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Bijan Robinson surpasses 1,000 scrimmage yards in season-best performance

Robinson recorded a season-high 116 rushing yards along with two touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints. 

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Bijan Robinson finished with a season-high 116 rushing yards and 144 yards from scrimmage in Week 10.

Robinson's performance was a bright spot in a 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and he had the second-highest rushing effort of the week through Sunday's slate of games. His all-purpose yardage in Week 10 also ranked third, behind Ja'Marr Chase and Chuba Hubbard through Sunday's games.

The outing marked Robinson's fifth straight game with at least 100 all-purpose yards, and his seventh overall this season. The second-year back added 28 receiving yards and surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards, becoming just the fourth player to do so this season. Robinson's consistency on the ground and in the air has become a facet of the offense on which the Falcons can rely.

"That's what I love to do, be an all-around player," Robinson said ahead of the Week 10 game. "When you got a guy that can be effective in the pass game and effective in the run game — you're a dynamic player at that point."

Only a handful of players in the league have more yards than Robinson. With 1,079 scrimmage yards and counting, he is No. 4 in all-purpose yards among NFL players, and he's quickly approaching his first-year total. Robinson ended his rookie year with 1,463 yards overall, breaking a Falcons rookie record. Robinson reached the 1,000-yard echelon in Week 12 of his first year.

The former No. 8 overall pick has either set career bests already this season or is on track to do so in the near future. With two touchdowns on the ground against the Saints, Robinson now has six rushing touchdowns on the season — two more than the four from his rookie campaign. Robinson scored his first of the two touchdowns on a 1-yard, fourth-and-goal attempt in the second quarter, which put the Falcons on the board for the first time. His second came on a breakaway run from 37 yards out to cut Atlanta's deficit to three points.

That 37-long attempt was the longest run of his season, and the second-longest of his early career. Robinson has improved his yards after contact this season, already amassing 75% of his total from last season.

Robinson had his best rushing effort of the year with a similar-style running back, and one he's watched closely, in Alvin Karama looking on. Kamara, who ranks third in the league in scrimmage yards, had 109 total yards from scrimmage — 55 rushing and 54 receiving — and no touchdowns in Week 10. The Saints running back is a similar type of work-horse back who Robinson is toe-to-toe with in several statistical categories.

The comparison between the two players is one that Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has also made. Along with Kamara, Morris on multiple occasions has invoked San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey as an example for Robinson. Both Morris and Robinson have attributed the strides he's made in his second year to a increased level of comfortability and control with his game. Still, Robinson surely would rather his milestone came in a victory.

"It was obviously one that we wanted, but we made too many mental mistakes," Robinson said after the Week 10 game. "I wish we had some drives that we could have gotten back. It was definitely a game that we were looking for a win."

Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome during Week 10, presented by Grady.

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