Bijan Robinson rushes for 198 yards and 4 TDs as Atlanta Falcons beat New Orleans Saints 38-17 in Week 4

New Orleans, LA - Bijan Robinson turned Atlanta's ground game into the defining feature of a lopsided Week 4 box score, rushing for 198 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints 38-17.

Robinson carried 22 times, broke a 51-yard run and accounted for nearly all of Atlanta's 223 rushing yards. New Orleans finished with 55 yards on the ground, giving the Falcons a 168-yard advantage in that category. Atlanta also outgained the Saints 380-250 in offensive yards and recorded 19 first downs to New Orleans' 16.

"I wanted every carry to have purpose," Robinson said. "When you finish with that kind of production and four touchdowns, you appreciate how complete the day was. The score is the part that matters most."

Anthony Richardson Sr completed 12 of 19 passes for 165 yards with one interception, finishing with a 68.9 passer rating. His longest completion went for 27 yards, and his lone rushing attempt gained 30 yards. Atlanta was credited with 157 team passing yards, but the limited volume through the air was supplemented by Robinson's career-day caliber production on the ground.

Drake London was Richardson's leading receiver with five catches for 81 yards, including a 27-yard reception. Kyle Pitts Sr contributed three catches for 43 yards, while Robinson added another 32 yards on two receptions. Robinson finished with 230 yards between his rushing and receiving totals.

The Falcons' scoring total came with an unusual set of possession-down numbers. Atlanta converted just 1 of 7 third downs and 1 of 3 fourth downs. Inside the red zone, the Falcons made six trips and finished with three touchdowns and one field goal. New Orleans went 4 of 14 on third down and 1 of 2 on fourth down, scoring one touchdown and two field goals across four red-zone visits.

Spencer Rattler completed 21 of 33 passes for 245 yards with one interception and a 73.4 passer rating. His longest completion covered 40 yards, while New Orleans finished with 195 team passing yards. Chris Olave led the Saints with seven catches for 78 yards, and Travis Etienne Jr caught four passes for 65 yards, including the team's longest reception.

Etienne also handled most of the rushing work for New Orleans, gaining 48 yards on 15 carries and scoring one touchdown. His longest run went for 13 yards. Between his rushing and receiving work, Etienne finished with 113 yards from scrimmage.

"There were yards there, but the result tells you we didn't turn enough of them into points," Rattler said. "One touchdown on four red-zone trips isn't the standard. We have to be more productive with those opportunities."

Atlanta's defense supplied another stark statistical difference by recording eight sacks and an interception. Gervon Dexter Sr finished with four sacks by himself, and Avieon Terrell added two. The Saints' defense recorded one sack and one interception.

"Four sacks for me and eight for the group is a number we can feel good about," Dexter said. "Finishing sacks matters. We were able to do that a lot in this game, and everybody contributed to the final result."

New Orleans produced more team passing yards, 195 to 157, but Atlanta's overwhelming rushing advantage shaped the final statistical profile. Robinson's four touchdowns stood at the center of the 21-point victory, and the Falcons left New Orleans with 380 offensive yards and their highest individual rushing total of the matchup by a wide margin.

Up Next

The Atlanta Falcons return home in Week 5 to host the Baltimore Ravens as they look to follow up the victory. The New Orleans Saints will remain home and try to rebound against the Minnesota Vikings.