Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson entered the 2026 season as the third-best player on the NFL’s top 100 list. That shows how much talent and respect he has around the league. It hasn’t taken him long to live up to that ranking this season, with an excellent Week Three game in Green Bay. A game so career-defining that it earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
No one in the National Football League doubted that Robinson would pick up where he left off last season and continue his tremendous career. Earlier in the season, however, it seemed poor quarterback play might hold him back.
Veteran backup quarterback Cooper Rush was so awful in his first start in their Week One loss to Pittsburgh that the team as a whole couldn’t get its footing. Robinson took 21 rushing attempts to gain 83 yards. Not a bad rushing performance, but average for a running back on Robinson’s resume. He had more success as the Falcons’ number one receiver, with eight catches for 90 yards.
The Week Two home opener against the Panthers showed how much Robinson could be hindered by bad quarterback play.
Early mistakes and turnovers put the Falcons behind the eight ball offensively and left less room for Robinson to run. He finished the day with 16 rushing attempts for 72 yards. Though his 4.5 yards per carry was .5 yards higher than in Week 1 in Pittsburgh, it did little to dig the Falcons out of the 34-3 hole.
Victory, however, looked much more promising for everyone. They got back to work early with a Thursday night matchup against the Green Bay Packers, and Michael Penix Jr. returned as QB1.
Penix Jr.’s return, along with improved offensive line play, proved to be the recipe for Robinson, as he had a breakout, career-defining game. Robinson was used to take pressure off Penix Jr., letting him get comfortable while leaving Robinson to do what he does best: pick up first downs.
Robinson ran all over the Green Bay Packers, who are missing linebacker superstar Micah Parsons. He carried the ball 29 times for 194 yards and added 19 receiving yards.
His performance was so special that it couldn’t be overshadowed by the positive return of Penix Jr. or wide receiver Drake London, who had 194 yards. That was made clear when he was named NFC Player of the Week.
With a Monday Night Football matchup in New Orleans in Week Four, Robinson has a chance to do it again.
