MINNEAPOLIS — In just about every way, Raheem Morris' and Jeff Ulbrich's backs were against the wall.
The year was 2020. The month was October. The Falcons had not won a single game to start the season. At 0-5, they were set to face the Minnesota Vikings on the road in Week 6. They were going to do so under the strangest of circumstances.
On Monday morning, the coach they had been working alongside for years, Dan Quinn, was let go. Morris was promoted to interim head coach, Ulbrich to interim defensive coordinator. Later that day, Morris addressed the team on a Zoom call. All of this happened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember, in-person team meetings were not a thing then. They couldn't be.
Tuesday was a regularly scheduled player off day. Wednesday was practice. Thursday?