Bengals Chase First International Win in Madrid
Cincinnati faces Atlanta at the Bernabéu on Sunday, Nov. 8, seeking to end a 1-1-1 record in overseas games.
By Grace Anderson ·
The Cincinnati Bengals will attempt to claim their first win outside the United States when they face the Atlanta Falcons at the Bernabéu in Madrid on Sunday, Nov. 8. Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network and fubo.
The NFL returns to international play after a one-week pause. This marks the second consecutive year the Bernabéu hosts an NFL game. Cincinnati has one loss and one tie from its two previous international appearances, the most recent in 2019. Atlanta holds a 2-3 record abroad, including a loss in Berlin last season.
The Bengals enter the matchup with three consecutive wins, scoring at least 31 points in each. Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the league with 20 touchdown passes and holds a passer rating of 111.6, which is 0.1 points below the top mark. Tee Higgins has matched Ja'Marr Chase in targets and receptions over the first seven games, with 61 targets and 43 catches apiece. Higgins has 726 receiving yards, the second highest total in the league.
The Falcons have lost two of their last three games but remain close to the NFC South lead. They were shut out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8. Running back Bijan Robinson leads the NFL with 780 rushing yards. Wide receiver Drake London has 624 receiving yards, ranking sixth in the league. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed eight of 24 passes in the rain against Tampa Bay.
Defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. is eligible for his season debut after reinstatement following an eight-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy. Pearce is on track to have felony charges from an offseason domestic dispute dropped. He recorded 10.5 sacks as a rookie while starting only three games. He returns to a defense ranked sixth in quarterback pressure rate.
The Bengals will look to exploit a defense that allowed 36 points to the Tennessee Titans in the previous game. The Falcons will rely on their offensive production to offset recent defensive lapses. Both teams sit half a game behind their division leaders.
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