Hoping for success at home, Smith changes Falcons’ routine

By GEORGE HENRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Falcons coach Arthur Smith had an epiphany of sorts early this week and decided to change up his team’s practice routine. Not because it’s finally Week 1, and his team was practicing for the first time in pads this week. Smith had the team pile onto buses and make the 45-minute drive south of its training center in Flowery Branch, Georgia, to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. The Falcons finished 7-10 in Smith’s first season, but they were just 2-6 in home games. Smith says that record has to improve, beginning Sunday when Atlanta opens the season against divisional rival New Orleans.