The Atlanta Falcons were pumped up when Arthur Smith told his offense, “We’re going for it on fourth down.”
The goal of Bijan Robinson and his blockers was to make the correct decision.
The Atlanta Falcons rallied for a 25-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, with Robinson’s 7-yard run on fourth-and-1 on the final play of the game setting up Younghoe Koo’s 25-yard field goal with 57 seconds left.
Despite the fact that running backs aren’t supposed to go that high in the draft anymore, he rushed for 124 yards on 19 runs and added another 48 yards with four receptions, proving why the Falcons (2-0) took him with the eighth overall pick.
The fourth-down conversion occurred with 2:08 remaining and the Falcons in field-goal range at the Green Bay 23. Smith made the decision to take a chance because he didn’t want to give the Packers enough time to drive for their own field goal.
With three more touchdown passes from Love, who has now thrown six touchdown passes in his first two games as Aaron Rodgers’ substitute, the Packers (1-1) wasted a 24-point advantage.
With just under 12 minutes left, Desmond Ridder, the rookie quarterback for Atlanta, ignited the comeback by bootlegging for a 6-yard touchdown on fourth-and-4.
Then, two of Koo’s four field goals, including a 39-yarder with 8:13 left, were set up by drives including Ridder and Robinson.
In his NFL debut, Robinson outgained the Panthers 24-10 while gaining 56 yards on the ground and 27 yards through the air.
As against the Packers, he performed even better, according to a football analyst.
Given the injury-depleted offense around him, Love completed 14 of 25 passes for 151 yards and connected with two rookies on three touchdowns. Not bad, really.
The Falcons became 2-0 for just the 11th time in franchise history when the Packers offense fizzled out in the fourth quarter.
The Packers managed just 11 yards and no first downs in their final three possessions, and Love was unable to complete any of his six throws.
With 211 rushing yards and 446 total yards, the Falcons battered Green Bay into submission. Just 224 yards, including 84 on the ground, were gained by the Packers.
The Packers fared significantly better during the opening three quarters.
Jayden Reed, a second-round pick, scored his first touchdowns of his brief career when Love connected with him for receptions of 10 and 9 yards.
On a 32-yard score, Dontayvion Wicks, a fifth-round draft pick, also received Love, scoring his first professional touchdown.
Love had to play behind a piecemeal offensive line since the Packers were playing without three injured offensive starters and lost a fourth during the contest.
