Bengals Beat Falcons as Atlanta’s Mistakes Mount in Madrid

WHO:

Bengals.com - Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the team’s support staff, led by director of operations Jeff Brickner, deserved the game ball for organizing the overseas trip.

Bengals.com - Ja’Marr Chase said he believed Joe Burrow should have won the NFL MVP award in the season Cincinnati reached the Super Bowl.

ABC News - Atlanta owner Arthur Blank fired coach Raheem Morris after the Falcons posted 8–9 records in each of Morris’s two seasons as coach.

atlantafalcons.com - Michael Penix Jr. said he scrambled when lanes opened; his 50 rushing yards were a career high, and his 23-yard first-quarter run was the longest of his career.

bengals.com - Bengals running back Chase Brown had explosive runs, and Zac Taylor praised the running back room, including Samaje Perine.

atlantafalcons.com - Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said the team had too many “self-inflicted things” and “was not at our best.”

atlantafalcons.com - Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said the team committed too many penalties and that a penalty pushing the offense from near the goal line was “crushing.”

atlantafalcons.com - Falcons safety Jessie Bates said penalties and defensive miscommunication hurt the team, adding that the defense needed to limit explosive plays and keep the score down.

bengals.com - Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes; receiver Ja’Marr Chase had 10 catches for 155 yards, including 142 receiving yards in the first half; and Tee Higgins caught two touchdown passes.

bengals.com - Bengals head coach Zac Taylor praised Burrow’s performance and said Chase was “best in the world.”

WHAT:

Bengals.com - Burrow scored a touchdown on a quick-snap sneak.

Bengals.com - Tee Higgins scored his 50th career touchdown.

Bengals.com - Burrow said he and Chase had played together for nearly 10 years; Chase said their connection dated to 2019.

ABC News - Atlanta traded safety Jessie Bates III to Jacksonville for a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

ABC News - Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. returned after an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy; Stefanski said he expected Pearce to improve after shaking off rust.

ABC News - Linebacker Divine Deablo returned with a protective club on his right arm after missing two games with a forearm fracture, then appeared to aggravate the injury.

ABC News - Nick Folk’s 38-yard miss ended his streak of 107 consecutive field goals from inside 40 yards; his previous such miss was in 2017.

atlantafalcons.com - Penix completed 20 of 31 passes for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His 50 rushing yards brought his total offense to 212 yards.

atlantafalcons.com - Bijan Robinson finished with 100 rushing yards and 147 yards from scrimmage, scored his 30th career rushing touchdown, and reached 880 rushing yards for the season, leading the NFL.

atlantafalcons.com - Robinson’s 30th rushing touchdown tied William Andrews and Warrick Dunn for sixth-most in Falcons franchise history. His 6,778 career scrimmage yards through 60 games rank second in franchise history, 20 yards behind Andrews’ 6,798.

atlantafalcons.com - According to Next Gen Stats, Penix reached 19.37 miles per hour on his 23-yard scramble, the third-fastest speed by a Falcons offensive player.

bengals.com - Cincinnati defeated Atlanta 34–17, earning its fourth consecutive win and its first international victory. The Bengals improved to 6–2 and tied Pittsburgh for first place in the AFC North.

atlantafalcons.com - Atlanta committed 12 penalties for 88 yards. Holding, false-start and delay-of-game penalties disrupted the offense; a holding penalty erased a play that had reached the Falcons’ 1-yard line and pushed them back to the 17.

bengals.com - Burrow completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards, three touchdowns and a 140.8 passer rating. Cincinnati led 24–10 at halftime.

bengals.com - Bengals kicker Evan McPherson made field goals from 57 and 43 yards, extending his streak to 24 consecutive field goals.

bengals.com - Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson gained 42 yards on three carries on the opening drive and finished with 58 yards on 16 carries thereafter.

Heavy NFL - The article also identified penalties as a main reason for Atlanta’s struggles, citing the 12 penalties and 88 yards.

WHERE:

atlantafalcons.com - The game took place at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

bengals.com - The stadium hosted a crowd of more than 83,000.

WHY:

Bengals.com - Barrett Carter said Cincinnati’s defense had a goal of at least two turnovers; the Bengals recorded one against Atlanta.

atlantafalcons.com - Penix’s scrambling ability was described as a positive sign of his health after ACL surgery the previous season.

atlantafalcons.com - Stefanski and Bates attributed Atlanta’s loss in part to penalties, defensive miscommunication and explosive Bengals plays.

bengals.com - Taylor said Cincinnati settled down after Atlanta’s opening-quarter running success and controlled the Falcons’ run game more effectively.

HOW:

bengals.com - Cincinnati opened with three consecutive touchdown drives and restored a 14-point lead after Atlanta narrowed the margin to seven in the third quarter.

bengals.com - Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter intercepted a Penix pass with four minutes left; Cincinnati also forced Atlanta to punt and closed out the game defensively.

Cincinnati beat Atlanta 34 to 17 in Madrid, earning its fourth straight win. Joe Burrow threw three touchdowns, while Ja’Marr Chase caught 10 passes for 155 yards. Atlanta’s 12 penalties disrupted its offense, and Cincinnati’s defense sealed the victory.