Bijan Robinson's big production and efficient play from Michael Penix Jr. sparks Falcons' turnaround

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons' running game has taken the pressure off quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in his return to the starting offense.

Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson combined to rush for 207 yards and five touchdowns as the Falcons' offense continued their dramatic turnaround with Penix as the starter in Atlanta's 45-24 win on “Monday Night Football” at New Orleans.

The Falcons have gone from the lowest-scoring team in the league to the highest with the return of Penix, who has led his team to 80 points in the two weeks he’s been back. In the season’s opening two weeks, with reserve Cooper Rush at the controls, the Falcons scored just 16 combined points in losses to the Steelers and Panthers.

Atlanta’s dominant win over the Saints came on the heels of a 35-14 blowout at Green Bay on Sept. 24. A team that was booed off its home field after a 34-3 loss to the Panthers is now tied for first place in the NFC South after four games.

“What do I think I’ve proven? That I’m healthy. That’s it,” said Penix, who tore his left ACL last November. “I feel like we still got a lot of work to do. I’m not gonna sit here and say I’m satisfied. You know we still got a long season.”

Atlanta's offense continues to focus on the running game, but Penix was efficient and avoided mistakes against the Saints. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He spread the ball around, threw a deep 31-yard touchdown pass and led a mistake-free performance that produced six offensive touchdowns and the most points Atlanta has scored in a game since 2016.

“Mike played well. He took care of the football, made some really good throws,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. “I thought the throw late in the game, that third down, get the ball to Drake (London), which was an excellent play. There’s a bunch of great stuff out there, but I really like Mike’s demeanor on game day. I like how he’s he’s operating.”

Did we mention the offense? It was a complete performance for the second straight week. Beyond stars Bijan Robinson (19 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs), London (five catches, 96 yards), the Falcons were also able to address other areas. Tight end Kyle Pitts had three catches for 47 yards after entering the game with just two receptions on the season. Jahan Dotson had two catches for 54 yards and a TD as the Falcons search for a No. 2 wide receiver behind London. Brian Robinson Jr. also was strong with 62 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries.

The offensive line paved the way for 205 rushing yards and 5.9 yards per attempt, but perhaps even more importantly, allowed the oft-injured Penix to be sacked just once.

The Falcons knew wide receiver Chris Olave would be the focus of the Saints’ passing game and he was still able to finish with eight catches and 116 yards. The Saints were also able to finish three of their four trips to the red zone with touchdowns, though one was in the final two minutes with the game decided.

Can Bijan Robinson’s stock get much higher? On the third play from scrimmage, Robinson ran for a 59-yard touchdown, hitting a top speed of 21.78 mph according to NextGen stats, which is the second fastest by a ball carrier this season. He is second in the NFL with 614 yards from scrimmage, 7 behind Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III.

The Falcons have faced a league-high 178 pass attempts, mostly because of having big leads the past two weeks. Despite that high number, Atlanta has just one interception this season. It is also tied for 22nd in sacks with seven.

Defensive end Za’Darius Smith was down for several minutes in the first quarter, but jogged off the field. He was ruled out with a concussion. Left tackle Jake Matthews left with a groin injury in the first half and did not return.

3 — career touchdown runs of at least 50 yards by Bijan Robinson, with all three coming on “Monday Night Football.”

The Falcons will play their third straight primetime game when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, right, runs against New Orleans Saints safety Jonas Sanker during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) passes against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) celebrates after scoring against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California couple has been arrested on child abuse charges following an investigation into a surrogacy scheme involving at least 21 children, authorities said Tuesday.

Silvia Zhang and her husband, Guojun Xuan face several counts of child abuse and conspiracy to commit child abuse, accessory after the fact, and dissuading a witness, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a news conference Tuesday morning.

Prosecutors are seeking a $100 million bail for the couple because of the serious nature of the charges and due to their flight risk potential, Hochman said.

Fifteen children were removed from the couple’s opulent home in Arcadia last year after an allegation of abuse, and another six living elsewhere were also located. They ranged in age from 2 months to 13 years, with most between 1 and 3. Police believe Zhang gave birth to one or two of the children while the rest were born by surrogate.

Hochman said the couple set up a surrogacy agency that they operated from their home and used that agency to hire surrogates throughout U.S.

“The house could only be described as a house of horrors for these incredible young children,” Hochman said.

Zhang and Xuan were first arrested in May 2025 after a hospital reported that their 2-month-old infant had a traumatic head injury, the result of a nanny at the home violently shaking the baby, according to Arcadia police.

Arcadia police did not file charges at the time, in order to finish a full investigation, they said.

Hochman said the couple set up three rooms they called learning centers, where the children spent several hours a day sitting at desks under the supervision of nannies.

Through an extensive surveillance system including motion-activated cameras, the couple watched as their nannies subjected the children to daily beatings and physical abuse, he said.

The nannies were told “not to leave any physical marks on the children,” Hochman said.

During a search warrant of the couple’s home last year, police examined surveillance footage that showed the nannies beating the children. They issued an arrest warrant for the nanny seen hurting a 2-month-old infant, Chunmei Li, but she could not be found.

Surrogacy is an agreement between parties to have a woman become pregnant, typically through an embryo transfer, and deliver a baby for another parent.

The practice has no federal regulation, leaving it up to states to set the rules if they choose to allow it.

California is considered a “surrogacy-friendly state” because it has clear laws governing the process. Both sides are required to have lawyers, and there must be a written, notarized contract before an embryo transfer takes place.

Investigators have said they were looking into whether the couple had misled surrogates around the country. At least eight women had come forward to say they were aggressively pursued by the couple to serve as surrogates.

The women, many of whom were first-time surrogates, say they were given misleading or incomplete information about the couple’s family situation and intentions.

At least one, Kayla Elliott, is now trying to get custody of a baby she birthed for the couple.

Marcelo reported from New York City.

FILE - An aerial view shows the home of Silvia Zhang and Guojun Xuan on July 16, 2025, in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)