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News

Newer update on Bijan Robinson: Bijan Robinson Rips Off 145 Yards, Two TDs in Falcons' Monday Night Win

Bijan Robinson’s Fast Start Puts Saints in Early Hole on Monday Night

The Falcons RB scored twice in the opening quarter, starting with a 59-yard touchdown run, to give Atlanta a 14-0 lead.

By Cole Hartwell

Update: Corrected the order of the two touchdowns.

Bijan Robinson wasted no time making his mark on Monday Night Football, scoring twice in the first quarter to stake the Falcons to a 14-0 lead over the Saints. A long touchdown run and a short score after a turnover highlighted his early dominance.

What happened

Atlanta opened the scoring just 1 minute, 26 seconds into the game when Robinson found a huge running lane on the left side and took it 59 yards for a touchdown. NBC Sports/ProFootballTalk noted that left tackle Jake Matthews cleared the edge against Chase Young, and Robinson went untouched down the sideline.

Later in the quarter, Saints running back Kendre Miller lost a fumble at his own 22-yard line. Falcons cornerback C.J. Henderson punched the ball out, and after a challenge, officials ruled it a fumble. The Falcons needed only five plays before Robinson punched it in from four yards out.

The Saints’ defense hurt itself with two defensive holding penalties on that drive, including one on Kool-Aid McKinstry against Jahan Dotson on fourth-and-4 at the New Orleans 8. Robinson finished the first quarter with seven carries, while Michael Penix completed 3 of 6 passes for 30 yards. According to Yahoo Sports, Robinson had a career-high 78 rushing yards in the opening quarter.

Context

Robinson’s first-quarter eruption continued an impressive start to his 2026 season. Through three games, he had already posted 349 rushing yards and 118 receiving yards. His Week 3 performance was particularly notable, with 194 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns before Monday’s game even kicked off.

Before facing the Saints, Robinson had established himself as one of the NFL’s most dangerous prime-time running backs. Sporting News reported that his Monday Night Football scoring average was unmatched entering this matchup.

What’s next

The Falcons now lead 14-0 early, putting the Saints in a significant hole. Robinson will look to continue his heavy workload, which included a season-high 72% snap share in Week 3.

🏈 Fantasy impact

Robinson’s first-quarter usage confirms he remains the centerpiece of Atlanta’s offense. He had seven carries and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone, and his involvement as both a runner and receiver makes him an elite RB1 in all formats. The Saints’ defensive penalties extended drives, giving Robinson even more scoring opportunities. His early success suggests a potential monster fantasy day, and managers should start him every week. The fumble by Kendre Miller also highlights why Robinson’s workload isn’t threatened by Miller’s performance, as Atlanta’s backfield clearly runs through Robinson. If the Falcons continue to lead, Robinson could see even more volume in the second half to close out the game.

Quick answers

How many touchdowns did Bijan Robinson score in the first quarter?

Robinson scored two touchdowns in the first quarter: a 59-yard run and a 4-yard run.

How many rushing yards did Bijan Robinson have in the first quarter?

Robinson had a career-high 78 rushing yards in the first quarter.

What caused the Saints' early deficit?

The Saints fell behind after a Kendre Miller fumble and two defensive holding penalties that extended a Falcons drive, leading to Robinson's second touchdown.

Sources

  1. Player data (Sleeper)
  2. Bijan Robinson's second TD gives Falcons 14-0 lead (Yahoo Sports)
  3. Bijan Robinson's second TD gives Falcons 14-0 lead (NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk)
  4. Bijan Robinson puts a damper on Saints' celebration with 59-yard TD run (NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk)
  5. Bijan Robinson’s historic Monday night numbers give Saints a problem before kickoff (Sporting News)

This article was drafted by AI from the sources above and published after every claim passed an automatic check against those sources. Our editor monitors stories and corrects errors. How we work · Report an error