Understandably, a lot of the focus on the Atlanta Falcons' 22-6 win in Minnesota will be on the defensive domination and the heroics of new kicker John Parker Romo. However, the incredible performance from Bijan Robinson cannot get lost in the shuffle. The offensive game plan was clear, with there being a level of belief from Atlanta that Michael Penix Jr. was going to need to do very little on Sunday night. The Falcons reduced the signal caller's role, focusing on running out the clock and keeping Robinson and Tyler Allgeier rolling.
This was a clear focus after Week 1's failure that put the entire offense on the shoulders of Penix. Despite a strong performance from Robinson as a receiver, the ground game was shut down. That wasn't the case in Minnesota with Bijan setting a tone from the first snap and never letting up. The star finished the night with 143 rushing yards and 25 receiving yards. It was an effort that the numbers themselves don't do full justice to.
Bijan Robinson Shows Why Falcons' Offensive Future Remains Bright
Five games into Michael Penix's career, and statistically, this was the worst of his efforts. Still, the Falcons won by double digits and seemed to have control of the game from the first quarter. This was due to Robinson consistently running the clock and keeping the pressure on a struggling Minnesota offense. So much of what makes Atlanta special is built around the back.
This was an incredible game from special teams, the offensive line, and the defensive front. What might the Falcons look like if they were to maintain this level of production and get Penix rolling? Sunday's defining moment from Bijan wasn't just about showing the rest of the league how great a player he is, but showing the potential of an Atlanta roster that is just starting to scratch the surface.
So much of what the Falcons do well is based around Bijan and the focus the back demands. Next week, against Carolina, the offense is now poised to torment a secondary that is going to be focused on going downhill and attempting to support the first and second levels of the defense to stop Robinson. This is going to be a piece of the continual fallout that the Falcons will benefit from due to having a player at the absolute peak of his powers.
Robinson is a special player and put together a performance that reminded Atlanta fans that there is a very real chance the long playoff drought is finally coming to an end. Not since the 2017 season has the franchise ended the year in the postseason. Something that has a great chance to come to an end due to a young defense and an offense that is loaded at the skill positions.
The star back remains the biggest piece of this and showed exactly why in Sunday night's dominating performance. One that fans believe is setting the tone for the year to come.