The Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons meet at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on Sunday, November 8, at 9:30 a.m. ET. The game turns on Cincinnati's passing attack, which throws for about 302 yards a game against an Atlanta defense that allows nearly 238.

The Matchup

Records: Bengals 5-2 (road 3-1); Falcons 3-5 (home 1-3)
Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (indoor, neutral site)
Kickoff: Sunday, November 8, 9:30 a.m. ET
TV: NFL Net
Line (DraftKings): CIN -3, O/U 52.5

Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons tickets
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What Decides It

The matchup that should decide it is Joe Burrow against the Atlanta secondary. Cincinnati's passing game runs well ahead of what the Falcons usually give up through the air. Burrow has 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, and Tee Higgins has turned 43 catches into 726 yards.

The Bengals need that edge because the ground game is thin. Cincinnati runs for about 80 yards a game, while Atlanta allows about 118. Even against a run defense that gives up more than the Bengals usually gain, expect this offense to go through Burrow.

Atlanta's best counter is to attack a Cincinnati defense that gives up yards in both phases. The Bengals allow 261 passing yards a game, and the Falcons average about 201. That gap gives Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London room to beat their usual output, especially with Bengals safety Kyle Dugger out.

The ground game is the steadier path. Atlanta runs for about 135 yards a game, more than the roughly 122 Cincinnati allows. Bijan Robinson has 780 yards on 150 carries, and a heavy dose of him keeps Burrow on the sideline.

The form lines point toward Cincinnati. The Bengals have won 3 straight, most recently a 43-36 overtime win at home after a 35-13 road win. Atlanta was shut out 16-0 on the road last time out, a week after beating a visitor 29-20.

Scoring backs up the trend. Cincinnati averages about 29 points a game, while Atlanta allows about 24. The Falcons score about 21 a game against a Bengals defense allowing about 23, so Atlanta has to play above its average to keep pace.

Players to Watch

Cincinnati Bengals

Passing: Joe Burrow – 195-267, 2,115 YDS, 20-6 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Chase Brown – 94 ATT, 340 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving: Tee Higgins – 43 REC, 726 YDS, 4 TD

Atlanta Falcons

Passing: Michael Penix Jr. – 104-168, 1,282 YDS, 9-5 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Bijan Robinson – 150 ATT, 780 YDS, 4 TD
Receiving: Drake London – 39 REC, 624 YDS, 1 TD

Injury Report

Cincinnati Bengals

Kyle Dugger (S): Out – Quadriceps
Cedric Johnson (DE): Questionable – Ankle
Cashius Howell (DE): Injured Reserve – Wrist
Andrei Iosivas (WR): Injured Reserve – Thumb
Erick All Jr. (TE): Injured Reserve – Knee (ACL)

Atlanta Falcons

Brian Robinson Jr. (RB): Out – Hamstring
James Pearce Jr. (LB): Questionable – Back
Divine Deablo (LB): Questionable – Forearm
Beaux Collins (WR): Injured Reserve – Hip
Yasir Abdullah (LB): Injured Reserve – Hamstring

Atlanta's linebacker room is the one to monitor, with Pearce and Deablo both questionable and Abdullah on injured reserve. Cincinnati plays without Dugger in the back end.

Prediction

Bengals 31, Falcons 24. Burrow's passing attack has the clearest mismatch on the field, and Atlanta's offense was blanked in its last game. Robinson and the Falcons' run game should keep it within reach, but Cincinnati's 3-game win streak continues in Madrid.