The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 in Madrid, and the game was decided through the air. Cincinnati completed 24 of 29 passes and did not turn the ball over. Atlanta averaged about 5 yards a throw and gave one away.
Atlanta actually won the ground game. The Falcons ran for 157 yards to Cincinnati's 123 on the same number of carries. It did not matter, because the Bengals passed at will and Atlanta kept handing back field position with flags.
How It Happened
Atlanta struck first. Michael Penix Jr. hit Charlie Woerner for a 1-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. Cincinnati answered with 8:49 left in the quarter when Joe Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase for a 47-yard score.
Nick Folk put the Falcons back in front with a 31-yard field goal late in the first. That was Atlanta's last lead.
Cincinnati scored every point of the second quarter. Burrow ran in from 1 yard early in the period, then threw a 4-yard touchdown to Tee Higgins late in the half. Evan McPherson closed the half with a 57-yard field goal at 0:24.
Bijan Robinson pulled Atlanta back into it with a 1-yard touchdown run with 6:18 left in the third. Burrow answered late in the quarter, finding Higgins again from 8 yards out. McPherson added a 43-yard field goal late in the fourth to close it.
Key Performers
Joe Burrow: TD passes to Ja'Marr Chase (47 YDS), Tee Higgins (4 YDS) and Tee Higgins (8 YDS); 1-yard TD run
Tee Higgins: TD catches of 4 and 8 YDS
Evan McPherson: field goals of 57 and 43 YDS
Bijan Robinson: 1-yard TD run
CIN passing: 24-29, 265 YDS, 8.5 yards per pass, 0 INT
ATL passing: 20-31, 162 YDS, 5.2 yards per pass, 1 INT
CIN rushing: 24 ATT, 123 YDS, 5.1 per carry
ATL rushing: 24 ATT, 157 YDS, 6.5 per carry
Penalties: CIN 6-43, ATL 12-88
Burrow was the story. He had a hand in every Bengals touchdown, three through the air and one on the ground. Cincinnati picked up 15 first downs passing, while Atlanta managed 7 that way.
Atlanta's defense did sack Cincinnati twice, for 6 yards in losses, while the Bengals did not sack Atlanta at all. It was not enough to slow an offense that converted 6 of 10 on third down.
What It Means
Cincinnati moves to 6-2 and has been at its best away from home, now 4-1 on the road. This was an efficient win: the Bengals averaged 7.1 yards per play, scored touchdowns on 3 of 4 red zone trips and finished with zero turnovers.
Atlanta falls to 3-6. The Falcons ran the ball well and held the ball for 30:04, but the numbers that cost them were self-inflicted. They were flagged twice as often as Cincinnati, threw the game's only interception and scored touchdowns on just 2 of 4 red zone trips.
The run game gives Atlanta something to build on. Until the passing game produces more than about 5 yards a throw, though, the Falcons will keep losing games like this one.