While relatively low-scoring, Atlanta's dominant Sunday night win over Minnesota delivered a statement to the rest of the NFL: Respect Bijan Robinson.
It's not necessarily a new lesson; after all, Robinson finished fourth in the NFL in total scrimmage yards last season. But he did so for a Falcons team that attracted attention for the wrong reasons as their playoff ambitions faded down the stretch of the 2024 campaign, rendering Robinson's accomplishment as little more than a footnote.
Coach Raheem Morris believes football fans won't make the same mistake in 2025. He certainly isn't taking Robinson for granted.
"He's definitely the best player in football, without a doubt," Morris said on Wednesday, via ESPN. "He's unbelievable. I love the kid. I love everything about him. I love watching him with the ball. I love his confidence. I love his demeanor. I love his mindset. I love the leadership. I love everything about him."
Morris' comments come on the heels of a 143-yard outing for Robinson in the win over the Vikings, the tailback's second-most rushing yards in a game in his young career and the third 125-plus-yard performance of his career, tying for the fourth-most such games in the NFL since 2023. The other players in that group are all household names: Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor.
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Morris expects Robinson to continue to make a significant impact for his team in 2025 because of one simple acknowledgement: He believes Robinson truly can do it all.
"Unique skill set," Morris said. "Unbelievable vision, unbelievable teammate, speed, physicality. Like you come across when you first meet him, you think he's a scat back, but he's really just everything. He has the ability to get out of the backfield, run receiver-like routes. He can stay in the backfield and block whichever linebacker you decide to bring. He just does it all. And we might line him up at quarterback this week, who knows?"
Jokes aside, Robinson deserves the lion's share of credit for Atlanta's win in Week 2, at least on the offensive side of the ball. As Morris suggested, witnessing Robinson with the ball in his grasp is a rare treat in today's NFL.
Falcons fans will hope the delightful experiences continue in the weeks ahead, starting with a trip to NFC South rival Carolina on Sunday.