Bijan Robinson ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints 45-24 on Monday Night Football at the Caesars Superdome, with Brian Robinson Jr. adding three rushing touchdowns.
Atlanta never trailed in the NFC South clash, which kicked off at 11:15am AEDT on Tuesday 6 October, and outgained New Orleans 207 yards to 50 on the ground. The Falcons improved to 2-2, while the Saints fell to 1-3. Statistics are from ESPN’s box score and the Associated Press match report.
Bijan Robinson sets the tone early
Robinson needed only three plays to open the scoring, bursting through the left side for a 59-yard touchdown on the opening drive. He added a 4-yard score late in the first quarter after Saints running back Kendre Miller lost a fumble at the New Orleans 22, and Atlanta led 14-0 after one quarter.
According to ESPN Research, Robinson was the first player with at least 75 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a single quarter on Monday Night Football since DeAngelo Williams in 2008. He finished with 145 yards from 19 carries.
Brian Robinson Jr. scored from 4, 8 and 11 yards for the first three-rushing-touchdown game of his career. ESPN Research said it was the first time since 1973 that the Falcons had two players score multiple rushing touchdowns in the same game.
Penix efficient as Falcons pull away
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown in his second game back, following the Falcons’ 35-14 win over the Green Bay Packers. His 31-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson in the fourth quarter made it 38-17, and Drake London led Atlanta’s receivers with five catches for 96 yards.
Alvin Kamara scored his first two touchdowns of the season for New Orleans, and Tyler Shough completed 30 of 48 passes for 286 yards, with a late 3-yard touchdown to Devaughn Vele. Chris Olave caught eight passes for 116 yards. The Saints were also hurt by a missed 52-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson and eight penalties.
Superdome anniversary night
The game marked 20 years since the Superdome reopened after Hurricane Katrina. Before kick-off, Steve Gleason, whose blocked punt sparked the Saints’ win over the Falcons in that 2006 reopening game, led the “Who dat!†chant alongside former teammates including Drew Brees, AP reported.
Injuries and what’s next
Falcons defensive end Za’Darius Smith received several minutes of attention on the field but was able to walk to the sideline, and left tackle Jake Matthews left the game in the first quarter with a groin injury, according to AP. The Saints were without defensive end Carl Granderson and linebacker Kaden Elliss, while tight end Noah Fant was a late scratch.
Atlanta hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night (11:20am AEDT, Monday 12 October), and New Orleans hosts the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings (4:00am AEDT, Monday 12 October). For the rest of the round, see our NFL Week 4 results wrap.
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