Nobody can deny that the Atlanta Falcons have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Bijan Robinson, and most would say he has a real argument to be the best back in the NFL--although Jahmyr Gibbs and Kenneth Walker truthers might say you're being crazy, especially in recent games.
Bijan got off to a sizzling start to 2026, as he surpassed 100 scrimmage yards in three of the Falcons' first four games and went over 100 rushing yards in two of them. But in the four games since, he surpassed 100 scrimmage yards just twice and has not hit the century mark on the ground or scored a touchdown since the Week 4 win over the Saints.
For a normal RB that's fine, but for a guy who Atlanta should be modeling their offense around, that sort of production isn't going to cut it. And while some less-than-adequate run blocking has failed him of late. he hasn't been involved enough as a pass-catcher since Michael Penix Jr. has returned.
While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Bijan was asked a question about being the best running back in the NFL, he was quick to be hold himself accountable, revealing he doesn't think he's been playing like the best in the business after some quiet outings across the last couple of weeks.
“I'll be honest, like, I don't feel like I'm playing like that right now," Robinson said. "I have to be better. I have to be better for this team. I've been to be better for this offense.”
For starters, you love to see a future Hall of Fame level talent having this much humility and pushing himself to be better despite already leading the NFL in rushing yards, but now he's extra motivated--and that should scare the Cincinnati Bengals with a Week 9 matchup in Madrid looming.
Bijan Robinson is going to go nuclear in Week 9 against the Bengals
After facing the second, fifth, and fourth-best run defenses across the last three weeks, Atlanta is facing a much weaker unit on Sunday morning, which offers a get-right opportunity for Bijan.
The Bengals are near the middle of the pack in run defense (20th in both rushing yards per game and defensive EPA per run), but they just surrendered 117 rushing yards and two scores to Tony Pollard on 5.6 yards per carry in Week 7 to a runner who is way less dangerous with the ball in his hands.
That is a plenty advantageous matchup for the All-Pro RB then, even given the circumstances.
The Bengals have one of the NFL's better individual run defenders in Dexter Lawrence II, but the Dirty Birds have invested a lot of money in the interior of their offensive line, and Chris Lindstrom and/or Matthew Bergeron should be able to handle that matchup even after struggling against the Bucs. The run blocking has been an issue of late, as Bijan logged just 0.8 yards before contact in Tampa Bay.
The Falcons are a team who's identity is around running the football, and that starts and ends with No. 7. In the games they've won this year, they're games where Bijan got into a rhythm, and the common denominator is pretty clear to see--and against a Cincinnati offense full of elite players, they're going to need to generate some explosive plays of their own.
The reason the Atlanta Falcons' offense has struggled has largely been because Bijan Robinson has too, so this should be a chance to get him going both as a runner and through the air in Spain.
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