Falcons vs. Bengals: Cincinnati seeks first international win as division contenders travel to Madrid — SkimNews
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- Bengals carry a three-game winning streak into the Nov. 8 Madrid game, scoring at least 31 points in every victory, and are seeking their first win outside the United States after going 0-1-1 in two previous international opportunities, the most recent dating to 2019.
- Falcons enter the game half a game behind the NFC South lead in a division with no team at or above .500, after losing two of their last three outings and going scoreless in the most recent; they are 2-3 in games abroad and seek to reach .500.
- Bijan Robinson leads the NFL in rushing with 780 yards, while Drake London ranks sixth in receiving yards at 624; Cincinnati allowed the Tennessee Titans 36 points in Week 8.
- Tee Higgins caught 43 passes on 61 targets over the first seven games, matching Ja’Marr Chase, while his 726 yards rank second in the NFL behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
- James Pearce Jr. makes his season debut on Nov. 8 after serving an eight-game suspension, joining an Atlanta defense ranked sixth in quarterback pressure rate; he logged 10.5 sacks as a rookie despite starting only three games.
- Joe Burrow leads the NFL with 20 touchdown passes and has a 111.6 passer rating, 0.1 behind the league lead; only Josh Allen and Brock Purdy have shorter DraftKings odds for MVP.
- Falcons are forecast to beat the Bengals 34-30 in Madrid, with their more reliable defense and Pearce’s return singled out as the basis for the pick.
Why it matters: For the Nov. 8 game, Cincinnati can improve its 0-1-1 record in two prior international outings by earning its first win abroad. Atlanta gains James Pearce Jr. after his eight-game suspension; the 10.5-sack rookie joins a defense already sixth in quarterback pressure rate.
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