Brian Robinson Jr. back on track in time for NFC Championship Game

In the Washington Commanders’ regular-season finale and first-round playoff game, running back Brian Robinson Jr. gained 26 yards on 15 rushing attempts, the lowest total in back-to-back games in his NFL career.

But in Washington’s 45-31 upset of NFC top-seed Detroit, Robinson ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries on Jan. 18 versus the Lions.

“It obviously feels good to get back in rhythm after not having many explosive plays recently,” Robinson said. “But always trusting it, trusting my abilities, trusting what I can do in the run game all the time. And at any given moment, it’s going to crack, it’s going to pop for, you know, 15, 20, 30, 40. I’m always ready for those moments in the game.”

Robinson’s production against the Lions helped Washington advance to the NFC Championship Game. The Commanders will play the Philadelphia Eagles at 2 p.m. CST Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. FOX will televise the game.

“It couldn’t have been a more perfect time to catch some momentum,” Robinson said. “The biggest thing to do is continue it. Continue to stick with it, continue to fuel that fire. It’s perfect momentum going into this game and excited to see how it all plays out.”

A former Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Alabama standout, Robinson ran for 799 yards and eight touchdowns on 187 carries in 14 regular-season games in his third NFL season. He had three 100-yard games in 2024, but Robinson’s 77-yard output in the Divisional Round was his most productive outing since he had 103 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries in a 42-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 1.

Two days before Washington played Detroit, Commanders coach Dan Quinn met with Robinson and showed the running back video of some of his best plays.

“It’s perfect reassurance that any player would want from their head coach,” Robinson said. “It was as simple as skimming through a few plays. It was like, ‘Yo, this is you. This is who you are.’ It’s easy to connect that way. DQ got a lot of respect from me not even just from that moment. There’s been several moments where I feel like he reassured me in the right way and let me know how much he care about my success.”

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The winner of the Washington-Philadelphia game will face the winner of Sunday’s Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs meeting in the AFC Championship Game for the NFL crown at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

“Obviously, it’s my first time, so I’m still trying to gather the feeling,” Robinson said, “but also just trying to stay where my feet are and continue to attack the process of winning.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.