Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
While the Atlanta Falcons are dealing with some key injuries on the offensive side of the ball, the team still has some notable weapons in the backfield. The New Orleans Saints’ top priority against the Falcons will be limiting running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. And the task will be far from easy.
Though the Falcons will be without starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and are expected to be shorthanded at wide receiver without Drake London, the Atlanta ground game keeps their offense viable.
Robinson has rushed for 783 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He’s also added over 500 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. Meanwhile, Allgeier has already piled on seven rushing touchdowns as the team’s short-yardage back.
The duo present a real threat to the Saints’ inconsistent rushing defense.
Rushing Yards Allowed in Saints’ Last Five Games:
Week 6 vs. New England Patriots: 73
Week 7 at Chicago Bears: 222
Week 8 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 88
Week 9 at Los Angeles Rams: 171
Week 10 at Carolina Panthers: 73
The Outside Run
As New Orleans looks to continue its success against the run from its last game against the Panthers, keying in on the outside run will be important.
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who was also under consideration from the Saints ahead of the 2024 season, runs his offense through rushing attempts outside of the tackles. Per Next Gen Stats, the Falcons rank No. 1 in the NFL, rushing outside the tackles for 73.2% of their carries.
The Saints’ second-level will have to show its athleticism by beating Robinson and Allgeier to the point of attack while others remain disciplined in taking away cutback lanes and field-reversing opportunities. The outside zone run game can be dangerous because it works to create multiple gaps for a running back to choose to attack.
If that area of the game gets going, it also creates some dynamic play action opportunities that challenge a defense’s eye discipline, something the Saints’ defense has been faltered against in recent weeks going back to their loss to the Rams.
Dismantling the Falcons’ rushing attack will have to be the first and foremost part of the team’s defensive gameplan in order to set themselves up for a big win back in the Caesars Superdome.
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