NE Atlanta News

After a brief postgame analysis focusing on Kirk Cousins and the game-winning drive, attention shifted to the run game. Significant improvements in run blocking and formation changes were evident from Week 1 to Week 2.

Bijan Robinson's usage aligned with expectations since joining the Falcons last season. He demonstrated explosive potential in the Falcons' Monday Night Football win against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite widespread focus on the final drive, Robinson's performance and the overall run game merit discussion.

Robinson finished just three yards shy of 100 rushing yards, accumulating 97 yards on 14 carries with an average of 6.9 yards per carry. Most of his production came in the first half, where he had 10 carries for 72 yards, contrasting sharply with his performance in Week 1 against Pittsburgh, where he also had 10 carries but only gained 26 yards.

Analysis of all-22 film revealed that Robinson faced initial contact at or behind the line of scrimmage against Pittsburgh but managed to reach his second and third steps against Philadelphia, allowing him to cause six missed tackles.

The Falcons' run game was notably more effective in Week 2 compared to Week 1. The team surpassed their total rushing yardage from Week 1 by halftime in Week 2. Formation changes played a significant role; while Robinson took nearly all carries from pistol formation in Week 1, nine out of his fourteen carries on Monday night came with Cousins under center. This shift contributed to a success rate of over seventy-seven percent when running plays started under center.

Robinson's performance marked his third-best as a Falcon and made him the first Falcons running back since Michael Turner in 2011 to achieve at least one hundred scrimmage yards in each of the first two games of a season.

Four key plays highlighted Robinson's impact:

**Play No.1:** Involved a significant hole created by Jake Matthews and Matthew Bergeron, allowing Robinson an untouched gain until tackled after fourteen yards.

**Play No.2:** Featured crucial blocks enabling an easy seven-yard gain.

**Play No.3:** Showcased Chris Lindstrom’s blocking leading to substantial yardage before first contact.

**Play No.4:** Benefited from Ray-Ray McCloud’s motion reducing defensive pressure and Charlie Woerner’s blocking for a nineteen-yard gain.

Successful plays emphasized collective offensive effort—whether through individual blocks or coordinated assignments—highlighting what Robinson can achieve when given adequate support.

Despite questions about abandoning the run game late into Monday’s match, evidence shows consistent use of Robinson throughout critical moments until time constraints necessitated passing plays for clock management.

In conclusion, Monday’s game underscored that Atlanta's evolving run game is promising, with Bijan Robinson playing a pivotal role moving forward.

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