Falcons' Loss to Panthers Must Mark the End of Mike Smith Era in Atlanta

As "Black Monday" looms, Mike Smith's fate as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons should reach a predetermined conclusion. 

Sunday's meeting with the Carolina Panthers meant more than simply one team emerging as the champion of the NFC South. A win could have saved Smith's job. A loss likely means his future doesn't reside in Atlanta.

Smith approached the game the way he always has despite the mounting pressure. The Falcons head coach told ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure Monday that he wasn't worried about his future:

"

I know that that's a subject that everybody wants to talk about and I said, I don't know four or five weeks ago—I hope this is the last time that I have to answer it—I'm going to prepare just like I've done for the seven years that I've been here. My focus is on winning football games and winning the next football game. And I'm going to continue to do that until Arthur Blank tells me differently.

"

After an embarrassing 34-3 loss Sunday, the most likely scenario is that Falcons owner Arthur Blank hands Smith his walking papers in the coming hours or days. 

In fact, Blank appeared to have made up his mind even before Sunday's performance. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier Sunday that Blank already hired a search firm in case of a coaching change:

The Falcons' owner has been openly critical this season and seemed to make up his mind far earlier in the year regarding Smith's future. 

After the team started 2-6, CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reported on Nov. 2 that Blank was "irate" over the product on the field and planned to pursue an "A-list" candidate to replace Smith. 

Blank could have waited for Sunday's result before hiring a search firm, but he didn't. Smith's dismissal appears to be a formality at this point. 

It would be a colossal thud after such a promising start to Smith's tenure. After seven seasons with the organization, the coach built a 66-46 record. But the team's drop-off during the last two seasons placed Smith on the hot seat in the first place. 

An NFC Championship Game appearance in the 2012 season set the bar very high. When the team came crashing down to a 4-12 record the following season, Smith's plight was simple: Either he righted the ship or his job was on the line. 

As NFL Network's Michael Silver noted, it's time for change in Atlanta: 

Smith failed his team on three fronts this season. 

After last year's campaign, the Falcons owner demanded a more physical brand of play. Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff made it a point of emphasis to address particular areas of the roster to comply with their boss' demands. Upgrades along the offensive and defensive lines were treated as priorities. 

The organization signed nose tackle Paul Soliai, defensive end Tyson Jackson and spent a first-round pick on offensive tackle Jake Matthews and a second-round selection on defensive lineman Ra'Shede Hageman.

Despite an infusion of talent on both sides of the trenches, Smith was unable to instill a new attitude among his team. 

Eventually all teams stop listening to their coach. After seven years, Smith appears to have reached that point. The former defensive coordinator never questioned his team's toughness, but his cries to play a more physical brand of football never materialized. 

One play during the Falcons' loss to the Panthers encapsulated Atlanta's inability to match Carolina's intensity and physical play. 

John Bazemore/Associated Press

As the Panthers led 17-3 late in the second quarter, Carolina—for all intents and purposes—sealed Atlanta's fate with a four-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cam Newton. The 6'5", 245-pound quarterback's number was called on a draw play. He ran directly behind a pair rookie guards, Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell, who easily drove Atlanta's defensive linemen backward into the end zone. 

With the game still within reach, the Falcons were once again dominated up front. 

Smith's second strike was an inability to adjust during games.

The coach's time mismanagement cost his team victories. Two obvious examples come to mind: Poor management late in games against the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns led to losses. Two wins would have been the difference between sitting at home for the playoffs or hosting a first-round game. 

Instead, Smith made bad decisions, and the team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. 

Also, as the cliche states, "The NFL is a 100 percent injury league." The Falcons weren't different from any other franchise. The team, particularly along its offensive line, was beset by injuries. However, the coaching staff was never able to overcome the losses of center Joe Hawley, left tackle Sam Baker and right tackle Lamar Holmes. 

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was under a constant barrage of pressure from the Panthers. The quarterback was eventually sacked six times. 

It's difficult to overcome injuries, but a coaching staff's job is to place its players in the best position possible to succeed. Smith and his staff failed to adjust to these obstacles. Unfortunately, Ryan felt the pain of inferior play-calling. His horrific performance Sunday was a direct result of the pressure applied on the pocket passer. 

Finally, a stubbornness to utilize young talent doomed the team's short-term plans. 

A week ago, running back Devonta Freeman exploded for 84 total yards and his first career touchdown against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie should have received an expanded role Sunday once veteran Steven Jackson was ruled out of the game. Instead, Jacquizz Rodgers started at running back, while Freeman only received eight total touches. When Freeman should have been used more after earning the team's trust, he didn't receive any more looks than he did earlier in the season. 

This problem didn't extend simply to the running backs. The Falcons were one of the NFL's worst in getting to the quarterback. 

Increased playing time for Hageman and outside linebacker Jonathan Massaquoi seemed like a natural progression. Hageman proved to be a force in the middle of the defense last week against the Saints, while Massaquoi consistently displayed the quickest first step off the edge among Atlanta's pass-rushers. Both were limited once again in their usage when the team needed them the most.

The Falcons finished with three quarterback hits and one sack. It simply wasn't a good enough performance by those along the team's defensive front to warrant a playoff bid. 

The Falcons staff was presented with opportunities throughout the season to receive bigger contributions from young players on the team who showed potential. Yet Smith and his crew tended to lean on their veterans. 

A 10-22 record over the past two years is difficult to overcome for any coach. Smith exacerbated the team's problems, though. It all points toward a change coming in Atlanta. 

Smith summed up the Falcons' performance and possibly the end of his tenure perfectly after the game, via the team's official Twitter feed: 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFC South for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.