ATLANTA —Sophomore slump? More like a second-year surge.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson had a career-high 26 touches for 145 yards from scrimmage in Sunday's 27-21 win against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He averaged 5.6 yards every time he got the ball. His total broke down into 19 carries for 86 yards rushing and seven catches for 59 yards receiving.
"He does everything," head coach Raheem Morris said. "I can't say enough positive things about Bijan. Running the football. Blocking on protection. Catching the ball out the backfield. Scoring touchdowns. Cheering for his guys. Being locked and loaded. Being a positive leader and an inspiration behind everything we do. What he does in our community. He is the definition of what is a Falcon."
Through nine games, Robinson is at 173 touches for 935 total yards and five touchdowns. He has 135 carries for 632 yards and 38 receptions for 303 yards. Four touchdowns came on the ground, the other through the air.
While his numbers haven't topped his rookie counts, yet — 272 touches for 1,463 yards and eight touchdowns — they're bound to. He's averaging 19.2 touches and 103.9 yards per game, which would put him around 327 touches and 1,766 yards by season's end if he remains on this trajectory.
"He just brings it every time," left guard Matthew Bergeron said. "Whether it's practice, walk-through or game, he's just so great. He's so versatile as well."
Just watching Robinson play, it's clear why he was the Falcons' No. 8 overall draft pick last year. He can slice and dice a defense. He can also remain upright in a crowd of defenders.
The reason Robinson is able to do either, he believes, is because the game has slowed down for him in Year 2 more so than Year 1. This allows him to better dissect a defense's looks and capitalize on his offense's execution. Then, he trusts himself to react properly as a play unfolds.
"For me, it's just whatever holes I see," Robinson said. "If I see an open crease, I take it right away."
He goes as far as he can each and every time.
"It's incredible," right guard Chris Lindstrom said. "I think that's what makes him so challenging and makes him great for us as an offense. Him being able to do those things protects us as offensive linemen because then they can't screw their heels in and come after us as much."
The Falcons broke 100 yards rushing for the fifth time this season, hitting the century mark on the dot Sunday. Behind Robinson, running back Tyler Allgeier had six carries for 18 yards and wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III had one carry for seven yards. What Robinson was able to contribute in the pass game, though, was just as important.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 222 yards. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney led with 88 yards receiving on five catches. Robinson was the next-best producer, catching the ball every time it came his way, which was seven times.
"He's a big deal," Cousins said. "When I got here, I wanted him to be a receiver for us and show up in the pass game. I wanted to check the ball down to him. I wanted to put the ball in his hands."
Last season, Robinson was used in the pass game. He caught 67.4% of his passes and averaged 28.6 yards per game.
This season, that production has only increased. Through nine games, he has caught 90.5% of his passes and is averaging 33.7 yards per game.
As far as it goes with rushing, he finished 2023 with a 57.4 yards-per-game average. He's currently at a 70.2 average in 2024.
The trajectory is on the up and up.
"A year ago, I was still kind of hesitating a little bit on some things," Robinson said. "But now, I'm just all-out."
Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Week 9, presented by Grady.