Bijan Robinson Acknowledges Need to Elevate Play Even While Leading NFL Rushing

Atlanta’s offense has been a roller‑coaster all season, and right now the conversation circles back to Bijan Robinson. The 22‑year‑old, who sits atop the NFL rushing leaderboard with 780 yards after eight games, is surprisingly candid about his own performance.

"I’ll be honest, I don’t feel like I’m playing like that right now," Robinson said in a pre‑game interview, a hint of frustration seeping through his words. "I have to be better." It’s a modest admission that feels almost out of place given his 5.2‑yard average and four touchdowns on 150 carries.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Robinson hasn’t found the end zone in his last four outings, nor has he cracked the 100‑yard mark in any of them. His most recent effort—76 yards on 19 carries in a 16‑0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—illustrates the gap between his potential and the output the Falcons are hoping for.

The Falcons themselves are in a funk, dropping three of their past four games. A 29‑20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers gave a glimpse of momentum, only to be snuffed out by a shutout in Tampa Bay. The team now looks to bounce back at the Bernabéu Stadium, where they’ll face a Cincinnati Bengals squad riding a three‑game winning streak and consistently scoring 30‑plus points.

Earlier in the season, Robinson reminded everyone what he’s capable of. He exploded for 194 yards against the Green Bay Packers and followed that with 145 yards versus the New Orleans Saints, scoring two rushing touchdowns in each game. Those performances sparked wins and earned him praise from none other than Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who called Robinson “the best in the game right now.”

Henry’s endorsement highlights the respect Robinson commands around the league, but the praise also underscores the weight of expectation. “He can make defenders miss even when a play breaks down,” Henry noted, pointing to Robinson’s ability to improvise and still gain yardage.

As Sunday’s matchup looms, the Falcons will need more than flashes of brilliance. They’ll need consistency, the kind that translates into first‑downs, touchdowns, and ultimately, a win that could halt the slide. Robinson, aware of the stakes, appears ready to dig deeper—if his words are any indication, the next few games could be a turning point for both him and Atlanta.