Joe Burrow left Madrid with another sharp performance in the books and, apparently, a new international stop in mind.
After the Cincinnati Bengals rolled past the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 on Sunday morning to move to 6-2 on the 2026 NFL season, Burrow said he’d like the league’s next overseas trip to land in Tokyo if that ever becomes an option. NFL insider Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Inquirer reported on X, formerly Twitter: “Joe Burrow said he's really like to play in Tokyo if the NFL eventually takes a game there,”
Burrow did plenty to back up the interest in the spotlight. He finished 24 of 29 for 271 yards and three touchdowns, turning in the kind of efficient outing that keeps his MVP case very much alive.
The Bengals didn’t exactly burst out of the gate in Madrid, but they settled in and took control as the game went on. Ja’Marr Chase added another productive day, and Cincinnati’s defense continued its recent rebound after a rough stretch earlier in the year.
The NFL still hasn’t staged a game in Japan, but the league has been widening its international footprint fast, with Paris, London, Rio, and other cities already part of the mix.
For Cincinnati, though, the bigger story right now is the one back home. The Bengals have won four straight after opening 2-2, and they’re now tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North. Next up is a primetime home showdown with the Steelers next Sunday.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Face A Tougher Trade Deadline Problem In The Secondary
The Bengals went into the trade deadline with a familiar name in mind for help in the secondary, but that path is now gone. Jessie Bates is no longer available as a possible target, which leaves Cincinnati looking deeper into the safety market as it tries to steady a position hit by injuries and thin depth.
With the obvious fit off the board, the Bengals are now weighing other options and trying to sort through a less comfortable set of possibilities. Budda Baker, Amani Hooker and Andre Cisco are among the names being discussed, but for now it is still a matter of exploring what might be available rather than knowing which direction Cincinnati will actually take. [Read more 🡒]