Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals brought their hottest stretch of the season to Spain and left with a fourth straight win. Burrow threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Bengals beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 on Sunday at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, in front of 78,660 fans.
Cincinnati improved to 6-2, while Atlanta fell to 3-6 with its second straight loss, according to The Associated Press.
Burrow and Chase take over
Burrow was nearly flawless, completing 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards. His 21st touchdown pass of the season leads the NFL, the Bengals said. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Burrow is “playing at an unbelievably high level right now,” the AP reported.
Ja’Marr Chase was the star of the first half, catching eight passes for 142 yards before halftime, the most first-half receiving yards of his career. He finished with 10 catches for 155 yards and a 47-yard touchdown, his longest catch of the season. Tee Higgins caught two touchdown passes, his second straight game with multiple scoring catches.
Cincinnati scored on all four of its first-half possessions to lead 24-10 at the break. Evan McPherson closed the half with a 57-yard field goal, his 23rd straight make, the longest streak in team history and the longest active streak in the league, according to the Bengals.
Atlanta’s rough day
The Falcons opened with a touchdown drive capped by Michael Penix Jr.’s pass to Charlie Woerner, but could not keep pace. Penix finished 20 of 31 for 162 yards with a late interception, and added 50 rushing yards. Bijan Robinson ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and caught six passes for 47 yards.
Penalties hurt. Atlanta was flagged 12 times for 88 yards, stalling several drives, Yahoo Sports reported, and kicker Nick Folk missed a field goal. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said simply that his team was not good enough.
There was one unusual moment: the stadium lights went out during a Bengals snap in the final two minutes, and the down was replayed, the AP said.
By the numbers
- 4: Straight games with 30 or more points for Cincinnati, tying a franchise record last reached in 1997.
- 29.6: Points per game for the Bengals, second in the NFL behind Buffalo.
- 55: Of Burrow’s 178 career touchdown passes have gone to Chase.
- 100: Career regular-season starts for guard Dalton Risner.
Why it matters
The game in Madrid gave the NFL another big international stage, and the Bengals used it to make a statement in the AFC. With Burrow leading the league in touchdown passes, Cincinnati is building a strong case as a contender at the midpoint.
For families who watched from home, it was a fun way to start a Sunday, and a chance to show kids how the NFL is growing around the world. It came a day after a wild college football Saturday, highlighted by Notre Dame’s win over No. 1 Miami and Utah’s rally past BYU. In Sunday’s new AP poll, Georgia returned to No. 1, followed by Utah and Notre Dame.
What’s next
The Bengals return home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 15. The Falcons host the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday. Upstormed News will have the results.
Read more: Jaguars Rout Ravens 33-10 on Thursday Night as Baltimore Drops Fourth Straight
Would you travel overseas to see your favorite team play? Tell us in the comments.
Sources: The Associated Press via KPRC, “Burrow powers Bengals past the Falcons in Madrid for their 4th straight win” (November 8, 2026); Bengals.com, “Bengals-Falcons Final Score and Game Recap” (November 8, 2026); Yahoo Sports, “NFL world reacts to Falcons’ 17-point loss to Bengals in Madrid” (November 8, 2026); The Associated Press via KPRC, “AP Top 25: Georgia is back at No. 1” (November 8, 2026)
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