Bijan Robinson Is Carrying the Falcons - But How Long Can That Last?
There’s something special about watching Bijan Robinson take over a football game. The kind of special that makes you stop flipping channels, put your phone down, and just watch. He’s not just electric - he’s efficient, explosive, and, at this point, essential to everything the Atlanta Falcons are trying to do offensively.
On Thursday night, Robinson reminded everyone why he’s at the center of that conversation for best running back in football. In a 29-28 comeback win over the Buccaneers, the 23-year-old piled up 175 scrimmage yards - and made it look routine.
The Bucs had no answers for him. Whether it was outside zone, inside handoffs, or check-downs in the flat, Bijan was a problem from the first snap to the final whistle.
And while tight end Kyle Pitts had a breakout performance of his own, it was Robinson who drew the highest praise postgame - and not just from fans or media. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris didn’t mince words.
“He’s a dawg. The best player in the NFL,” Morris said.
“Sorry you guys won’t be able to see him in the postseason. He’s carrying everybody’s livelihood on his back.”
That quote says a lot. Not just about how highly Morris thinks of his star back, but also about the state of the Falcons - a team that, despite having playoff-caliber talent, is staring down another season without a postseason appearance.
A Workload That Says It All
Robinson touched the ball 27 times on Thursday - one of the heaviest workloads any back has seen this season. And it wasn’t just volume for volume’s sake.
With Drake London sidelined, the Falcons had no choice but to funnel their offense through No. 7, and he delivered. Again.
This isn’t a one-off. Robinson leads the league in scrimmage yards, and he’s doing it with a blend of vision, balance, and burst that makes even the most basic plays look like highlights. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t just move the chains - he shifts the momentum.
But as good as he’s been, the bigger question is starting to loom: Are the Falcons wasting Bijan Robinson’s prime?
Three Years, No Playoffs
Atlanta took Robinson in the first round of the 2023 draft with the idea that he’d be a cornerstone piece in their offensive rebuild. And he has been.
But through his first three seasons, the Falcons have yet to make the playoffs. That’s not on Bijan - he’s done more than his part - but it’s a tough pill to swallow when one of the most dynamic players in the league is watching January football from the couch.
And with Robinson inching closer to a potential long-term extension, the Falcons are approaching a major fork in the road. Do they commit big money to a running back - possibly in the $20 million per year range - or do they consider a radical move and explore trade options?
The Trade Talk No One Wants to Have
Let’s be clear: Robinson isn’t just any running back. He’s a dual-threat weapon who can line up anywhere and impact the game on every down. But the NFL has shown time and again that even elite backs aren’t immune to the business side of things.
Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey have all changed teams in recent years. And in each case, those moves worked out - for the players and their new squads. But trading a back like Robinson, still in his prime and under contract through 2028, would be almost unheard of.
Still, if it ever came to that, the return would be massive. We’re talking multiple first-round picks. Even with the league’s devaluation of the running back position, Robinson’s talent and versatility make him a rare exception.
A Gold Jacket Trajectory - But What About the Team?
The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since 2017. That’s a long drought for a team with this much talent on the roster. And while Robinson is doing everything he can to drag them back into contention, it’s fair to wonder how much longer he can do it alone.
He’s not just a highlight reel waiting to happen - he’s on a Hall of Fame trajectory. But if the Falcons can’t build a winner around him soon, the front office will have some hard decisions to make.
For now, fans should savor every carry, every cutback, every broken tackle. Bijan Robinson is must-see football.
But the clock is ticking. And if Atlanta doesn’t figure things out fast, they risk turning one of the league’s most exciting players into one of its most underutilized.