Bijan Robinson determined to get Falcons’ rushing attack back on track

Robinson rushed 12 times for 24 yards. It was his lowest rushing output since he had an 11-yard game on seven carries against Carolina on Dec. 17, 2023, during his rookie season.

“That’s the thing that, like, we pride ourselves on, is the run game,” Robinson said. “So, the performance that we had last game was unacceptable in everybody’s room. That’s the driving force of everything that opens up the pass, opens up play action.”

The Bucs stuffed running back Tyler Allgeier, too. He had 10 carries for 24 yards. The Falcons hope to have a more productive day against the Vikings, who gave up 126 yards on 19 carries to the Bears.

“ (The running game) helps (quarterback Michael Penix Jr.), that helps the receivers, everything is the run game,” Robinson said. “We really did harp on it. We worked on it a lot, just because that’s what we want. We want that to be great so we can open up everything else in the offense.”

Robinson had six catches for 100 yards receiving, including an electric 50-yard catch-and-run for a score on a swing pass on the third play of the game.

“It was great, especially, like, to start the season like that,” Robinson said. “To start the offensive momentum of the season and play like that … it helps everybody on the field.”

But back to the run game getting stuffed.

“They came out with some looks that we haven’t seen,” Robinson said. “So, our playbook got shorter, and then we’re trying to run other plays to try to outscheme them.”

The Falcons went back to the drawing board.

“We prepared for something completely different from what they’ve been used to doing,” Robinson said. “So, I think with us, like, it wasn’t about effort or anything like that. It was just, like, we were just outmatched in that game. So, we know what to study and what to prepare for. We have all of our formations and all of our runs now. I think it’s going to be a completely different story.”

It was the Falcons’ first game without injured right tackle Kaleb McGary, perhaps their top run blocker. Elijah Wilkinson started at right tackle.

Also, the line and most of the starters did not play a snap in the exhibition games. The cohesion of the blocks appeared to be off, along with a lack of continuity.

But offensive coordinator Zac Robinson didn’t think that not playing in the exhibitions was a factor in the poor rushing outing.

“I’ve been kind of on the other side of not playing in the (exhibition games) for so long that — I get the argument for it, for sure,” Robinson said. “That’s, obviously, going to be out there, but from what my experience is with that, it hasn’t really mattered.”

The Vikings signed veteran defensive tackles Javon Hargrave (6-foot-2, 307 pounds) and Johnathan Allen (6-3, 300) in free agency to help their run defense. Jalen Redmond (6-3, 305) helps to anchor the front line.

Also, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (6-4, 242) and Jonathan Greenard (6-3, 259) are active against the run and in the pass rush. Greenard played at Hiram before playing at Louisville and Florida in college.

“They pride themselves on getting to the quarterback,” Bijan Robinson said. “They want to stop the run game. So, they don’t have to bring so many, like, different blitzes. But I think they’re just super aggressive. They run to the football. They’ve always been a great defense, but I love that matchup.”

Robinson’s TD reception was his second of 50 yards or more in his NFL career, which is tied for the most by a running back in franchise history.

With 124 scrimmage yards against the Bucs, Robinson now has the most 100-yard scrimmage games in the NFL (19) since he entered the league in 2023. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has 18.

“You never want that first game to deter you as a player, as a unit, as an offensive unit,” Robinson said. “So, with us, like, we came in motivated. We came in understanding what we did wrong and how we can fix it.”