Sports
Rams fold with crucial loss to Falcons in penultimate weekend
Bijan Robinson delivered a record-breaking performance as the Atlanta Falcons edged the Los Angeles Rams 27-24 on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, setting multiple franchise and league milestones along the way.
The running back produced the finest outing of his career, rushing for 195 yards on 22 carries and adding 34 receiving yards on five catches, while scoring twice in a display that underlined his growing status in the NFL.
Robinson’s two touchdowns came in contrasting fashion, including a 93-yard run that set a new Falcons franchise record and a score through the air. His combined total of 229 yards from scrimmage took him to 2,255 for the season, making him Atlanta’s single-season leader in that category and moving him past William Andrews’ long-standing mark from 1983.
That total is now the third-highest by any NFL player over the past decade, trailing only Christian McCaffrey’s 2019 campaign and Saquon Barkley’s output in 2024.
At just 23 years old, Robinson also became the most productive player under the age of 24 in NFL history in terms of yards from scrimmage, moving to 5,585 and surpassing both McCaffrey and Barry Sanders. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was unequivocal in his praise after the game.
“I said this 18 weeks ago: He’s the best player in football,” Morris said. “I mean, it’s just as simple as that. He’s unbelievable. Everything he does for our football team, from running the football, to catching the football, to protection, to being a leader. He’s also our chaplain. He does it all.”
The night continued to deliver historic moments for Robinson. His long touchdown run made him one of only two players ever to record multiple scrimmage touchdowns of 80 yards or more on Monday Night Football in a single season, while also eclipsing Warrick Dunn’s 90-yard effort from 2006 as the longest rushing score in Falcons history.
He also finished with 190 scrimmage yards after contact, the most by any player in a single game since ESPN began tracking the statistic in 2009, and joined Jerry Rice as the only players to post consecutive Monday night games with at least 200 scrimmage yards.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins highlighted both Robinson’s talent and his attitude, while also stressing the need to manage his workload. “He’s a special player,” Cousins said. “What he can do in both the run game and pass game is very unique. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great person. Bodes well for his future.
“And I think the key is we’ve got to use him correctly and not overwork him because I think tonight we asked a lot of him and I want to make sure that he’s fresh for what he’s got ahead of him. But if you call his number, he’s going to answer. He’s not going to complain or tell you he’s tired.”
Although the Falcons have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for several weeks, Robinson said the team has found renewed motivation late in the season. Atlanta have now won three straight games and four of their last five, and the running back believes pride has been a driving force.
“We made it known as soon as we got that elimination that we’re going to finish this season off the right way, finish it all strong so we can lead into next season because we’re all men,” Robinson said.
“We’re all men that love this game so much. So, it’s very important for us to finish the right way as a team. And it feels good knowing that, yeah, obviously we’re not going to the playoffs, but we did something good at the end of the season.”
