Packers TE Robert Tonyan scores career-high 3 TDs in dominant win against Falcons
Robert Tonyan had himself a night on Monday, and the Atlanta Falcons could do absolutely nothing about it.
Aaron Rodgers hit Tonyan for three touchdowns in the Green Bay Packers’ 30-16 win over the Falcons at Lambeau Field, shattering Tonyan’s previous career best.
The 26-year-old third-year tight end had just four touchdowns coming into Monday night, two of which he scored earlier this season.
“It’s nice to get more opportunities,” he said after the game, via the Green Bay Press Gazette’s Ryan Wood. “I’m definitely an improved player from last year.”
Rodgers hits Tonyan early, often
Rodgers first found Tonyan late in the second quarter, hitting him on a 19-yard pass on third down to put the Packers up 13-3.
The touchdown sparked a hilarious celebration in the end zone, too, which Rodgers had to sneak into.
After quickly shutting down the Falcons’ offense, Rodgers then mounted a seven-play, 60-yard drive in less than a minute to give Green Bay a 20-3 lead just before halftime — thanks to an easy 8-yard touchdown toss to Tonyan.
Then, late in the third quarter, Rodgers found Tonyan wide open in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown, his third of the night. Tonyan fought off a holding penalty in the process, too, expertly rolling back to his feet after safety Jamal Carter brought him down off the line of scrimmage.
It's Tonyan's skip after the touchdown for mepic.twitter.com/9ZrinfV75d
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 6, 2020
“I’ve been doing yoga twice a week so I think the somersault helped,” Tonyan said, via The Atheltic’s Matt Schneidman. “Yeah, that was crazy.”
Tonyan finished the day with six receptions for 98 yards on six targets to lead the Packers’ receivers. He’s now tied for the most receiving touchdowns in the league this season with Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans at five.
The first thing he thought about after the win, though, had nothing to do with the game itself.
First thing Robert Tonyan said when he sat down for his postgame Zoom conference: “I gotta text my mother back.” pic.twitter.com/GVlr1tLQ2w
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 6, 2020
Rodgers racked up 327 yards and four touchdowns while completing more than 81 percent of his passes in the win, Green Bay’s fourth straight.
Tonyan, who went undrafted out of Indiana State, had 14 receptions and two touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Packers. He had seven for 75 yards and two touchdowns headed into this week, and was already well on his way to a career season.
Tonyan’s performance on Monday night more than solidified that for him.
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