In a defensive battle on Sunday Night Football between the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons, there was only one player to really shine offensively from either side: Bijan Robinson. Robinson worked for 168 all-purpose yards to help the Falcons capture a 22-6 road victory that featured just one touchdown.
Robinson’s 143 rushing yards kept Minnesota’s defense on the field all night long, as his smooth, shifty runs kept the clock running for Atlanta’s offense all night.
“He helped us win a football game so it means a lot to have somebody like him,” Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. said after the game.
Penix’s praise for his star running back didn’t stop there.
“He is who everybody says he is, I feel like he’s the best running back in this league and he shows it each and every day,” Penix said. “Not just on Sundays, but on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday all throughout the week he shows it each and every day. The way that he practices, the mentality that he has, you can tell he loves this game and he loves his players and he loves his team. It’s great to be able to have somebody like that.”
It can’t be overstated how important it is for a young QB like Penix to have that safety net in the backfield at all times, and clearly Penix understands how valuable Robinson is not only to him, but to the team as a whole.
Bounce Back Week For Robinson In The Rush Game
Robinson’s prowess as a runner was effectively stymied in week one when he was held to just 24 yards on the ground in a 23-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though he did catch six passes for 100 yards in the contest.
It was pretty much the inverse in week two, as Robinson ran for 143 yards on the ground and tormented the Vikings defensive line.
When Robinson is able to put both the running and pass catching aspects of his game together at the same time, there is a very good case to be made that he is a top-3 running back in the NFL. He had the third most rushing yards last season in his second professional year, only behind Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry (ever head of them?).
Not that he was ever really in the second tier of NFL running backs, but last season ensured that he was absolutely a top-5 running back in the league, and even with a slow start in week one, Robinson is now in fifth place in rushing yards in the league after two weeks.
Falcons Real Contenders for NFC South Title
Sunday nights victory over a strong Minnesota team was a statement that the Falcons aren’t going to be pushovers this season. It’s really a two-dog race in the NFC South between Atlanta and Tampa Bay, as the Panthers and Saints have both looked atrocious in their respective 0-2 starts.
If Penix continues to play smart football under center, he has the weapons needed to run a top-10 offense in football with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in the backfield and Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts catching passes.
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