Bijan Robinson’s Week 1 line against the Pittsburgh Steelers did more than keep the Atlanta Falcons competitive. It also offered a fresh reminder of just how dangerous he can be when he’s involved in every part of the offense.
Robinson finished with 173 yards and a touchdown from scrimmage, and the production came in the exact way that makes him such a problem for defenses: on the ground and through the air. He had 83 rushing yards and 90 receiving yards while scoring Atlanta’s only touchdown. On a day when the Falcons needed him to carry plenty of the load, he looked like one of the most complete weapons in the league.
That versatility is no accident. In an exclusive interview with DJ Siddiqi of Covers, Robinson said he patterns his game after Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, the centerpiece of the St. Louis Rams during their Super Bowl years.
“They wanted to exploit it more here when I got to the NFL. That’s what I’ve been doing, man.
It’s something that I appreciate, because you become a threat all over the field and become a guy that you have to watch for no matter where I line up and have an impact in that way. I want to continue to keep helping my team through that, and just continue to get better,” Robinson said.
“I looked up to Marshall Faulk. Obviously, he’s the prototype who I look up to in running style and catching the football.”
The comparison makes sense. Faulk was already a Pro Bowl-caliber player with the Indianapolis Colts before his trade to the Rams in 1999, but it was in St.
Louis that he became a true star. With Kurt Warner emerging and the offense becoming “The Greatest Show on Turf,” Faulk was right in the middle of it all.
That season, Faulk piled up more than 2,400 scrimmage yards, including over 1,000 rushing and receiving yards, and scored 12 touchdowns. The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV, Faulk earned three straight All-Pro selections, and he later took home the 2000 NFL MVP award.
Robinson isn’t there yet, but the outline is familiar. He has the same kind of dual-threat profile that made Faulk such a nightmare for defenses, and Week 1 showed exactly why Atlanta is leaning on him so heavily. The Falcons have other good skill-position players, but Robinson is the headliner.
The bigger question is whether Atlanta can give him the kind of support Faulk had in St. Louis. The Falcons have dealt with instability at quarterback since Robinson entered the league, and that’s the one thing standing between a star turn and something even bigger.
For now, Robinson is doing his part. Atlanta will keep asking him to be the engine of the offense as it chases its first playoff berth in nearly a decade.
In Other News...
Falcons Already Face A Quarterback Problem That Could Define 2026
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season already has a way of sharpening the questions around Atlanta, and quarterback is at the center of it. In a league where early games can quickly shape the bigger picture, the Falcons are being viewed through the lens of a problem that has lingered into the new year, even as the rest of the NFC begins sorting itself into tiers.
The broader conference picture only adds to the pressure. Atlanta is being measured against teams that opened with cleaner answers and better momentum, while the Falcons are left trying to settle the most important spot on the roster before the season's bigger decisions arrive. For a team trying to stay relevant in the NFC race, the quarterback issue is not just an early storyline, it could end up defining where this season goes next. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 1 QB Issue And A Bijan Dilemma
The Falcons are heading into Week 1 with more uncertainty than they probably wanted at quarterback, with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix both ruled out as the team sorts through ongoing evaluations. Kevin Stefanski said Penix and Cooper Rush have both been involved in practice, which at least gives Atlanta a live look at the options, but it also underscores how unsettled the position still is as the opener approaches.
Bijan Robinson brings a different kind of question, and one that could shape how the Falcons try to survive the early part of the season. He had significant involvement in the opener, and Stefanski has already hinted at possible changes in how the team uses him going forward. For a roster trying to find its footing at quarterback, what Atlanta decides to do with its best offensive weapon may end up being just as important as who gets the snaps under center. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons QB Trouble Puts New Pressure On Michael Penix Jr. Return
Michael Penix Jr. still has not made his return from the ACL injury he suffered last November, and the Falcons have already chosen to keep him out beyond their season opener. For a team looking to settle its quarterback situation early, the delay only adds another layer of uncertainty, especially with the season already underway and the attention now shifting to when Penix might finally be available.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons originally eyed Week 2 or 3 for Penixs return, though that window may have come too soon. Atlanta has not put him on short-term injured reserve, a sign the team still expects him back relatively soon, but there is still no official timeline. Until that becomes clearer, the Falcons are left managing the position without knowing exactly when their young quarterback will be ready to join the mix. [Read more 🡒]