The Atlanta Falcons took a risk at last April’s NFL Draft. Armed with a top 10 pick — and a player coming off a 1,000-yard rookie season at tailback — the Falcons zigged in the face of arguments about declining running back value. They made Texas standout Bijan Robinson the eighth overall selection, adding him to a young nucleus of playmakers that already featured top 10 picks Kyle Pitts and Drake London as well as the aforementioned Tyler Allgeier.
It was a big investment in a stagnant offense. It set fantasy football drafts across the country on fire. And, Robinson’s regular season debut is any indication, it was completely worth it.
Welcome to the @NFL, @Bijan5Robinson!
📺: FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/yHKxx8fed4
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 10, 2023
Let’s be very clear; this should not have been a touchdown. On third-and-four, the first defender gets to Robinson three yards behind the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t have a prayer of stopping him. This:
Turns into this:
OK, not great. But the Panthers haven’t given up the first down at this point, and there’s reason to believe this won’t end in total disaster. Two more Carolina players are closing in at the nine-yard line:
This, of course, makes no difference to Robinson, who is a special blend of quick and strong as hell. He darts through the space between them, shucking off two tackles at one time and creating a clear path to the end zone.
At this point, Robinson is likely disappointed there are no more tackles to break. He slides in for six points and gives Atlanta its first touchdown of the 2023 season. And thus, Twitter (fine, X) timelines across the nation suddenly became treatises of Bijan appreciation.
At the time of publication, Robinson is on pace for a 45-touchdown rookie campaign. That probably won’t last, but still.
