The Atlanta Falcons had a 24-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills, which solidified their position as a legitimate NFC contender. Credits? It mostly revolves around Bijan Robinson, who produced one of the greatest individual performances of the NFL season. But a franchise icon rings a warning bell for him.

Matt Ryan, a former Falcons quarterback, in an interview on The Inner Circle Podcast, said, “It’s like you got to keep this guy healthy,” Ryan said. “Bijan has to be healthy. He’s kind of like CMC (Christian McCaffrey) in San Francisco because he does so much and they use him so many different ways. And I think that’s the number one responsibility of the staff right now, is being able to balance how do we use this guy just the right amount. Not too much that we’re running his tires thin.”

But Ryan worries about that very reliance. In six games, Robinson has already carried a workload equivalent to that of the league’s best bell-cow backs. Based on Draft Sharks’ Injury Guide, he has a 39% chance of missing two or more quarters this season due to injury risk, although his durability rating of 5.00 indicates he can withstand physical wear better than most.

Despite that, as Ryan cautioned, the Falcons’ coaching staff has to find that so-far-elusive equilibrium between letting their superstar shine and keeping him intact for the long haul ahead.

Nevertheless, few in the league are making as much of an impact as he is today. Robinson’s capacity to turn the momentum of a game on its head with one play has given Atlanta’s offense a dynamic, unpredictable, and threatening level.

He is leading in scrimmage yards with 822. He’s also on pace to become a member of the legends club, which includes Christian McCaffrey, Marshall Faulk, and Roger Craig. Thanks to his run game for 1,647 yards, simultaneously adding 1,149 receiving yards. The stats and tape are a mirror reflection: Bijan Robinson is not only the Falcons’ most valuable asset, he’s among the most valuable assets in football.

Bijan Robinson & Co. stole the show vs the Bills

If any doubts existed regarding the Falcons’ validity, Monday evening put them to rest. Faced with one of the AFC’s most prolific offenses, Atlanta controlled both sides of the field, setting the pace and putting the Buffalo Bills in awkward situations throughout. On the strength of an evenly distributed offensive strategy and a vicious defensive display, the Falcons posted one of their most thorough victories in years.

Bijan Robinson put on an absolute show. In the Falcons’ Week 6 win over the Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he racked up a season-best 238 total yards, 170 on the ground and 68 through the air. His highlight moment? An electrifying 81-yard touchdown catch, the longest of his career, that sent the crowd into a frenzy and helped seal Atlanta’s 24-14 victory. But he wasn’t the lone contributor.

Robinson got support from his squad. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. kept the chains moving, passing 20 of 32 attempts for 250 yards. By the fourth quarter, Atlanta’s emphasis on physicality had worn Buffalo out entirely.

On the other hand, their defense was not far behind. They got their best performance of this season. They stopped the Bills to only 291 total yards, intercepting Josh Allen twice.

The victory gave a confidence boost to the locker room, as wide receiver Drake London said, “When we button up all the stuff and we execute right, we’re a force to be reckoned with.” All in all, Robinson can be the catalyst of Atlanta’s run, but the Falcons’ success depends on how they keep him healthy.