Joe Burrow called for a “show” in Madrid, and the Bengals gave the crowd at Bernabéu Stadium exactly that.
Cincinnati rolled past the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 in front of 78,000 NFL fans from around the world, riding an offense that looked sharp from the opening moments and never really let up. The passing game was the engine all night, with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins putting on the kind of performance that can carry a team anywhere.
Chase was the headliner. The wideout hauled in 10 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown, repeatedly stretching the Falcons and giving Burrow a steady big-play outlet. Higgins added his own damage with five receptions for 32 yards and two scores, finishing drives and keeping the pressure on Atlanta.
Burrow was almost flawless. He completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with a 140.1 quarterback rating. The Bengals moved the ball comfortably throughout the afternoon, slicing up the Falcons with a passing attack that never seemed to lose its rhythm.
Atlanta did find the end zone on its opening drive, marking the third straight game in which Cincinnati’s defense allowed a touchdown on the first possession. But the Bengals’ offense answered every time and kept the game from slipping away.
That’s the bigger picture coming out of Week 8: Cincinnati’s offense is finding its groove. The defense still has work to do, and the unit has given up more than 300 yards in each of the last three games, but when Burrow, Chase and Higgins are rolling like this, the Bengals look capable of making a serious run at a Lombardi Trophy.
Now the focus shifts back to Cincinnati and a huge one on Nov. 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium. Pittsburgh leads the AFC North at 6-2, owning the same record as the Bengals after beating Cincinnati in Week 3.
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 🡒]