Bijan Robinson just shocked the LA Rams right out of their comfort zone

The 11-5 Los Angeles Rams know all about getting shredded by dominating NFL running backs. This defense was Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley's personal punching bag in 2024. But after being shredded twice in 2024, the team reinforced the run defense. The goal was to be much stingier this season.

And yet, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson picked the defense apart. He burst for a 93-yard touchdown run. He caught a four-yard touchdown pass. He rushed for 195 yards on 22 carries. He hauled in five of eight passes for 34 yards. Like it or not, Robinson came to play, and Chris Shula and company did not have an answer for him.

And here we are, just two weeks away from the NFL playoffs.

Don't misunderstand. The truth is that the Rams were bound to fail against an elite running back at some point in time this season. And it was likely that the game after losing in overtime to the 13-3 Seattle Seahawks would be an emotional letdown. Robinson is good. But he's not 195 rushing yards good.

Bijan Robinson just shocked Rams defense right out of its comfort zone

When defensive coordinator Chris Shula schemed for the 2025 NFL season, he knew that his defense's Achilles heel was stuffing the run. So he directed the front office to sign run defensive specialists. And so, nose tackle Poona Ford and inside linebacker Nate Landman were added.

The team stuffed Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs enroute to locking up a playoff berth. But since that outstanding effort, it's gone downhill quickly.

For the majority of the season, they have catapulted the defense to one of the stingier units at stopping the run. But in the past two weeks, Kenneth Walker III and Bijan Robinson have combined for a ridiculous 295 rushing yards. In other words, offenses have discovered a way to rack up plenty of yards on the ground.

Just in time for the postseason.

This defense cannot afford to surrender huge games by running backs. This is a bend-not-break defense that is built to rush the passer, pick off passes, and force opposing offenses to pass under duress. But if running backs can shred the defense, it all tumbles like a house of cards.

It's no coincidence that the two consecutive losses have coincided with two consecutive 100+ rushing yards by two opponents' running backs. LA's defense has been exposed, and now the team has to stuff the genie back into the bottle.

Bijan Robinson just shocked the LA Rams right out of their comfort zone. With just one more regular season game to get back on track, the team has to find a solution, and fast.

As always, thanks for reading.