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Atlanta Falcons ‘Really Pleased’ with Bijan Robinson, Noncommittal to Heavy Workload

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Atlanta Falcons ‘Really Pleased’ with Bijan Robinson, Noncommittal to Heavy Workload


ATLANTA — The billboard towered high above Peachtree Road, facing traffic headed toward Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Atlanta Falcons’ season opener last Sunday.

“Bijan is ready,” the sign said, holding a picture of Falcons running back Bijan Robinson sporting his black No. 7 jersey. “Are you?”

That afternoon, Robinson proved the sign right. He had six touches on Atlanta’s 11-play opening drive. After 27 plays, he had 15 touches. And by the time the clock hit zero in the Falcons’ 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Robinson had 23 touches to his name — tied for the most in his young career.

The second-year runner finished the defeat with 18 carries for 68 yards while adding a team-best five receptions for 43 yards. He played 50 snaps, good for 89% of the offense’s total.

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After the game, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said he thought Robinson had a few quality runs and executed well as a receiver on screen passes.

“He’s a guy,” Morris said. “I was really pleased with the way he played the game, just with the mental toughness and the ability to go out there and continue to try to make us win and putting us in a winning position, although we were not able to come out with it.”

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Atlanta’s offense struggled in the defeat. It had only three drives with seven or more plays, and just two series netted points — one of which came on the opening possession. The Falcons were shutout in the second half.

Robinson was a focal point in the Falcons’ gameplan, touching the ball on 46% of the offense’s snaps. But Morris, in a matter-of-fact manner, was noncommittal to Robinson maintaining such involvement moving forward, largely due to the game’s outcome.

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“I like winning, and that wasn’t the result we got,” Morris said. “So, we’ve got to go back to the lab and figure out a way to win. And whatever that is, we’ll do.”

Robinson, the No. 8 overall pick in 2023, led the Falcons with 214 carries for 976 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. He added 58 receptions for 487 yards and four more scores through the air. His 1,463-yards from scrimmage were good for 10th in the NFL.

This summer, Atlanta’s coaching staff spoke extensively about using Robinson in a role similar to that of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage a season ago and is a multi-purpose playmaker.

The 22-year-old Robinson proved Sunday he can impact the game in multiple ways, to the extent he became Atlanta’s go-to option. Rather than sensing pressure, Robinson cherishes the opportunity.

“It’s a blessing to do that,” Robinson said. “I try to do what I can to make this offense explosive and try to get these wins. There are still points in the game when you can’t control everything. You have to control what you can control as an offense, individually or with each other.

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“For me, I’m going to do whatever I can to get us rolling and help us try to be the offense we can be. But obviously, we need a win coming out of that.”

The Falcons’ next opportunity to snag their first win comes at 8:15 p.m. Monday, when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles inside Lincoln Financial Field.

And Robinson, as the billboard says, is ready.



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Atlanta, GA

4 passengers injured as hundreds evacuate Delta flight by emergency slide in Atlanta

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4 passengers injured as hundreds evacuate Delta flight by emergency slide in Atlanta


Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate a Delta airlines flight by emergency slides in snowy conditions Friday after an aborted takeoff in Atlanta — leading to at least four injuries and one hospitalization, authorities said.

Roughly 200 people hurriedly deplaned Minneapolis-bound flight 2668 on the tarmac at Atlanta International Airport at 9:10 a.m. due to an engine problem, airline officials said.

Footage posted on social media shows frazzled travelers, including children, running with their luggage from a Boeing 757-300 plane in several inches of snow, according to atlantanewsfirst.com.

Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate the flight by emergency slides in the snow. X/KarlenePetitt

Four passengers reported minor injuries and one was taken to the hospital, while the others were treated at the scene, the airport said.

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Details about the engine problems were not immediately clear.

Delta apologized to passengers for the nerve-wracking experience.


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Passengers deplaned by slide after the aborted takeoff. X/KarlenePetitt

“Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight…after an indication of an engine issue,” Delta said in a statement.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers, and we apologize to our customers for their experience.”



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Atlanta, GA

Houston faces Atlanta on 3-game win streak

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Houston faces Atlanta on 3-game win streak


Houston Rockets (25-12, second in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (19-19, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Houston seeks to continue its three-game win streak with a victory over Atlanta.

The Hawks have gone 10-7 at home. Atlanta ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 17.5 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 3.6.

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The Rockets have gone 12-6 away from home. Houston averages 113.1 points and has outscored opponents by 6.0 points per game.

The Hawks’ 13.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets give up. The Hawks average 113.1 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 119.8 the Hawks give up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals for the Hawks.

Alperen Sengun is averaging 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and five assists for the Rockets.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 5-5, averaging 119.2 points, 41.2 rebounds, 30.5 assists, 11.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.

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Rockets: 7-3, averaging 113.7 points, 48.0 rebounds, 19.9 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Kobe Bufkin: out for season (shoulder), Larry Nance Jr.: out (hand), Jalen Johnson: day to day (shoulder), Cody Zeller: day to day (personal).

Rockets: Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Jabari Smith Jr.: out (hand).

——

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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MLS apologizes for falsely announcing Atlanta United transfer

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MLS apologizes for falsely announcing Atlanta United transfer


Major League Soccer apologized Thursday for publishing a story on its website that identified the wrong player as having transferred to one of its clubs, Atlanta United.

The league’s website, MLSSoccer.com, published a story Wednesday that falsely reported that Celtic FC and Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi had been acquired by Atlanta. The article was quickly removed.

“Major League Soccer’s website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club,” the league said in a statement to The Athletic. “The article was immediately removed and corrected. MLS extends its sincere apologies to the impacted parties.”

The false report is no longer available, and the link now directs to an error message.

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The mistake appears linked to Atlanta’s transfer hint for another player, US-born Cayman Togashi, a former Japanese youth international who spent his entire professional career in Japan. Atlanta teased on social media the arrival of a Japanese player, fueling those rumors even more.

The club later announced it signed Togashi through the 2025 season with an option for 2026. The 31-year-old signed on a free transfer from Sagan Tosu in Japan’s top flight.

Last month, the Daily Mail reported that Atlanta submitted a $12 million bid for Furuhashi. The club also recently named Ronny Delia, a former Celtic manager, as its head coach. Around the time of the false report by MLS, Furuhashi played in Celtic’s 2-0 win against Dundee United, coming on as a substitute for Adam Idah in the 62nd minute.

(Photo: Craig Foy / SNS Group via Getty Images)



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