'We've Got To Be Accountable!' Bijan Robinson Reacts to Atlanta Falcons' 31-28 Loss to Vikings
The message from rookie Bijan Robinson as he reacted to the Atlanta Falcons' 31-28 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in NFL Week 9? To his credit, Bijan is keeping his cool ... even as Falcons fans might understandably be losing theirs.
Said Bijan after a stunning loss that drops Atlanta to 4-5: "We've just got to be accountable to each other. ... We've got to be an accountable team. If we see something slacking, we've got to make sure we're on it before anything else happens."
It's a fine message. So how did it all come undone against the undermanned Vikings? Allow us to walk you through the confounding and emotional day ...
Taylor Heinicke and Bijan Robinson will be key ti the offensive success of the Atlanta Falcons versus the Minnesota Vikings.
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Atlanta has performed well at home this season and will need to do so yet against, albeit with a different quarterback under center in Taylor Heinicke.
Last week, starting quarterback Desmond Ridder got banged up, allowing veteran Heinicke to take the field as many fans had been hoping for this season following the offenses slow start.
Heinicke formerly was a starter with the Washington Commanders, where he led the team to the playoffs in 2020 and had a competitive matchup against the eventual Super Bowl Champions.
This game will provide Heinicke a second chance to prove he has what it takes to be a starter in the NFL. Helping Heinicke will be Robinson, who has slowed down a bit in recent weeks but has already proven himself to be an elite weapon during his first season.
As for the Vikings, they too will be starting a new quarterback in Hall, a rookie from BYU forced to start following a Kirk Cousins achilles tear a week ago.
Which defense performs best could decide which team wins this game. All-Pro caliber players in Atlanta's secondary in Jessie Bates III and A.J. Terrell, will try to make Hall's first start difficult. Minnesota's heralded pass rush led by Danielle Hunter, the league's leader in sacks, on the other hand, will be trying to frustrate Heinicke as he tries to shake off rust as a starter.
WHAT: Minnesota Vikings (4-4, 3-1 Road) at Atlanta Falcons (4-4, 3-1 Home)
WHERE: Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA (75,000)
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, 1 p.m. ET
TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: WZGC-FM 92.9 The Game
Get your tickets at SI Tickets
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Falcons -3.5
TOTAL: 37.5
MONEYLINE: Vikings +155, Falcons -200
FIRST QUARTER:
Falcons- On first down, Robinson runs for two yards, then Cordarrelle Patterson takes a reception for three yards. On third and five, Kyle Pitts catches the ball for 12 yards and a first down. Jonnu Smith catches another first down, but the drive stalls, and they punt.
Vikings- The team fails to gain any yards on the first two downs and punts after an eight-yard Hall rush.
Falcons- Hodge picks up a huge 31-yard gain on first down. Robinson runs for three yards. Younghoe Koo drilled a 52-yard field goal to give the team a lead.
Atlanta leads 3-0 over Minnesota
Vikings- Hall hit Johnny Mundt for 18 yards. Then a penalty backed them up five yards for first and 15. Mattison breaks away from the defense for 47 yards. K.J. Osborn makes it first and goal inside the two-yard line. Hall is slow to get up after attempting to run in for the score and getting stopped short. Minnesota kicks a field goal to tie it.
TIE GAME 3-3
Falcons- Throw to Mack Hollins for 18 yards, then again for nine yards and another first down. Unfortunately, penalties kill the drive, and they Punt.
Vikings- Dobbs is in, and on third down, he takes a SAFETY! Calais Campbell comes up big with the sack for a score.
Atlanta leads 5-3
Falcons- Allgeier runs for four yards. Jonnu Smith gets a 16-yard gain. Pitts gains 11 yards, and Hollins picks up nine yards, allowing Koo to kick a 42-yard field goal.
Atlanta leads 8-3
Vikings- On third and 11, a pass interference call bails out the Vikings offense for a new set of downs, but Dobbs fumbles, and the Falcons nearly take it to the house.
Falcons- The team fails to punch it in despite having a great field position. They settle for another field goal.
Atlanta leads 11-3
Vikings-Osborn takes a hit from Okudah and gets carted off the field due to the unnecessary roughness but is alert on the cart. Akers runs for five, then six. When the game comes back from the two-minute warning, it will be facing third and 11.
Dobbs connects with Addison after the break. Hockenson got seven yards on a reception. Dobbs scrambles for 11 yards on third and long. Akers stopped on first and goal. Mattison catches a touchdown pass. The team elects to kick the PAT rather than attempt to tie.
Atlanta leads 11-10
Falcons- A slow drive goes nowhere, with the team punting it back with nine seconds remaining.
Vikings- Kneel the ball.
HALFTIME: ATLANTA LEADS 11-10 OVER MINNESOTA
Vikings- Dobbs loses a fumble to the Kentavious Street and the Falcons.
Falcons- A deep pass to Hodge is under review to see if he had control in the endzone. The call stands, making it fourth down. Koo nails a 54-yard field goal to extend the lead by three.
ATLANTA LEADS 14-10 OVER MINNESOTA
Vikings- Hockenson fights for 29 yards, Akers runs for 19, then Dobbs runs for 13. The team fumbles but then recovers. They settle for a field goal to cut it back down to a one-point game.
ATLANTA LEADS 14-13 OVER MINNESOTA
Falcons- Heinicke hits Hodge for a gain of 20. Jonnu Smith gets a 60-yard touchdown!
ATLANTA LEADS 21-13 OVER MINNESOTA
Vikings-Three and out.
Falcons- Bijan fumbles on a seven-yard carry.
Vikings- Hockenson picks up nine yards. Mattison runs for six, then five. Dobbs runs for an 18-yard TOUCHDOWN! Jackson catches a two-point attempt to tie the game!
21-21 All
Falcons- Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted a pass from Heinicke on the first play.
Vikings- Akers catches a pass for 11 yards. After a couple of passes, lose yardage, and the game goes into the fourth quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
31-yard field goal is good.
MINNESOTA LEADS 24-21 OVER ATLANTA
Falcons- Heinicke goes down, but the Vikings knock the ball loose. The play is under review for a fumble. Call stands, Falcons ball. Third down and nine. Heinicke connects with Pitts for 27 yards on a deep pass. Drive stalls, and the team punts.
Vikings- The team gets a first down on passes to Hockenson, but the drive fails to result in a score. The team punts.
Falcons- 14-yard pass to Van Jefferson. Robinson runs for a first down. Allgeier runs for eight, Heinicke runs for 13 and a first down. The team feeds Allgeier all the down into first and goal. Allgeier finishes the drive by running it in for a touchdown after 11 straight runs.
ATLANTA LEADS 28-24 OVER MINNESOTA
Vikings- Dobbs has two minutes to march down the field. On fourth and seven, Dobbs scrambles and saves hope for the team by picking up 12 yards. Dobbs marched them into the red zone, and with 22 seconds left, he hit Powell for a TOUCHDOWN to give his team a three-point lead.
MINNESOTA LEADS 31-28 OVER ATLANTA, 22 Seconds in Regulation
Falcons- Hail Mary falls Short.
Vikings beat Falcons 31-28
