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'Best player in football'? Bijan Robinson won't say it, but plenty of others will.
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- 'Best player in football'? Bijan Robinson won't say it, but plenty of others will.
ATLANTA – Bijan Robinson can cut on a dime, overpower a linebacker in the open field and zip through a crack of daylight for a long-distance run and make it all look so easy.
Yet it seemed apparent in the aftermath of his career game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night – Robinson stole the show with a career-high 238 yards from scrimmage, a career-high-matching 170 rushing yards and a career-long run of 81 yards – that there is at least one trait the Atlanta Falcons star running back is not quite so adept at displaying.
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Talking about himself.
Of course, this is a good thing. In a world full of self-promoters and look-at-me messaging, Robinson, 23, is the one who adds a layer of coolness to humility.
I mean, when someone asked what it was like to be in the type of zone he demonstrated in the 24-14 thrashing of the Buffalo Bills , he made it about anything but himself.
"It's like a three-point shooter," Robinson said. "Like Steph Curry, when he's starting to get in a groove, the basket looks so big to him. It seems like he can't miss."
Say what? That response resonated more a bit later during his postgame media session, when Robinson wouldn't take the bait when asked – twice – if he gets into such a flow that he can't be stopped. He explained that he'd never think that, let alone say it.
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"That's not my style," he said.
And it seems so authentic for a classy man who heaps praise in so many directions – including his faith and his offensive line – before pointing at himself.
Besides, there are plenty of others willing to talk about the special running back who has amassed more yards from scrimmage through six games (822) than any running back in Falcons history.
"He's the best player in football," insists his coach, Raheem Morris. "I've said it multiple times. I can't say it enough."
Then there was the opinion posted on X by LeBron James , who knows a thing or two about greatness: "Bijan so COLD!!!!!!!!"
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Another assessment came from veteran cornerback A.J. Terrell.
"He just keeps better," Terrell said. "Everything he does just seems so easy. Then you look around the league and realize how special he is. The way he can turn a simple play in to a huge, big play…"
A case in point came on the long-distance touchdown in the second quarter that was longest in the NFL this season. Robinson scooted through a hole off right tackle provided by linemen Elijah Wilkinson and Chris Lindstrom , picked up a block on the edge from receiver Casey Washington , then stepped through Cole Bishop 's attempted tackle near midfield as he tip-toed down the sideline and turned on the after-burners.
This is apparently what Robinson, a third-year pro, envisioned when he set a goal during the offseason to finish off more long runs.
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"It always feels like he's going to break one of those every single time he touches the ball, so it was nice for him to finally get one," said Morris, whose team improved to 3-2. "It was the longest play of his career, whatever the case may be. But we've been waiting for that moment."
Robinson acknowledged that he came in with extra motivation because he would share the stage with Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP .
Then again, Robinson always finds a way to get an edge. He's established a ritual over the years of watching video tape of great running backs – other great running backs, that is – in helping with his mindset.
Before Monday's game, he watched highlights from Adrian Peterson 's freshman year at Oklahoma – more striking since his alma mater, Texas, just defeated the Sooners on Saturday in the annual Red River Rivalry.
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"I just pick a guy, whether it's college or the NFL, and see what kind of moves he's got, how he attacks downfield," Robinson explained of his habit. "That's the kind of game I had today."
Not that he plans to bask in it. While the Falcons have climbed above .500 for the first time this season, it wasn't too long ago – three weeks, to be exact – that they were embarrassed during a shutout loss at Carolina.
Robinson knows. For his team to emerge as a legit contender, it needs to consistently show up as it did on Monday night, when the Falcons offense racked up 443 yards and the defense manhandled a prolific Buffalo offense.
That's where Robinson's humility may serve a greater purpose.
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"For this performance, people are going to come at us like, 'Wow, look at the Falcons,' " he said. "We've go to scratch this out of the building.
"Worship and praise, I've got to shut that down immediately, because that's what hurts your team. That's when you go to the next game and get blown out. So, for us, this was great. We'll celebrate it tonight, but we've got to put this behind us super fast."
Never mind the social media mentions and hype. The 49ers are up next.
"As a leader of this team, I'm going to continue to harp on it and say, 'Let's stop that,' because we've got to focus and win another game."
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Which would be much more likely for the Falcons if their unassuming superstar is leading the way – in action and by example.
Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bijan Robinson is elite, even if the Falcons star won't say it
