The Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of a brutal four-game losing streak after dropping another heartbreaker in Berlin in Week 10. Their triumphant win over the Buffalo Bills feels like a distant memory at this point. Sitting at 3-6 through nine games played, the playoffs have quickly begun to slip from their grasp.
With the season beginning to fall away for an eighth consecutive year, there are certainly growing frustrations in Flowery Branch and questions that are certain to start coming up. Granted, laying the last decade of struggles at the feet of Raheem Morris would be unfair – he has only been the head coach in Atlanta for the last 26 games – there is a growing urgency for this team to find its winning stroke.
Through 10 weeks, Brian Daboll (Giants) and Brian Callahan (Titans) are the only head coaches to get the axe, but they are certainly not going to be the only ones by the time this season ends. Not including those two franchises, there are 10 other teams with three or fewer wins this year, including the Falcons.
After the issues the Falcons have had, Morris’s name has started to pop up on various ‘hot seat’ lists, including Matt Verderame’s with Sports Illustrated. Verderame lists four different NFL head coaches, ranked by how hot he feels their seats are.
First, he has the Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel with a ‘hot seat meter’ of eight, followed by the Browns’ Kevin Stefanski with a seven, then the Bengals’ Zac Taylor with a four, and finally, Morris with a three.
As for Morris, Verderame says the following:
“The Falcons have an elite receiver, an elite running back, another quality back and a solid pass rush. They also play in the NFC South. And yet, Atlanta is 3–6 and looking at another long year that ends without a first-round pick, having already dealt it to the Rams.
“Morris has now been a head coach for four-plus years, first with Tampa Bay and then with Atlanta, and has a career record of 32–54 with no playoff appearances. Owner Arthur Blank is typically patient, as evidenced by Arthur Smith going 7–10 in three consecutive seasons before being dismissed.
“The problem for Morris? He’s in the midst of his third season, and none of them are likely to end with a winning mark. It might be time for Blank to make another change, seeking the Falcons’ first postseason appearance since 2017.”
While some of this criticism is warranted, Verderame is also a little off-base with a few of his comments.
First, the Falcons have only played the Buccaneers and Panthers (on the road) in the NFC South. The Bucs have been one of the NFC’s best teams this season, so it’s not exactly a ‘bad loss’ like he insinuated. The Panthers are also sitting at 5-5, with four wins in their last six games.
Using the division the Falcons play in as ammunition at this point in the season is a bit disingenuous.
Second, the Falcons are in excellent shape after dealing their first-round pick for 2026. While unfortunate that the pick is trending towards the top of the class, they acquired both Xavier Watts and James Pearce Jr. from the deal, two outstanding rookies. If they had to do it over again, they likely would.
Furthermore, this would be a critique of general manager Terry Fontenot, not Morris.
Finally, Verderame incorrectly states that Morris is in his third season as head coach. Although he held an interim tag in 2020 after the franchise fired Dan Quinn, Morris was hired in 2024 to be the head coach.
Last season, his first in Atlanta, the Falcons finished 8-9, just outside of the playoffs. However, with playoffs as the stated goal, 2025 was expected to be the year they got over that hump. They have not been to the postseason since that 2017 season, and it does not appear they will snap that streak this year.
Whether that costs Raheem Morris his job remains to be seen.
“Buffalo’s offense is sputtering, and some fans are wondering if Brian Daboll could be the cure for what ails them.”
The Buffalo Bills (6-3) have been struggling offensively, with their most recent lackluster performance coming in a 30-13 defeat to the Miami Dolphins. Despite facing one of the league’s worst defenses, Buffalo’s receivers failed to create any separation, and the offense was unable to get anything going through the first three quarters. It’s clear that the Bills’ offensive issues are becoming a growing concern.
However, today’s Buffalo Rumblings report quashed any hopes for those Bills fans calling for a change at offensive coordinator. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that Joe Brady would remain the team’s offensive coordinator through the end of the 2025 NFL season. Despite speculation that former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll could be brought back to help turn things around, McDermott swiftly dismissed the idea.
McDermott Shoots Down Daboll Return
When Daboll was fired as head coach of the New York Giants, rumors swirled about the possibility of a reunion with quarterback Josh Allen in Buffalo. McDermott wasted no time in shutting down those rumors, stating that he has confidence in Joe Brady and has no intention of bringing Daboll back to Buffalo.
“At this time, that is not something we are considering,” McDermott said when asked about the possibility of Daboll returning to Western New York.
The question remains: could Daboll have been the solution to Buffalo’s offensive struggles, or is the real issue something deeper? The Bills started the season strong but have since been cold, particularly in their loss to the Dolphins.
Dalton Kincaid’s Injury Puts More Pressure on Offense
Adding to Buffalo’s woes, tight end Dalton Kincaid, who has been one of Josh Allen’s most reliable targets this season, has been officially labeled “week-to-week” after suffering a hamstring injury in the Dolphins’ loss. Kincaid had been a standout, recording 29 catches for 448 yards and four touchdowns—leading the team in both receiving yards and touchdowns this year. His absence could further strain the already struggling offense.
As the Bills continue to deal with a variety of injuries, including to key players like Kincaid, the offense will need to find a way to regain its early-season form. While McDermott has expressed confidence in his current coaching staff, fans are left to wonder if a change in offensive philosophy or leadership might be what’s needed to reignite Buffalo’s high-powered attack.
More Updates on Bills’ Injuries and Roster Moves
As the Bills face a series of injuries, including to key offensive players, the team is also adding new faces to the practice squad. Stay tuned for updates as Buffalo looks to address its depth and find solutions to its current offensive struggles.