'MNF' takeaways: Bijan Robinson, Falcons spoil 20th anniversary 'Domecoming' in rout of Saints

The Atlanta Falcons entered a tough road environment on "Monday Night Football" and came away with a statement 45-24 win over the division rival New Orleans Saints. 

Below's our instant reaction to the final game of the Week 4 slate.

Key takeaway: New Orleans Saints squander electric home atmosphere in blowout loss

Monday was billed as a 20th anniversary celebration of the Saints' return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina forced them to play the entire 2005 season away from home. 

The organization brought out all the stops to mark the occasion, including a halftime show featuring a musical performance by Trombone Shorty and featuring special guests including Kirk Franklin, Juvenile and Eric Church.

If only the team got the memo. The Saints were vastly outplayed on both sides of the ball. Atlanta moved at will on offense, averaging 7.5 yards per play. On the other side of the ball, New Orleans was hamstrung by a one-dimensional attack. It gained just 50 rushing yards, averaging 2.6 yards per attempt. 

After beginning the season 1-1 with a surprising split in two road games against the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens, the Saints had an excellent opportunity to make a run with a three-game home stand and only one true road game until Week 11. Instead, they've wasted all goodwill generated from the unexpected start. Worse yet, with a 3-7 home record under head coach Kellen Moore, New Orleans no longer has a "dome-field" advantage.

Game MVP: Falcons running back Bijan Robinson

No one loves prime time like Robinson. The sensational fourth-year back out of Texas is a star any time of day but particularly so when the lights are brightest.

He finished Monday's blowout victory with 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, giving him 1,384 rushing yards in 12 career primetime games. 

Few players are as dangerous with the football in his hands, and with the Falcons showing a night-and-day difference over the last two weeks (when they scored 80 points) from the first two (when they scored 16), what once appeared like another wasted season has fresh life. If Atlanta, which is tied with the Carolina Panthers for first in the NFC South, manages to get in the playoffs, we already know the stage won't be too big for Atlanta's (and perhaps the NFC's) best player.

Play of the game: Robinson's 59-yard touchdown run

Robinson set the tone early, scoring from 59 yards out on the Falcons' third play from scrimmage to quiet the raucous Saints fanbase. According to Next Gen Stats, he reached a max speed of 21.78 mph, the second-fastest of both his career and by a ball-carrier this season.