Bijan Robinson shines in MNF Victory Over Buffalo

AP photo by John Bazemore

ATLANTA — In his first-ever Monday Night Football appearance, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. showcased poise and precision, guiding the Atlanta Falcons to a 24–14 victory over the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Backed by standout performances from running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London, Penix’s debut under the national spotlight could hardly have gone better.

Penix, now in his second NFL season, completed 20 of 32 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown. Robinson electrified the crowd with 170 rushing yards—including a spectacular 81-yard touchdown burst—and added 68 more yards through the air. London dominated in the passing game, hauling in 10 receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown. It marked the second time in their careers that Robinson and London each recorded at least 150 yards and a touchdown in the same game. According to ESPN Research, they are the only Falcons teammates to achieve that feat more than once since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

While the Falcons’ offense flourished, their defense was equally impressive. Atlanta’s unit held Buffalo to four three-and-outs—double the Bills’ previous season high—and sacked quarterback Josh Allen four times. The defensive front’s relentless pressure set the tone early, forcing the Bills into mistakes and limiting their rhythm throughout the night.

Atlanta Falcons (3–2)

Bijan Robinson Emerging as an Early MVP Candidate

Through the first five games of the season, Bijan Robinson is making a strong case as one of the NFL’s most dynamic offensive players. His performance Monday night only strengthened that narrative. Robinson now has more yards from scrimmage through five games than any player in Falcons history. At halftime alone, he had already racked up 138 rushing yards—the most by any player in a first half this season.

Entering the game averaging 146 scrimmage yards per contest, Robinson exploded for 238 total yards against Buffalo—the second-highest single-game total by any player in the NFL this season. According to ESPN Research, Robinson joins Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas (1991) as the only players in league history to record at least 450 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in their first five games of a season.

Injury and Depth Challenges

The Falcons entered Monday’s matchup without two of their top three wide receivers—Darnell Mooney (hamstring) and Ray-Ray McCloud III (coach’s decision). McCloud’s absence, in particular, came as a surprise and left the team heavily dependent on Robinson and London for offensive production. The duo responded with a dominant effort, accounting for 89 percent of Atlanta’s total yardage in the first half. According to ESPN Research, they already led the NFL in the percentage of team scrimmage yards generated by any two teammates this season, entering the game at 57 percent.

Historic Offensive Start

Atlanta piled up 335 yards of total offense before halftime—their highest first-half output since 2009. It was also the first time in franchise history that both a running back (Robinson) and a wide receiver (London) eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the first half of a game.

Next Up

The Falcons, now sitting at 3–2, will look to extend their winning streak when they travel west to face the San Francisco 49ers on October 19 at 8:20 p.m. ET. With Penix continuing to settle in and Robinson establishing himself as a premier offensive weapon, Atlanta suddenly looks like one of the NFC’s most balanced teams.