Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Cincinnati Bengals blew past the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 in Madrid on Sunday, winning their fourth straight game and pulling level with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the top of the AFC North.
Burrow completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the NFL’s second-ever game in Madrid, according to Field Level Media and Sportsnet, as the Bengals’ offence kept rolling at the Santiago Bernabeu. The win takes Cincinnati to 6-2, tied with the Steelers, while Atlanta fall to 3-6.
It was a statement performance from a Bengals side who have now won four in a row and look like one of the most dangerous teams in the AFC.
Burrow in command
Burrow was in complete control from the start. His 24-of-29 passing, 271 yards and three touchdowns through the air — plus a rushing score — underlined why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league when healthy and protected.
The Bengals’ offence moved the ball at will against a Falcons defence that had no answer, and the game was effectively over long before the final whistle. Cincinnati’s winning run, which began after a slow start to the season, has now reached four games — and the Bengals are playing like a team who believe they can win the division.
For Atlanta, the defeat is another step backwards. At 3-6, the Falcons’ playoff hopes are fading, and the trip to Madrid — a showcase game for the NFL’s international series — ended in a heavy defeat.
The AFC North race
Cincinnati’s win pulls them level with Pittsburgh at the top of the AFC North, with the Steelers on their bye week. The division, one of the tightest in the league, is now a two-team race at the top — and the Bengals, with Burrow in this form, will fancy their chances.
The Madrid game, the NFL’s second in the Spanish capital, drew a full house at the Bernabeu and underlined the league’s growing international ambitions. For the Bengals, it was a business trip — and they conducted their business ruthlessly.
What comes next
The Bengals return home with momentum and a share of the division lead, while the Falcons head back to Atlanta needing to regroup quickly. The trade deadline falls on Tuesday, November 10, and both teams will be watching the market — Cincinnati as buyers, Atlanta as a side who may need to make hard decisions about their season.
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