Joe Burrow and the Bengals wasted no time turning Madrid into a showcase. Once Cincinnati’s offense found its rhythm, the game never felt especially tight again in a 34-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The biggest splash came from Ja’Marr Chase, who was already pushing toward 150 yards by halftime and made the Falcons pay all afternoon. Tee Higgins also did plenty of damage in a quieter way, finding the end zone twice. Put it together, and Cincinnati’s passing game looked every bit like the headline act.
The only real tension early came from the other side of the ball. Al Golden’s defense opened slowly again, and that sluggish start remains a problem even if the unit settles in later. The Falcons had enough early success to keep things interesting in the first quarter, but once the Bengals offense got rolling, the gap widened fast.
Chase finished with eight catches for 142 yards and a score in the second quarter alone, a stretch that felt less like production and more like him playing around with the coverage. Chase Brown also gave Cincinnati a boost with a few explosive runs of 15-plus yards, a welcome sight with next week’s NFL trade deadline looming.
There were other notable moments, too. Evan McPherson drilled a 57-yard field goal.
Jessie Bates looked sharp despite the uneven play around him, though a trade deadline move still doesn’t sound realistic. Bryan Cook appeared healthy and delivered some solid open-field tackling, while Jordan Battle had a chance at a pick-six in the fourth quarter and dropped it.
At running back, Samaje Perine actually out-carried Chase Brown, 11 to nine, which could be something to watch going forward.
One number says plenty about where this team stands: 30. The Bengals haven’t lost when they’ve scored at least 30 points this season, a useful marker for a 6-2 team that can live with some defensive inconsistency as long as the offense keeps humming.
And humming is the right word. This was a statement overseas, and maybe the clearest sign yet that this is the best Bengals offense to date. It hasn’t always been pretty - the win over the Titans last week was a good example - but Cincinnati keeps beating the teams it’s supposed to beat.
Next up is a big one at home: a Sunday night matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, with both teams sitting at 6-2 and plenty on the line in the AFC North.
In Other News...
Bengals Trade Deadline Could Reopen One Painful Question From Last Year
At 6-2 heading into the NFL trade deadline, the Bengals are in a position they have not always enjoyed in recent years: they have both the record and the assets to consider a real move. The need is easy to spot. Cincinnati has questions in the running game, and injuries have started to thin out the defensive depth, which naturally pushes the conversation toward help at running back and on defense.
The market, though, is not exactly built around easy answers. Jonathan Taylor is viewed as a long shot, even with the Bengals looking for more punch on the ground, so the focus shifts to more realistic options and familiar names. One possibility is a reunion with Jessie Bates, a storyline that would reopen a painful question from last year and give Cincinnati another chance to weigh short-term help against the cost of making a move. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Burrow Already Has Another International Bengals Game In Mind
The Bengals trip to Madrid ended with another polished performance from Joe Burrow, who kept Cincinnati rolling with 24 completions on 29 attempts for 271 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-17 win over the Falcons. The victory pushed the Bengals to 6-2 and gave the latest international showcase another reminder of how comfortable Burrow can look far from home.
Now the conversation is already moving to where the NFL might take Cincinnati next. According to NFL insider Kelsey Conway, Burrow has his eye on Tokyo if the league ever stages a game there, a sign that the Bengals quarterback is not just embracing the international stage but thinking ahead to the next one. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Head Into Steelers Week With One New Injury Concern
The Bengals are back home after their trip to Spain, and the focus now shifts quickly to an AFC North meeting with the Steelers. Cincinnati left Madrid with the usual post-trip cleanup to handle, but the bigger concern coming out of the week is the health of starting guard Dylan Fairchild, who picked up an injury along the way and added a fresh question to an offensive line that has already had to manage its share of moving parts.
Zac Taylor said the team likes where its momentum is heading as it turns to Pittsburgh, and the Bengals are also keeping an eye on several injured players who could be close to returning. That matters in a division game where every practice rep counts and depth can be tested fast, especially with the Steelers next on the schedule and Cincinnati trying to keep its preparation on track while the injury report remains a live issue. [Read more 🡒]