliminated, the Falcons are clearly walking on thin ice. According to running back Bijan Robinson, the team needs to block out external toxicity.

Robinson specifically called out the dangers of social media affecting the locker room.

“It’s just controlled by the devil,” Robinson said regarding social media. “If it gets in this locker room, that’s what divides locker rooms. … I’ve seen it. It shuts guys down.”

The Falcons must find a way to regroup quickly as they prepare for the Saints on Sunday.