The Saints closed out their season with a blowout win over the Falcons, but the real story came in the final moments. Up big and in Victory formation, head coach Dennis Allen wanted to take a knee and end the game. But the players had other plans. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston gave the ball to Jamal Williams, who hadn’t scored all season, and the team blocked for him to get a touchdown in garbage time. The move caught the Falcons off guard and set off a postgame confrontation between coaches.
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, coaching his final game, wasn’t happy. On a hot mic, he asked Allen why they scored like that, calling it disrespectful. Allen explained that the players went rogue and did it on their own. After the game, Smith stood by his reaction, saying he had every right to be upset. Allen agreed, admitting he’d ordered the team to kneel and that he was frustrated they didn’t listen.
Winston later explained he asked the team what they wanted to do and they chose to get a touchdown for Williams. He emphasized it wasn’t about disrespecting the Falcons, it was about backing a teammate. The touchdown itself was harmless, but the throwaway score in a decided game clearly rubbed Atlanta the wrong way and left both coaching staffs dealing with the fallout.