NFL’s ‘best player’? Falcons’ Bijan Robinson makes his case with historic performance on ‘MNF’
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- Bijan Robinson totaled 238 yards from scrimmage, the most ever by a Falcons running back, in Atlanta’s 24-14 win over Buffalo.
- Robinson leads the NFL with 822 yards from scrimmage in five games, on pace to break Chris Johnson’s 2009 single-season record.
- His 81-yard touchdown run was the longest in the NFL this season and tied for second-longest in Falcons franchise history.
Bijan Robinson is the best player in football.
That’s what Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris said about his star running back Monday night after a 24-14 win over reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
While Morris may be somewhat biased toward his own player, national TV viewers might have trouble arguing with him after what they witnessed Robinson accomplish on this week’s “Monday Night Football.”
The third-year player tied his career high with 170 rushing yards (the most for a Falcons player during a prime-time TV game) in 19 carries. That included a spectacular 81-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that was the longest run of his career as well the longest in the NFL this season. It’s also tied for the second-longest rushing touchdown in Falcons history.
Robinson now has three plays from scrimmage of 50 yards or more this season after having only one longer than 30 yards last year.
“It’s just a thing of my game where I want to get better at and continue to get better at every single day,” Robinson said after the game. “And you know, if I can get better at that and breaking those long runs, it’s only helping the team.”
Robinson also caught six passes from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for 68 yards for a total of 238 yards from scrimmage, the most ever for a Falcons running back.
Don’t feel bad if you’re not like Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, who had a perfect NCAA tournament bracket. Less than 1% do after Day 1 of March Madness.
“There are some people who are just born to be a certain athlete,” Falcons receiver Drake London said after the game. “Like you have certain people who are born to be basketball players, such as LeBron [James]. You have people who are born to be football players, like they have the perfect body shape for it. Now, [Robinson] goes out there, and it’s like art. It’s amazing to see.”
Speaking of James, the Lakers superstar also took notice of Robinson’s performance.
“Bijan so COLD!!!!!!!!!” James posted on X during the game.
A first-round draft pick in 2023 and a Pro Bowl selection last year, Robinson leads the league with 822 yards from scrimmage this season (484 rushing and 338 receiving), and it’s not even all that close.
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The Falcons are one of only six teams that have had their bye weeks already, meaning Robinson has compiled his total in five games. The next 11 players on the list — starting with San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey at No. 2 with 780 yards — have all played in six games.
If he keeps this pace, Robinson will finish the season with 2,794 yards from scrimmage, which would break the current record of 2,509 yards set by Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson in 2009. Johnson’s record was set during a 16-game season; Robinson is on pace to have 2,630 yards after his 16th game of the 17-game season.
So maybe Morris wasn’t being all that biased in his postgame comments about Robinson after all.
“He’s the best player in football,” Morris told reporters. “I’ve said it multiple times, I can’t say it enough. You can always have your pick, you can always go out there and figure out who you want to vote for, but in my opinion, he’s the best player in football.”
