NEW ORLEANS — After the Falcons lost to their NFC South foe New Orleans Saints and were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, many noticed head coach Arthur Smith shouting at Saints head coach Dennis Allen.
Smith was angry about the Saints' final touchdown after an interception set New Orleans up at the Falcons 1-yard line. Instead of kneeling it out to end the game -- which the Saints appeared they were going to do in victory formation -- they ran it up the middle with Jamal Williams for a touchdown to push the lead to 48-17, which ended up being the final score.
Several Falcons players spoke about that garbage time touchdown after the game, including Falcons safety Jessie Bates III and veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell.
"Yes I did," Campbell said when asked if he had a problem with the Saints final score. "You know, once I talked to them after the game, I get why they did it. I guess he (Williams) had some kind of incentive, some money incentive which I kind of understand those situations," adding, "I wish they just would've lined up in a run formation to run the ball. Don't look like you're going to take a knee and then, you know, run the ball."
Bates didn't mince words when he was asked about it.
"I think that was soft as hell, honestly," he said. "And that'll be something we definitely remember."
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