On paper, the undefeated San Francisco 49ers shouldn't have too much of an issue dispatching the two-win Atlanta Falcons in Week 7.
But there are plenty of things working against the Niners' favor, including the fact head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad is coming off a short week, having played on Monday Night Football in Week 6, before having to travel across the country for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
That's one obstacle. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is certainly another.
Atlanta boasts a middle-of-the-pack offense through six weeks, and quarterback uncertainty has fueled a lot of that. But head coach Kevin Stefanski has had no issue relying heavily on his star rusher, who already has 641 rush yards on the season with four touchdowns on the ground, averaging an impressive 5.8 yards per carry. And, if that wasn't hard enough to contain, Robinson's dual-threat capabilities have shown up, too, with him notching 144 yards on 20 receptions with another score.
Despite San Francisco's run defense showing serious improvement over last season, Robinson will be a force that could very well determine the game's outcome.
Unless All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner has his way.
Fred Warner vs. Bijan Robinson is the premier matchup from 49ers-Falcons game
The 49ers are allowing just 3.7 yards per carry this season, seventh best in the league, and Warner's return from last year's brutal ankle injury is a major reason why. It also shouldn't be a surprise Warner is far and away the Niners' leading tackler with 58 on the season, meaning he'll have more than his fair share of opportunities to bring down Robinson.
It's something Robinson is eager to see happen, too, showering praise on the All-Pro backer.
"He’s the best. He’s No. 1," Robinson told reporters of Warner. "Nobody's better than him at his position. I have a ton of respect for him and how he goes about it. He gets the defense ready."
If there's one X-factor that may work in Robinson's favor against Warner, it's the fact San Francisco has given up 276 receiving yards to running backs on the season—second highest in the league. And while that may have more to do with the nature of offenses Warner and Co. have faced, it nevertheless suggests Robinson will play a bigger role than just a rusher.
He'll certainly be Atlanta's biggest offensive threat.
Unless Warner plays a major role in preventing him from being such.
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