Joe Burrow’s latest statement game came far from home, and it may have changed the MVP race with it.
In Madrid, Spain, Burrow put together the kind of outing that turns a conversation into a real argument. He went 24 of 29 for 2 touchdowns and guided the Bengals to a 34-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The performance only added to his MVP case, and it also had Burrow talking about wanting more international games.
The betting market noticed. Per BetOnline, Burrow moved past Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in MVP odds, climbing to +200 behind Allen. Buffalo is set to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night.
Burrow’s season numbers are starting to look like the profile of a front-runner. He owns a 74% completion rate, has thrown for 2,386 yards, and has 23 touchdowns.
Cincinnati is tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for first in the AFC North at 6-2 and is riding a four-game winning streak. Burrow also became the first player in NFL history to finish four straight games with four touchdown passes and a 70% pass completion rate.
Allen, meanwhile, still has a strong case of his own. He enters with a 76.3% completion rate, 1,793 passing yards, and 11 touchdowns, while the Bills are 6-1 and sitting in first place in the AFC North.
Allen opened the season as the MVP favorite, with Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Justin Herbert, and C.J. Stroud also listed among the preseason names in the mix.
Burrow has been in this lane before. He has long been a top MVP contender, but the award has stayed out of reach.
He finished fourth in the voting in 2022 and again in 2024. Last season, he led the league with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, yet the Bengals still missed the playoffs at 9-8.
If this run keeps rolling and Cincinnati stays in the hunt, Burrow may be closing in on the biggest individual prize in the sport.
The Bengals’ next big test comes against the Steelers on Sunday, November 15, at 7:20pm CST/8:20pm EST at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
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 🡒]